"I appreciate honesty more than anything. If you tell me what it is up front, you gave me the option to take it or leave it. I respect that!!" ~Robert Dawson
One of the things I value most is honesty and truth. I came across this statement by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I read it once, twice, maybe even ten times digesting each sentence.
"A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and, in order to divert himself, having no love in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest forms of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal. And it all comes from lying~ lying to others and to yourself."
~Fyodor Dostoevsky
When I was a little girl, I stole some Blue Waltz Perfume from the local Ben Franklin store. My conscience hurt so badly that I had to tell my mother what I'd done. She took me by the hand and we walked to the store to return the perfume and to confess my deed. To this day, I remember taking it, where I hid it, confessing to my mother, and the trip to the store. Funny thing though, it didn't matter that the lady at the store gave me a hug and called me a big girl for returning the perfume, I still felt so awful.
Fast forward to today... The moment I do something less than honest, my conscience goes into high alert. There is something inside me that brings me to my knees. I think that's good ... the not so good part is that I have expected other people to be as honest. That, my Readers, has caused me deep despair and grief when I have found out that what was told was simply a way to my heart and a way to prey upon my vulnerable side.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." So often, we only quote the last part of what He said ... "the truth will set you free" forgetting the first part "if you hold to my teaching." Hmmm... What does Jesus teach? If you don't know what He's about and what He taught, truth may be variable depending on our own human thoughts and experiences.
Do I depend on my own ideas of truth? Who do I listen to? Do I pick and choose? Sometimes God's ways do not make sense to me. Isaiah 55:9 says, "My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." God possesses infinite knowledge and perfect wisdom. He is eternal, Almighty, and all knowing. He sees the end from the beginning and is totally aware of the final outcome of ALL THINGS.
I don't know about you but sometimes I crater and cry out in pain.
Me: "Help me!"
God: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you." ~Psalm 32:8
Me: "How're you going to do that and how about right now??!!"
God: "When the time is right and it's best for you."
Me: "I'm going under."
God: "Then swim!"
Me: "If I sink will you throw me a life jacket?"
God: "I already did."
You may be laughing but my conversations with God can get pretty detailed.
Today is a new day, a day to celebrate every single good person walking on this Earth. A day to raise holy hands and pray for wisdom and guidance. Yesterday, someone called me an ideologist. Maybe so.. I believe one by one each man and woman CAN make a difference
Let me end with this for today...
For you Christians reading my blog, you will remember the story told in John 8:7-11 regarding a woman accused of adultery: "So when they continued asking Him, He raised himself up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.' And again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who head it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.'"
Dear Lord, let us join hands in praying for our nation and the people who reside in it. Grant our President, his staff, family, and those in power wisdom and judgment as they set the bar for either bringing us together in peace or dividing us by seemingly righteous hate. Forgive us for all the times we've judged others for what we do ourselves. Uncover lies and liars giving us clarity. Move mightily amongst your people giving us backbones to follow YOUR WILL and YOUR WAYS! In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
Peace be still.
Fast forward to today... The moment I do something less than honest, my conscience goes into high alert. There is something inside me that brings me to my knees. I think that's good ... the not so good part is that I have expected other people to be as honest. That, my Readers, has caused me deep despair and grief when I have found out that what was told was simply a way to my heart and a way to prey upon my vulnerable side.
Do I depend on my own ideas of truth? Who do I listen to? Do I pick and choose? Sometimes God's ways do not make sense to me. Isaiah 55:9 says, "My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." God possesses infinite knowledge and perfect wisdom. He is eternal, Almighty, and all knowing. He sees the end from the beginning and is totally aware of the final outcome of ALL THINGS.
Me: "Help me!"
God: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you." ~Psalm 32:8
Me: "How're you going to do that and how about right now??!!"
God: "When the time is right and it's best for you."
Me: "I'm going under."
God: "Then swim!"
Me: "If I sink will you throw me a life jacket?"
God: "I already did."
You may be laughing but my conversations with God can get pretty detailed.
Today is a new day, a day to celebrate every single good person walking on this Earth. A day to raise holy hands and pray for wisdom and guidance. Yesterday, someone called me an ideologist. Maybe so.. I believe one by one each man and woman CAN make a difference
Let me end with this for today...
Dear Lord, let us join hands in praying for our nation and the people who reside in it. Grant our President, his staff, family, and those in power wisdom and judgment as they set the bar for either bringing us together in peace or dividing us by seemingly righteous hate. Forgive us for all the times we've judged others for what we do ourselves. Uncover lies and liars giving us clarity. Move mightily amongst your people giving us backbones to follow YOUR WILL and YOUR WAYS! In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
Peace be still.
No comments:
Post a Comment