Section Two: The Personal Characteristics of a Godly Life.
Our current theme: Characteristic Four: Being Christ-Actualized.
Our reading for today: James 1: 19-20 (MsgB)
Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger.
The third personality type within the Enneagram’s Gut Triad is The Reformer #1. Like its two other partners (The Challenger #8, The Peacemaker #9) from this triad, The Reformer (sometimes also called The Perfectionist) is driven by an underlying theme of anger/resentment. That anger and frustration, while directed at others on many occasions, quite honestly for The Reformer, is most often directed toward ones’ self.
Fortunately, Jesus of Nazareth has come to redeem #1’s from this fleshly curse of anger; but in all honesty, very few will take the time needed to truly understand all the freedoms Christ has for those who will take the time to embrace them. We call this amazing transformation; being Christ-actualized!
Today, let’s look a bit deeper at The Reformer #1. I suggest you read the following information and see if you find yourself in the descriptions found below:
THE REFORMER (Enneagram #1)
The Gut Triad: Doing-oriented, knowing-driven, body-centered, decisions from the gut, power-focused. When encountering life, the first reaction is to do something. Tends to act before thinking or feeling. Anger is always waiting beneath the surface.
#1’s perceive the problem with anger as an internal one, and tackle it by perfecting themselves and then going out in the world to co-create with others a perfect place in which there is no cause for anger.
#1’s are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.
Adjectives that describe #1: Conscientious, responsible, improvement-oriented, consistent, self-controlled, precise, high standards, clear, detail-oriented, and caring, but also sometimes critical, inflexible, opinionated, judgmental, resentful, and self-judging.
Key Motivations: Want to be right, to strive higher and improve everything, to be consistent with their ideals, to justify themselves, to be beyond criticism so as not to be condemned by anyone.
Basic Fear: Of being corrupt/evil, defective.
Basic Desire: To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced.
#1 struggles with: anger/resentment/perfection.
#1’s motto: I am honest, hardworking, orderly & right.
#1’s response to life: Anger? No! Resentment? Yes!
#1 strives: to be perfect.
#1 avoids: annoyance.
#1 unconscious childhood message: It’s not okay to make mistakes.
#1 lost childhood message: I am good.
#1 true essence: A reflection of goodness and rightness.
What will it mean for a #1 The Reformer to be Christ-actualized? A mature #1 engages the life-giving intellect of a #7: fun, optimism, new ideas, and exploration. A mature #1 also engages the life-giving heart of a #4: authenticity, warmth, beauty in difficulty, and empathy.
What does God’s Word have to say to a #1?
So, are you an Enneagram #1? Does this personality type sound a lot like the way you feel and act in life? If so, take heart. A Christ-actualized #1 can become, by the direction of the Holy Spirit, a man or woman of God who truly becomes an agent of positive, healthy change in a world where negative criticism and back-biting are the norm. A godly #1 no longer holds resentment toward self and others, but becomes a pro-active reformer who can enjoy life, pacing themselves and their activities in healthy ways.
My prayer: You, with no memory of the past and no eye on the future, hold me in this perfect moment. Thank You for Your acceptance of who I am and loving me because of who I am. Empty me now of my judgment and guilt. Teach me forgiveness, so that I may forgive myself for not forgiving myself. Journey with me on this path toward accepting myself as I loosen rules and lower standards that prevent me from fully loving. May I come to know, deep in my marrow, my inherent goodness so that my earning and efforting may end and I can rest in Your boundless grace and mercy. For Your name’s sake. Amen. (thanks to Sandra Smith/AlchemyWorksEvents.com)
My questions to ponder: If I see #1 qualities in my life, which are the most obvious? Where am I subject to the weaknesses found in a #1 and how might I allow the Holy Spirit to work deep within me, transforming these #1 wounds into glorious opportunities of hope?
So what is God speaking to you today as we attempt to live the Christ-centered life?
For more info: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-1/
Over a thirty-six week period, you and I will take a deeper look into twelve key characteristics of a godly life. In other words, we’ll take A Journey into Christian Discipleship. In order to keep all the blog sessions organized, we suggest you bookmark our Journey home page for ease of use. ENJOY!
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