Speak Your Mind Truthfully

Many people are prone to lie. Some contend that it’s okay to say something untrue as long as it’s necessary and kind. However, a lie is a lie by any other name. No matter how compassionate you may feel in telling an untruth, eventually the lie will be exposed. It makes no difference whether your spin was compelled by compassion, hope for career advancement, or desire to suppress opposite positions. Little good comes to you in the long run when you choose not to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Telling the truth isn’t always easy, and the temptation to mislead others can be enticing, but your integrity is at stake. Your intention should be to be truthful, transparent, and trustworthy.

Jesus said that the mouth speaks what is good and honest because of a good heart (see Matthew 12:34–35). Though Jesus recognized every person’s sinful condition and need to trust Him as Savior, He described some people as having a “good heart” (see Luke 8:15). On the other hand, lying points to a bad heart—our darker nature (see John 8:44). According to Jesus, lying arises out of our sinful nature.

When telling the truth will cause you to lose something or not gain something, do you give wrong information to protect your interests? Do you hedge on the truth and mislead people? Or are you committed to telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? It is only natural to fear the unpleasant outcomes that may result when telling the truth. You may also have difficulty thinking before you speak. We want to communicate the truth, but we may let other factors change our minds.

To learn how to speak our minds truthfully:

• We must move from feeling threatened by the truth to being secure in the truth.
• We must no longer allow unresolved personal issues leave us feeling troubled, but instead we should remove the unhealthy obstacles that block our truthfulness and seek to live a life transformed by the truth.
• Instead of being crafty with the truth, we must learn to be forthright with the truth.
• Instead of feeling obligated to repeat others’ lies, we need to become people of integrity who are moral with the truth.
• If we’ve often been caught in lies as a result of being presumptuous, we need to take intentional, appropriate action to ensure we are informed of the truth.
• We must move from being self-serving to thinking of others above ourselves by being altruistic about the truth.

As you reflect on true communication, be encouraged by how simple this is. You need only ask, “If the roles were reversed, would I want that person to tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” You also need to realize that telling the truth produces the best positive outcomes in the end. Believers in Christ who come clean about any lies and seek to be truthful experience a supernatural peace, a clear conscience, meaningful meditations in Scripture, renewed power in prayer, joy in worship at church, and a fruitful ministry. Speaking the truth transforms the heart! Will you commit to being the real deal and telling the truth no matter what?

Respond

When are you most tempted to lie, conceal the truth, or speak before thinking through the validity of what you say?

In what ways can telling the truth and admitting when you have not been forthright with the truth bring healing in your heart and your relationships with others?

How can being truthful with others and considering their needs before your own transform your heart and your relationship with God? What does Psalm 51:10 teach you about how your heart can be transformed?

Prayer

Lord, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life (see John 14:6). Thank You that You provide the power to overcome my selfish desires and tell the truth. Please give me wisdom to recognize my weakness to take what seems like the easy path by lying. I want a heart that honors You and speaks the truth as I communicate with those who cross my path. Amen.