Why It’s Important to Reject Lies and Live the Truth
My children learned at a very young age that nothing upsets me more than lying. They quickly learned that if we were dealing with the truth . . . we could talk about anything and work through it.
Lies break trust and trust is necessary for good relationships. So, if we want trust to be a part of our lives, it’s important for us to reject lies and live the truth.
Trust is defined as the “firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance.”
Good relationships are built on the belief an individual is real and honest and won’t do anything to intentionally harm us.
Lying is an antonym for honesty. It’s devious, insincere, unreliable, and ends up making the liar untrustworthy. Lying removes our peace … I know it agitates and upsets me!
And it seems like I’m not alone. Psalm 120 is a prayer for God’s help with liars…
In my distress I called to the Lord,
Psalm 120:1–2
and He answered me.
Lord, rescue me from lying lips
and a deceitful tongue.”
Sometimes it feels like lying has simply become a part of life.
The Bible makes it clear that sinful people are prone to lying.
- Abraham told people that Sarah was his sister. (Genesis 20)
- Jacob lied to his father by pretending to be Esau. (Genesis 27)
- Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph. (Genesis 39)
- Peter lied about knowing Jesus. (Matthew 26)
- Ananias and Sapphira lied about the profits of the sale of their property. (Acts 5)
We’re all sinful and we’re all tempted to lie. But we don’t have to give in to temptation. We need to fight the temptation to lie because we know God hates it.
Not lying is one of God’s Commandments…
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:16
Solomon wrote…
The Lord detests lying lips,
Proverbs 12:22
but He delights in those who tell the truth.
Paul wrote…
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
Colossians 3:9–10
And Jesus said…
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
Luke 16:10
It’s clear the Lord wants us to tell the truth consistently. He wants us to be trustworthy and genuinely shine the light of His love so that people might see Him in us.
So, how do we reject lies?
We live honestly and speak the truth. If or when we unintentionally lie – we repent and ask for forgiveness. And if others lie to us or about us – we give it to God and ask Him to heal our hearts and protect us in the future.
Let’s pray…
A Pray to Reject Lies
and to Know and Live the Truth
Father, Your Word is TRUTH. It tells us that Jesus is the TRUTH that sets us free. He is both the source of truth and the standard of truth. Your Words says that you want us to SEEK You and KNOW the TRUTH … and speak the TRUTH in love.
It also tells us that the enemy of our souls is the father of lies. He twists Your TRUTH and blatantly lies to tempt, manipulate, and harm the people You created. As we look around, lies are everywhere. Lies are accepted as truth and truth is said to be lies.
Father, we need Your Spirit to KNOW and TRUST Your TRUTH. We need wisdom and discernment to recognize and reject lies. Please help us. Please help me. Forgive me for the times I’ve listened to the wrong voices and believed and unknowingly shared a lie.
Please help me to faithfully speak the truth in love. Give me an honest heart that SEEKS to KNOW the TRUTH and a mouth that speaks it with gentleness and respect.
And finally Father, I ask that You will protect me from those who tell lies. Guard my heart, mind, character, and reputation by Your grace so that my witness of who You are and all You’ve done might glorify You and prompt others to want to KNOW more about You.
I thank and praise You now and forever. Amen.
In the foreword to his book, Piercing the Darkness, Frank Peretti wrote…
“As we follow the invisible warfare swirling around the life of one wounded, searching sinner, the core message rings clear: No amount of lies, no matter how cleverly couched, will ever outstrip or outlast God’s truth, nor will any lie ever out-reach His grace. The Lord knows those who are His, His sheep hear His voice, and the arm of the Lord is never so short that He cannot save.”
With God’s help, we can make it the intentional desire of our hearts to reject lies and speak the truth in love with gentleness and respect. We can quickly repent when we fail. And we can prayerfully give the lies of others to the Lord in prayer letting Him deal with them trusting that He is able to heal our hurting hearts and protect our witness.
Verses to Hold Near When You Want to Live the Truth
- God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. (Psalm 18:30)
- Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. (Psalm 25:5)
- But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true. (Psalm 119:151)
- But the Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King! (Jeremiah 10:10)
- The paths of the Lord are true and right. (Hosea 14:9)
- Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
- This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. (Titus 1:2)
Praise God for His faithful love and forgiveness. Praise God for His Spirit of Truth.
May we with His help reject lies and speak the TRUTH.
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May each of us embrace God’s truth as our own, and live that truth daily.
Blessings, Deb!
Amen, Martha! His truth is truth. Praise God we can trust and rely on Him. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Amen Deb! There is never a reason to lie to anyone about anything! And I sure wish some of our politicians could read your post and live by it! The lies that satan is devouring so many with are so damaging to all of society these days. In fact, lies are ravaging and collapsing so many countries including our own. I am praying for Israel in fervent prayer since this war has started. Which has so many believing the lies of satan. I love you and all my friends here. Thank you for your words of truth about God, His love and forgiveness. I keep you and Rev in my prayers. And Sue, my dear friend, I am so thankful for you and your sweet words of encouragement. I pray that you are healing from your recent surgery and hope the other issues you are going through will be resolved. I pray that everyone who visits Deb posts, will be blessed as we walk together in this dark and lying world. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all! Praise His Holy and Sovereign Name.
Thank you, Kathy! In the public forum it’s hard to know who’s telling the truth and who’s lying. I think it’s why I love God’s Word so much! I know that if something it contrary to God’s Word then it’s not the truth. And the rest of it, I prayerfully give it to God because I know He knows the truth and the future. I join you in praying for Israel and especially for God’s children in need of His protection and provision. Thank you so very much for your prayers and sweet friendship. Amen … God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.
Thank you for the great topic that I at times fall into. That is why I continue to ask God to give me grace and discernment to help me in my thoughts, words, and mind to refrain from lying at times. I feel that when I lie it is done to avoid problems amongst family members. So I will ask God to give me the right words so I always live with truth. It is so true Kathy what you said that our politicians need to become close to God in order to live righteous. I will continue praying for our Country to bring it together and give our politicians a merciful heart. Sorry for the late response I’m on vacation but will continue to follow you all. God Bless all of you and have a wonderful Sunday!????