Honesty

The more I walk with Christ and the more I fall in love with Him, the more the truth of God's word makes sense. I see the compassion and care Jesus has for me. For a long time I viewed God's word as a bunch of rules that I had to live by in order to be close to God. **sigh** Thank God I no longer have this at the forefront of my thinking and living. Trust me, I still struggle with it at times, but God is graciously showing me when I do so that I can give it to Him. What a freeing thing!
A very powerful truth in scripture is being honest. Not only being honest with others but being honest with ourselves. I truly believe that when we honestly look at ourselves, our need for grace and love from Christ, we can accept our faults and move on. God's grace becomes more beautiful to us. When we accept our faults and know that they are covered by Precious Blood, honesty becomes a lifestyle (among other things). Our defenses come down, our pride washes away, and we are more willing to face the truth of who we are and how we relate to others. We even look at others in a totally different way. Being offended becomes less and less and insults do not overwhelm our thinking. I used to feel that I had to be perfect in order for God to know that I loved Him. I would have so many excuses for my sin instead of owning up to it. Silly right? In writing it looks that way, but I think it's such a common mindset in so many believers. After I grasped that there is nothing I can do or can't do that earns the right to be God's child and walk in His grace, I don't feel the "need" to offer excuses to make myself feel and look better. Excuses can be forms of lying. God detests lying lips. He is glorified in honesty. What if more believers knew they were safe in God's grace and began to open up more and share struggles, fears, sins, temptations, as well as victories, answered prayers, and hope. I think American churches would change for the better. I think people that have questions about who God is or even people turned off to God would see Christianity differently. There would be more healing and less judgement.
My challenge to you: share yourself with people. Be open and honest the way God wants you to. Let God permeate your thoughts and let Him help you become the honest person He wants you to be.