“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Luke 18:13

You have to be honest with yourself. If you broke something, but hide it from the person it belonged to, that’s no good. If you hurt someone’s feelings but try to act as if you didn’t know that your words or actions hurt them, that isn’t good. And if you did wrong by God but cover it up for other’s sake, you’re causing more harm than good. The first step in  growth is to admit or be honest. If you aren’t honest about the issue at hand, you won’t ever change. Covering it up doesn’t make it better. Only when you own up to your mistake will you be in a position to receive the help and grace that you need.

I think about how honest I am with God. I recognized that  I’m more honest at times than others. In the times that I’m not honest with God, I realize that it’s because of shame that I feel from my actions or some part of myself that has yet been made like Christ. I feel disappointed that I behave/thought/felt that way at this point in my spiritual life, but the fact is that I am still being molded by God, and won’t have it all together all at once. I now realize that it’s a transformation process. I say that to say this: it’s okay to admit when you’re wrong. You don’t have to try to save face with anyone, especially not with God. As I’ve said before, God knows you. Inside and out. He knows every thought you think and your way of processing. He knows every good thing about you and ever bitter thing. God takes all of you- just as you are- and He transforms you into what you need to be for Him. He can turn your bitter waters into sweet waters, IF you allow Him to.

 

God isn’t looking for us to get it right all of the time, but He is expecting us to be honest with Him so that He can effectively use us and make us more like Him. If we are acting like the Pharisees, we feel that we don’t need God because we aren’t as bad as those around us, when in reality, we’re worse! We should be like the publican who recognized his faults before God His Helper. Don’t cast the blame on someone else when you are the one responsible. Don’t be deceived by the devil. We ALL fall short of God’s glory( Romans 3:23), but we all can be redeemed by the hand of the Lord if we would simply be honest with God and ourselves.

 

The truth hurts sometimes, but the bible said that “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but know that once’s the truth has been spoken from your heart, you’ve made space available for God to come in and work things out in you. God is here to help you and heal you, not hinder you.

 

My prayer is that God helps us all be honest with ourselves so that we can be honest with Him. I pray that God helps us to see the truth of our hearts, and to allow God the space and time to work on us. Though the truth may be hard, I pray that God helps us get through it with His help. I believe that God wants to help us. The question is who will let Him?

I encourage you to take a moment today and pray with me really quickly:

God, I haven’t been completely honest with You, but I want to start today.  Forgive me for not being truthful with You. Help me to be transparent with You always, and not try to hide anything from You because You see all and You know all. Forgive me for hiding my heart from You. You know all about what’s in my heart, but You still choose to love me. Thank You for loving me still. Lord, I give You the space to change my heart, to take away all of the things I’m used to that have kept me from You. I surrender my whole heart to You. I ask that You give me a heart for what You care about, a heart for the things that touch Yours. Make my heart tender for You, Jesus. I desire to please only You. Help me to commit my heart to You, Lord. Thank You for helping me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

It’s not over for you, beloved. Your Helper is coming to you!
God bless you! ♥