Integrity is not what you appear to be when all eyes are on you. It's who you are when no one is looking. It's a level of morality below which you never fall, no matter what's happening around you. It's a high standard of honesty, truthfulness, decency and honour that is never breached. It's doing for others the way you would want them to do for you.
The Bible says, "The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him" (Proverbs 20:7). A man of integrity says something and means it. He doesn't play verbal games so you never really know where he stands. He knows to let his "Yes" be "Yes" and his "No" be "No". For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). He will not play both sides of the fence to please everyone. His goal is to please God and do what is right. A man can be highly esteemed among men but an abomination to God (Luke 16:16).
The Bible says, "The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him" (Proverbs 20:7). A man of integrity says something and means it. He doesn't play verbal games so you never really know where he stands. He knows to let his "Yes" be "Yes" and his "No" be "No". For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). He will not play both sides of the fence to please everyone. His goal is to please God and do what is right. A man can be highly esteemed among men but an abomination to God (Luke 16:16).
Integrity happens in the heart. Therefore, being a man of integrity is something your husband must choose to do on his own. But you can prayerfully help him fight the enemy that seeks to snare him, blind him, and keep him from making that decision. Even when he makes the right choice, there will be a negative reaction to it in the realm of evil. Your prayers can help shield him from anything that causes him to doubt and waver and give him strength to do what's right even when no one's looking.
PRAYER
Lord, I pray that You would make my husband a man of integrity, according to Your standards. Give him strength to say "Yes" when he should say "Yes" and the courage to say "No" when he should say "No". Enable him to stand for what he knows is right and not waver under pressure from the world. Don't let him be a man who is "always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth" (II Timothy 3:7). Give him, instead a teachable spirit that is willing to isten to the voice of wisdom and grow in Your ways.
Make him a man who lives by truth. Help him to walk with Your Spirit of truth at all times (John 16:13). Be with him to bear witness to the truth so that in times of pressure he will act on it with confidence (I John 1:8,9). Where he has erred in this and other matters, give him a heart that is quick to confess his mistakes. For You have said in Your Word, "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:8,9). Don't let him be deceived. Don't let him live a lie in any way. Bind mercy and truth around his neck and write them on the tablet of his heart so he will find favour and high esteem in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3,4).
Amen.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
Proverbs 28:6
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity. Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
Psalm 7:8
The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.
Psalm 26:1
Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.
Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.
#inspired...ann #WiseQuotes
*Stomie Omartian, The Power of a Praying Wife(2006)
No comments:
Post a Comment