How many times growing up have you heard the words "little white lie"? Or the words "everyone one lies"? We are programmed to believe at a young age that there lies...and then there are little white lies, sometimes also referred to as just an exaggeration of the truth. But the only exaggeration that there really is, is that there is a difference between the two. There is not in God's eyes.
In yesterday's blog I talked a little about my past and the messed up relationships I was in. I'm not sure what God is asking me to go into my past so much, but if it is to benefit someone who might read this, then by all means I will be obedient. You see, part of that problem I had with the relationships I had (and I don't mean romantic ones, I mean even just my friendships), was the fact that there was very little depth to them. Because I was being so fake with God, I was also being fake to everyone around me. Living a life of "lies" because I couldn't really be myself around people. Why was that? Because who I was on the inside didn't match who I was pretending to be on the outside. And the foolish thoughts I had was that I could fool God just like I was fooling the people I was the closest to. I was lying to those around me about how good my relationship with God was, and for the most part they had no idea. But I was also lying to God....and He did know it. And I can honestly say that when I look back His grace and mercy was still there, but His patience with me was wearing thin. And His tolerance of my lies and my sins was also wearing thin. Lies are so dangerous, more so than society gives them credit for. They are the enemies way of getting us to build a trap around ourselves. It is like handing you a shovel and telling you to dig yourself a hole and jump in it. Then while you're in it, just keep digging it deeper. If I asked you to do that, you might look at me like I'm crazy and say why in the world would I do that. But when the enemy does it with lies we don't even realize what we're doing. When lies get told there is something that happens on the inside of us too. It is a quieting of our conscience (which is really the Holy Spirit). The more we choose to lie, the more we choose to ignore the nudging that the Holy Spirit will do to us. And as we ignore that nudging lying becomes easier and easier....at least we think it does. But that hole we are digging is just getting deeper and deeper, and the trap the enemy is setting for us is getting worse too. Almost always when a lie is told then there has to be something to support that lie, so we find ourselves having to "live up to" the lie. Which no matter how "small" the lies is, it's already causing damage, even if we can't immediately see it. Then that lie will lead to another as we begin to "cover our tracks". And a lot of the time that one little lie (in our minds) ends up leading to multiple lies to keep it all covered up. And so the desensitization begins. And the next thing you know you are forced to flat out ignore the Holy Spirit just so you don't get caught in the mess you have made. That "slippery slope" that started with the first "little lie" has now become a construction ground for future lies to be built upon.
To be blunt, lies cause pain and mistrust. And usually it is within yourself before it even happens on the outside. We know we are hurting God and we know we are becoming less and less trustworthy. And I don't care who you are or how callous you are, that will begin to eat away at you. But here is the good news.....it is NEVER too late to turn to God and utter the words "please help me". It is the place I came to over 2 years ago and those are the words that started the change that took place in me. I first came clean to God, and then I came clean to everyone else. This is what created the platform for God to change me on the inside. Do I know my past is forgive...ABSOLUTELY, but did it still cause damage, yes! Do I ever forget that, NEVER! Not because I let the enemy remind me of who I used to be, but because I let the Holy Spirit remind me of what all God brought me out of. And then I use that, and my love and appreciation for God, to not fall back into those old ways. I have learned that the truth....not a version of the truth...but THE TRUTH is what God wants. He wants it when we are dealing with Him, and He wants it when we are dealing with others. He sees in our hearts and He already knows when the words (or actions) that we are about to use are not 100% truth.
If not being truthful (or call it what it is....being a liar) is an area you struggle with, then go to God first and clean out your closet, then be prepared for Him to send you to someone you trust and have you clear the air with them too. That is exactly how He began a work in me and to this day I am so thankful that I didn't fight it. The person God sent my way received me with love and was there for me as I allowed God to perform this purging process in me. I had to apologize to some, I had to confess to a few others, and I had to do it EXACTLY the way God was instructing me. It was His way and His healing that got me to where I am today. By no means am I perfect, but I am guided and directly by the Holy Spirit in a way I never was before. And I am so thankful for that. And no matter how deep the hole is that you have dug for yourself, you can allow Him to reach a hand out to you and begin to pull you out and clean you up.
Scriptures on lying: Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 12:22, Psalm 101:7, Colossians 3:9-10, Luke 8:17, Proverbs 12:19, 1 John 2:4, Ephesians 4:25
God, thank You for your cleansing that You can do in our lives when we humble ourselves and let you. Thank You for the nudging of the Holy Spirit and I pray for each and every person who has quieted that in their life. Today I rebuke the lying spirit of the enemy in the name of Jesus and ask for Your truth to come alive in people's hearts. In Jesus name, Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment