The Truth about Lies
Exchanging our Excuses for Excellence
LIE: I made Macaroni & Cheese with Rice
TRUTH: It was really Butternut Squash Risotto
I knew if I told my girls that I made butternut squash risotto for dinner, they would turn up their noses and start complaining. So, in a brilliant flash of wit, I told them it was mac-n-cheese with rice. They totally bought it!
It was delish! My kids gobbled it up (even my picky one). Finding a meal we ALL enjoy is tricky in my house. So, this was a VICTORY worthy of shouting from the rooftops. My’ clever meter’ was off the charts. My quick-wit had me teetering close to the genius level in my eyes. Oh, the power of our words!
Until God spoke….and DROPPED A TRUTH BOMB in my heart, “Stop the Lies!”
Ouch! The truth hurts.
But, LIES HURT MORE‼️
It doesn’t matter that my motives were good. I want my kids to eat healthily.
It doesn’t matter that my intentions were pure. I simply wanted a peaceful dinner, sans complaining, negotiating & tears.
Bottom line: There is NEVER a good reason to LIE
Prov: 25:18: Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
We can trick ourselves into thinking a little white lie is harmless, that it’s for a greater good, that it’s not going to matter, or it’s not going to hurt anyone. It’s funny; we tell ourselves lies to justify our lies. It’s a trap, and I took the bait—hook line and sinker.
IMMEDIATELY after getting home from the gym, I sat the girls down. I confessed what I did. I told them I was wrong. I apologized, and I ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS.
One knew it!
One had a feeling.
The other was mad. (the picky one!)
In the end, THEY ALL FORGAVE ME (phew!)
WAKE UP: Here’s the honest truth about lies.
Little lies are a BIG DEAL. They threaten our potential and our future. They limit us, hold us back and derail the call of God on our lives.
Definition of a white lie
: a lie about a small or unimportant matter that someone tells to avoid hurting another person
We need to recognize the areas the enemy is trying to slip in and steal the power and presence of God in our lives.
- Are you merely going through the motions in your walk with Christ?
- Have you stopped trying in life?
- Are you numbing your heart with addictions?
- Have you settled for the middle of the road?
- Is mainstream your mainstay?
- Are you so-so tired of your so-so life?
Have no fear! You are in the right place. This is where we exchange our excuses for excellence, say goodbye to just getting by, and punch mediocrity in the face.
It’s time. Stop settling, my friend. There is a better way to live. God wants more for you…and so do I.
Pause.
Take inventory.
What are you justifying that is ungodly?
5 Lies about Lies:
1. I don’t want to hurt their feelings
Ask yourself, is lying really helping more than it’s hurting? Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That includes telling people things they don’t want to hear or not saying anything at all.
‘But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other…’
Zechariah 8:16 NLT
2. Little lies aren’t a big deal
A lie is a lie, no matter how big or small. Bottom line, lies are bad. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to what God has to say about it.
‘The Lord detests lying lips.’
Proverbs 12:22 NLT
3. Everyone does it
I just had a flashback to my childhood. I can hear my mom saying, “I don’t care what everyone else does. If they jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?” Word from your motha’. To be honest, none of us is perfectly honest 100% of the time. Because of our fallen nature, we will struggle against this tendency throughout our entire lives {Ugh}. That doesn’t make it right. It’s not meant to be an excuse. And, it doesn’t mean we give up trying.
‘Everyone lies, everyone flatters, and everyone deceives. Nothing but empty talk, smooth talk, and double-talk’.
Psalm 12: 2 TPT
4. The truth hurts
The truth can be interpreted differently by the recipient (that’s on them, not you). It has the potential to harm, hurt or help. With that in mind, check yourself before you speak. Make sure your motive is rooted in love, your timing is appropriate, and covered in prayer.
‘Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
Ephesians 4:15 NLT
5. The truth will do more harm than good
The truth can be hurtful, so please tread carefully. Honesty does not give you a free pass to be thoughtless, insensitive, or mean. When asked for your honest opinion about something: pause and take a moment. Then, answer with truth in love.
‘And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.’
Ephesians 4:29 TPT
Here’s my heart on WHY this is so critical…
Some of the most powerful words are the ones we keep in our heads that we say to ourselves but never dare speak out loud. Our mind is the battlefield where the enemy wants to replace truth with lies – they are his secret sauce. It’s no Bueno.
If we want to tackle the lies we speak to others, we must first address the lies we say to ourselves.
When we declare His truth over ourselves, things start to shift.
Your faith increases:
You start to believe God is who He says He is. And, you start to believe you are who God says you are. What we believe dictates who we become. When those dots start to connect, that’s when real living begins. That’s when you propel toward your purpose. That’s when your dreams are activated. And that’s when you start leaving an eternal legacy. Now that’s my idea of a good time!
Lies lose their influence:
There will be no room for lies if we fill ourselves up with the truth. When the lies try to penetrate our minds (and others), they will be squeezed out, diluted, and disintegrate. We must know the truth intimately so that we can recognize the lies immediately. The longer the lies take root, the stronger their influence becomes. Speaking truth over yourself and others daily is one way to stay on the offense.
Your spirit starts to soar:
Life is more fun when we believe the truth about ourselves. All of the Super Cash at Old Navy, Frequent flyer miles, and Stars and Starbucks in the world can’t touch the rewards of believing the TRUTH about God and ourselves.
Lean in and listen to the benefits of truth:
- Unlocks our potential
- Releases our purpose
- Increases our influence
- Expands our boundaries.
Together we will break it down—step by step, one day at a time. We will say no to normal & ordinary and say hello to your extraordinary, uncommon, and unusual life…just as God intended.
WALK IT OUT: How to Speak TRUTH
I know it’s one thing to learn about lies. It’s nice to identify the problem. It’s good to talk about it too. But true transformation happens when we actually start to apply this biblical truth to our everyday life. So, here’s to breaking it down, step by step. When you finish reading this blog {You’ve come this far, you can’t stop now} – You can start putting your faith in action by becoming a doer of God’s word.
Here’s my method to stop the madness {plain and simple}.
6 Ways to Stop Lying:
- DON’T LIE
Hello, Captain obvious, I know. But, it’s surprising how often and easy it is for the little white guys to slip out. Be aware and on high alert.
- FIND FRIENDS
Have friends who speak the truth IN LOVE. Friends who aren’t afraid to call you out – and love you through it.
- OBEY
When God convicts you, obey IMMEDIATELY. There is no time to dilly-dally. Putting it off is just plain torture. Fight for your peace.
- OWN IT
Take responsibility for your mistakes. Call them out, confess them, and carry on.
- WATCH YOUR WORDS
Words are powerful. Are you using them to speak life or death? Hint: lies lead to death. If you want to unleash the transforming power of God in your life– start with your words.- Recognize the lies: Be aware {mind your mind}.
- Redirect: Shift your focus {interrupt your thoughts}
- Remember the truth: Know the word {it will set you free}
- Repeat: Every minute, of every hour, of every day!
- FORGIVE: Remember the sweet feeling of FORGIVENESS. Relentlessly chase after your freedom and peace, at all cost. Jesus did it for you. You can do it for yourself and others.
The victory is ours – if we use his weapons: His truth, His word, His power. Speaking the truth is one way to stay on the offense.
God is ready to tackle your heart.
He wants to set you free.
You will find peace on the other side of truth.
I’m with you every step of the way.
