“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9

Have you noticed how your stomach turns into knots when you tell a lie?

We are dishonest for a lot of reasons: we fear how we might appear, what others might think, and how it might impact us. But, when it comes right down to it, we usually lie because we think it will make things “better.” We see an advantage in the lie.

But this proverb shows two practical advantages that always come with the truth.

1) Security — Without integrity we feel like we’re walking on Jell-O, never quite sure if it will hold us up or when it will let us down.

But the truth is always rock solid, and that brings us security and peace of mind. When you tell the truth you never have to worry about remembering to whom you told what lie. Just think of how much less complicated life would be!

2) Peace of Mind — You’re going to be found out in the end anyway! So, you may as well tell the truth as soon as possible. Then you’re not always looking over your shoulder.

To paraphrase Rick Warren, “He who lacks integrity in the beginning will eventually be exposed in the end.”

There is a tough question in all of this. Is there a lie you’ve been torturing yourself to keep covered? I encourage you to do what may be the bravest thing you’ve ever done: ask God for the courage and strength to tell the truth.

Point to ponder: Telling the truth brings security and peace of mind.

Verse: “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)

What will you do about it: Come clean. If you’ve been living a lie, ask God for the courage to start living the truth. Trust him for the outcome and begin living honestly.

Prayer: Ask God to stop you from lying. Ask him to convict you whenever you begin to tell half-truths or outright lies.

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin..” (1 John 1:5-7)

Light represents righteousness, truth, love, fellowship and purity – descriptors of God.

Darkness stands for wickedness, lies, confusion and hate –the opposite of God.

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.” (1 John 2:9-11)

Reread these short passages from 1 John and count the times the words “light” and “darkness” appear.

With intentional repetition, John tells us there are only two ways to live. When people live in the light, nothing trips or traps them, because in the light, people see things as they really are. On the other hand, darkness blinds. John paints a picture of someone stumbling around, groping for truth, but unable to find it.

Notice the unequivocal conclusion he draws: Love determines whether you live in light or darkness. Loving your brother equals living in the light. Hating your sister means walking in the darkness. Hate blinds us to the truth and separates us from God. Love opens our eyes, clears our path and makes fellowship with God and one another possible.

God, I want to walk in the light, as You are in the light. Amen.

Questions: Why is loving your brother essential to your relationship with God? How have you seen the connection between living in the light and knowing the truth?

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” Philippians 1:4

The quickest way to change a relationship from bad to good is to start thanking God for people you are having difficulty getting along with.

Praying for them will do two things – change your attitude and change them. Positive praying is much more powerful than positive thinking. People may resist our help, spurn our appeals, and reject our suggestions, but they are powerless against our prayers.

What do you pray? The more specific you are in prayer, the more specific the answer will be.

In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul spells out exactly what he’s praying for people. “And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”

These verses give you four things you can pray for people today –

“Abound in love …” Pray that they will grow in love.

“Discern what is best …” Pray that they make wise choices.

“Be pure and blameless …” Pray that they will do the right thing.

“Filled with the fruit of righteousness …” Pray that they will live for God’s glory.

Questions: Who is someone in your life that you find difficult or frustrating? How can you begin praying for them today?

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” Romans 5:7

The love of God needs no because. He does not give his love because of something that you’ve done. He does not give his love because of something he will gain. He does not give his love because it’s something you have earned.

He gives his love with no because.

We come at love with conditions: you can take it or leave it.

God comes at love with no conditions: I’ll take you and I won’t leave you.

We might, in rare instances, show love by dying for someone we deem worthy. God, in all instances, showed love by dying for us, even when we were still drawing blood from his love (Romans 5:7–8).

When we were still in rebellion against God’s love, Jesus said, “I lay down my life . . . . No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:17–18)

I lay it down, Jesus says, with no need for because.

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” John 13:15

Question: What does God’s love mean to you?

Moral issues have become clouded in our culture. Most individuals see righteousness and morality within the context of their own experiences and perspective However, God has never changed and exemplifies absolute righteousness. He desires us to know Him and allow Him to show His righteousness in and through our lives. This study will help you learn about this in practical terms.

Moral issues have become clouded in our culture. Most individuals see righteousness and morality within the context of their own experiences and perspective However, God has never changed and exemplifies absolute righteousness. He desires us to know Him and allow Him to show His righteousness in and through our lives. This study will help you learn about this in practical terms.

Is your spouse addicted to porn? Learn how to be prepared in this Online study.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

Are you feeling the call of God on your heart to increase your spiritual vigilance? This week the Lord reminded me that I have the armor of God to clothe me as I step into my day each morning.

Won’t you join me this week in intentionally putting on the armor of God every morning?

Through the symbolic pieces of armor we can be dressed for whatever meets us throughout the day.  Invite the Holy Spirit, the one the Lord said He would send to be our help and our comforter and our strength to walk with you and fight for you today.

