Honesty

Proverbs chapter 5 verse 12.
"If I had only listened! If only I had not demanded my own way! Oh, why wouldn't I take advice? Why was I so stupid? For now I must face public disgrace."

All of us have made mistakes that have embarrassed us. And it does not feel good to be put on the spot where we have been found guilty.
   Now we have a decision to make. Do we try to wiggle out from under our deceit by lying or do we tell the truth and face the consequences? To continue the lie can result in making a situation worse.
However telling the truth is going to cause embarrassment and humiliation.
   You may get away with not telling the truth, but the problem with that is, it sets you up for lying again. You found it easy to lie and then escape free from facing consequences. Maybe someone else had to answer for the mistakes that were made. It did not matter, you got out of being accused and that took a load off your mind.
   Now you may or may not feel guilt for the mistakes that were made. You may not even care that someone else had to answer for something you did. So when the next time comes and it will happen---Maybe not tomorrow or even a week or month from now but at some point you are going to be faced with a decision to make. Do I be truthful or do I lie?
   It took a long time for me to realize that it is better to be truthful about everything than it is to lie. From the simplest of, "what just happened here?" to "did you do that?" Or "have you seen the...?" There are so many things that we can get caught up in that can lead us to doing right or doing wrong.
   I grew up in a family with brothers and sisters, so it was easy to play the blame game. And that extended into my adult life. Years of weaseling around and squirming out of situations.
   So stop anything from going wrong by being wise about what you are doing in the first place! Use common sense to guide you. Have patience and step away from situations for a moment before reacting. Give yourself an opportunity to think before you speak or act.
   God is one way to live a life that is proper. By following Jesus, you will be led to a life with God, who wants to watch over you, who wants to guide you and keep you safe from troubles. God wants you to know that the life you are living is from Him and that you see Him as your Father and you as His child.
  That way you are looking to Him for guidance. You are trusting Him to keep you on the right paths. You are relying on Him to protect you. You are then giving Him all the praise and glory for everything you do in your life. A life with God, is a focus on doing the things that please Him. And when we do make mistakes, He is there to help us face our disciplines.
   So be honest about everything. Tell the truth always. Stop yourself from wrong living and being put into situations that are going to cause you harm. Sing songs of praise and have a life of joy instead of deceit and always looking over your shoulder.
 A peaceful life comes from walking with Jesus. Living with God and having the Holy Spirit fill you with the love for the life you have with Him. That is when you can share the joy and care about what others are doing. That is when others will be attracted to you because you are known as truthful, honest and a joy to be around.
   Thank you Father for setting us free from the burdens of life. Thank you for Jesus and a life that is pleasing to you. "Well done my child" is what you will hear and feel good about.😊 

My dad once told me some good advice and I held onto that through out my life. Listen closely to what others, who love and care for you say.

Proverbs chapter 4 verse 5.
"Learn to be wise" he said, "and develop good judgement and common sense! I cannot overemphasize this point." Cling to wisdom---she will protect you. Love her---she will guard you.

James chapter 4 verses 1-3.
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it because there is a whole army of evil desires within you? You want what you don't have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can't afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole aim is wrong---you want only what will give you pleasure.

Exodus chapter 34 verse 6.
"I am Jehovah, the merciful and gracious God," He said, "slow to anger and rich in steadfast love and truth."