How to Know and Experience the Blessing of Being Honest With God
Do you have verses in Scripture that make you squirm because they hold a truth you really don’t want to think about?
Today’s chapter has a couple of verses that definitely make me uncomfortable…
It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
1 Corinthians 4:4b–5
But I don’t think God’s goal is to make us squirm or make us uncomfortable. I believe these verses are a twofold opportunity that will bless our relationship with God and with others.
The first blessing is the knowledge that you and I can always be completely honest with God.
He already knows everything about us. He knows our darkest secrets and private motives. He knows our thoughts, attitudes, desires and everything else.
David wrote:
O Lord, you have examined my heart
Psalm 139:1–2
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
Adam and Eve hid in the Garden after they sinned but we don’t have to hide. God loves us so very much that He sent His Son to save us. We can honestly confess every sinful thought, motive, or secret . . . every sinful word or act, and be confident that His mercy, grace, and love are greater than our worst offense.
The second blessing is that when we’re honest about our own sin, we’re less likely to judge others.
Simply put . . . judging others is arrogant! I know, ouch! Right?! But when you and I judge others we are evaluating ourselves as “better than” they are and that’s arrogance. But admitting the depth of our personal sinfulness leads to humility.
And treating others with humility is a powerful witness that will strengthen and bless all our relationships.
So, be honest with God. Tell Him your weaknesses and struggles, secrets and motives, flaws and faults. Nothing is hidden from Him. He knows them all and He loves you. He will forgive you, heal you, and bless you.
A Prayer to Be Honest with God
Father, please forgive me. I can be guilty of coming to You with my church face on . . . my expected smile and joyful attitude. And I can also approach Your gracious presence with a long list of wants, wishes, and grumblings failing to remember all the ways You have provided for and protected me. I have put You in a box of my own ideas and expectations and I’m so sorry.
You know everything about me. You know my thoughts, my secrets, and my motives. You know my bumps and bruises, my losses and my wins. You even know the number of hairs on the top of my head. (Matthew 10:30) You know the good, the bad, and the ugly. When I’m honest . . . it makes me squirm. I want to think You only see my church side but when I think about Your mercy and Your grace. When I humbly admit all of the times I have needed and received Your forgiveness . . . well, it helps me humbly forgive others not judge them.
Lord, there is peace in knowing I can be completely honest with You. I don’t have to pray with special words or a fancy formula. Because of Your love, mercy, and grace, I can come to You just as I am in the name of Jesus. I can simply sit with You and talk about life. I love You, Lord. Your goodness and mercy give me everything I need now and forever. Amen.
It’s funny how these words of Paul can make us squirm or give us peace depending on how we look at them.
My prayer is that we all can receive them with peace today . . . knowing that we can be completely honest with God, the One who already knows us best and loves us completely.
On today’s note write:
God wants me to be completely honest with Him.
May you be blessed today by the One who knows you and loves you completely.
Click here to read the rest of 1 Corinthians 4.
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Yes, God already knows everything about us, Deb, so why not be completely honest with Him? He is there to love us with our flaws and shortcomings.
Blessings!
There is something freeing about that truth, isn’t there? I don’t have to try to hide anything from the God who knows everything about me and loves me still. Blessings, my friend!
Such freedom to know I can turn to God no matter what I have done. He is a compassionate and forgiving God that knows all my imperfections. It is with a humble and grateful heart that I can talk to God about all things. How I love the Lord God Almighty.
Petunia
I wish my daughter Neo can know this
That all we need to do is to be truthful to God our Father
I so wish and desire as her mom to see her serving the
Great I Am whole heartedy especially this days
And her wish woll be granted
Thanks so much for visiting, Petunia! I’m praying for you and for your daughter. May God be with you and bless you!
I completely agree, Marilyn. It is an awesome blessing to know and love the Lord God Almighty, who is compassionate, forgiving, and full of love. God be with you and bless you!
I completely agree. God is already so full of mercy, grace and love for us, that He sent His only Son, so that we can be saved. We have nothing to fear from God when we come before Him asking for forgiveness. Sometimes it is difficult to be honest with ourselves but doing so, makes us humble and less likely to judge our brothers and sisters. We are all pilgrims journeying together. The truth shall set us free when we are honest before God who loves us so much. Your words today Deb have greatly touched my heart, thank you and God bless.
Angela – Ireland
So true, Angela! I think being honest leaves us humble and sometimes that feels hard. But I love how our gracious Lord receives us when we humbly and honestly bring our needs for His grace and mercy to Him in faith. Thanks so much for stopping by . . . God bless you!