Virtues & Habits

Prudence is characterized by honesty, wisdom, integrity, and humility—centers on making sound decisions through prayerful discernment. Prudence can be cultivated through the following habits:

• Habit of Attention: directing one’s full mental energy toward the subject or person (Matthew. 6:33).
• Habit of Wisdom: a gift from God and a habit to be practiced. Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and sound judgment grounded in the fear of the Lord (James 1:5; Proverbs 9:10).
• Habit of Remembering: recalling at will truth stored in memory (Psalm 119:11).

Justice is characterized by righteousness, respect, responsibility, mercy, reconciliation, and fairness—is about treating others as image-bearers of God and taking responsibility for their well-being. Justice can be cultivated through the following habits:

• Habit of Hospitality: respecting the inherent value of others regardless of status or position and considering the needs of others in our planning (Hebrews 13:2).
• Habit of Fairness: impartial and just treatment or behavior without personal bias towards our neighbor (Galatians 3:28).
• Habit of Gratitude: acknowledging the blessing that God has set before you (1 Chronicles 29:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Temperance is characterized by order, courtesy, self-control, patience, and obedience—is about mastering ourselves for the sake of God and our neighbor. It is about acting the right way at the right time for the right reasons. Temperance can be cultivated through the following habits:

• Habit of Self-control: exercising restraint and moderation in thoughts, words, deeds, and desires (2 Timothy 1:7; James 1:19-20).
• Habit of Patience: suffering well, bearing pains or trials calmly, and remaining steadfast in Christ despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity (Galatians 6:2).
• Habit of Excellence: working carefully to complete any task to the very best of one’s ability for the glory of God (Colossians 3:23-24).

Fortitude is characterized by courage, hope, good citizenship, sacrifice, loyalty, and grit—is about having the courage to face challenges and obstacles and persevering when things get tough. Fortitude can be cultivated through the following habits:

• Habit of Grit: to work strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, suffering, and plateaus (Romans 5:3-4).
• Habit of Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, difficulty, and persecution (Joshua 1:9).
• Habit of Joyfulness: choosing to hope in the Lord despite one’s circumstances (James 1:2).