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand…“Stand firm then with the Belt of Truth buckled around your waist, (Lord, please give me understanding today of what is true in every situation I walk in.)

“With the Breastplate of Righteousness in place, (Lord, I thank You that I am covered in Your righteousness and because of that I can come boldly before God, my own sin and doubt covered.)

“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. (Lord, remind me today to be open to what You want me to do for Your kingdom, may I be ready to go to anyone You ask me to with Your message of love and peace.)

“In addition to all this, take up the Shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Lord, I thank you that by faith in Your power I can be protected from temptation and wrong desires today. Protect me physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally today.)

“Take up the Helmet of Salvation (Lord, I celebrate the fact that I am under Your umbrella, that because of salvation I am Your child!)

“and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Lord, may I today make Your Word a priority and read it, meditate on it and obey it.)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Lord, thank you that I can pray at anytime, in any place. May I daily bring all my activities and requests to You)

“With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Lord, keep me alert and focused on You today for You are my hope!)

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Learning to Listen to God online interactive study

Questions: Do you have battles that you are struggling with on your own? What is the purpose of putting on the armor of God? How would putting on the armor of God make a difference as you face your daily activities?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, KJV).

Halfhearted efforts, I have found from personal experience, seldom bring success and victory. The difference between a successful person and a failure is that the successful person is always willing to do more than the unsuccessful person is willing to do.

In spiritual matters, in particular, this is true, as evidenced scores of times in the Word of God. This is one of the most expressive of those passages that major on this theme.

Another is: “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6, KJV).

But one point needs to be made abundantly clear: This promise is not only to the unbeliever, though it is often taken that way. It applies equally to the believer, who may be searching after God for a variety of reasons.

The key word here, of course is heart. “As [a man] thinketh in his heart,so is he” (Proverbs 23:7, KJV). “Out of the abundance of the heartthe mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34, KJV).

What do you need from God today? Wisdom? Peace? Courage? Love? To find God in such a real way that you know He is meeting that need for you, you must really mean business with Him. Then He will indeed do business for you.

A doubter, or an unbeliever, reading this has a wonderful assurance: He can find God if he truly seeks Him with his whole heart.

Question: What do you need from God today? You have the freedom to ask Him for it.

About the Author:  Bill Bright

Are you searching for a source of peace? Take this study.

Habakkuk spoke these words when he was humbled by God’s righteousness and holiness. The power of his utterance works its way into my heart. When was the last time I stood in awe of God’s deeds? When have I begged Him to renew them in our time, so that all people would know the truth? I forget sometimes that Christmas is an opportunity to stand in awe of God’s deeds.

Even though our nation has moved far from God, Christmas is an annual reminder, a renewing, of God’s great mercy to us. Almighty God took on human flesh to save humanity. Jesus was born for this purpose: to reveal God to mankind and to die. Because He lived a sinless life, His death was the atoning sacrifice necessary to reconcile us to God. Because of His resurrection we have the power to live a new life.

Allow God to renew His deeds in our day by taking these intentional steps:

•    Read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke, meditating on the marvel of God becoming man.
•    Sing all the verses of Christmas carols. So many tell the story of God’s amazing deeds.
•    Go to church and hear the Good News of our salvation all over again.
•    Pray that God would renew His deeds in our time.
•    Proclaim to a lost world that the Savior has come.

Heavenly Father, You alone are righteous and holy. I am humbled by Your marvelous works. Thank you for sending Jesus. I ask that You would renew Your deeds in our time. Help me to proclaim Your Good News by explaining to those around me what Christmas is all about.  Amen.

Questions: What helps you to stand in awe of God’s deeds? Why is it important to pray before we proclaim?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

In the natural, dirty and dark moist places create a perfect breading ground for bacteria and mold that can lead to sickness and decease. In the same way sin that is given ongoing opportunity in our lives, creates a dark and dirty environment that gives the enemy a perfect place to settle in and create a stronghold, sapping our power, energy, health, and effectiveness. As David declared in Psalm 31:10 “My strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.”

Through Christ we are forgiven and have been made clean, however it is up to us to continually draw on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep clean on a daily basis. So often we are calling out to our God to change our circumstances but we are not recognizing the sin in our lives that is holding us back. In the same way that we take the time each day to wash in the physical, we also need to be washed in the spiritual by the Word of God. If we will put our eyes on His Word and let it wash over us, He will point out those dark and dirty spots. When we confess our sin and repent of it, He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteous (1 John 1:9). When the sin has been dealt with, our circumstances will begin to change, and we will experience greater freedom and become spiritually and physically stronger and stronger.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleaness of my hands.  Ps. 18:20 (NKJV)

Prayer Points:

• That we would be sensitive to sin that God is pointing out in our lives, and how that sin may be the cause of difficult circumstances we are going through
• That we would allow God to take us by the hand and lead and cleanse us daily through His Word and by His Spirit
• That day by day we would experience growing freedom and strength as we continually walk with clean hands before God