Benjamin Franklin once said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”
How true that statement was. We can do a lot of good and even good, Godly things in our lives, but one bad decision can cost us our reputation. Not because it cancels out all the good stuff you’ve done but because humans are painfully judgmental and will remember the one bad thing over the 1,000 good things you did. My grandfather would tell me that I needed to protect my character and my reputation so well, that even if someone slandered me or spoke ill of me, that no one would believe it and more so, they would speak up in my defense. God called us to be different. (Proverbs 1:15) He called us to standout among others. I think one of the most humbling prayers to pray, is to ask God to make you different. It requires allowing him to show you where you’ve been taking part in the world and not His Kingdom. It requires full obedience and submission to allow Him to change your hearts desires to one that chases after His will. It requires growth and maturity to grow out of sin. There were days when a handshake was as good as a mans word, in today’s world, it doesn’t hold much weight anymore. Our past mistakes can have us living in reaction mode trying to wash up our lives in order to be seen as someone who can be respected and trusted. I pray this is a gentle reminder to us all, that Jesus bore our sinful past on the cross and when he was resurrected, our life of sin stayed buried and didn’t rise with him (1 Peter 2:24). I pray you know that you are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. I pray that you live each day making good moral choices, display Godly character and walk in righteousness.
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,” Isaiah 1:16
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Pray your husbands reputation is a good one. 2 Timothy 2:21
Lord, I pray my husbands reputation is well known for his goodness, integrity, his honor and good moral character. I pray he always carries himself in a way that honors and glorifies you.
Pray your husbands presence would be a conviction to others. 2 Corinthians 6:17
Lord, I pray that when my husband walks into a room, they can see he is a child of God. I pray that his presence would be a conviction to others and help point people toward you. I pray he would hold true to your teachings and not participate in sin just to fit in or fear of rejection.
Pray your husband is known for his patience, kindness, compassion and gentleness. Galatians 5:22-23
Lord, I pray that my husband would be patient, kind, compassionate and gentle with others. I pray that he wants to please you because his heart is pure. I pray he always remembers that you exalt the humble and disciplines the proud. I pray you always separate him from the crowd. I pray he isn’t easily offended and stays strong in his faith. Should anyone speak against his character in an ugly light, I pray there would be someone to stand up to defend him in his absence.
Challenge:
Speak to his good character and magnify it today. Example, when he does something kind for someone, holds a door open for the old lady, or he says something nice about someone or maybe he doesn’t charge them the full amount because he knows the person needs a little extra help…say, “I love that when you see someone in need, you always help…or I love how you try to do the right thing when others don’t” or “I love how you speak so highly of your friends to others when they aren’t around” or “I hope our kids are as compassionate as you are.”