I Can Speak the Truth

12–15 minutes

Center · Stillness

Settle in

Put the phone down. Take one slow breath, and say: “God, I am here. Speak, I am listening.”

Read · The passage

Scripture

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.

Ephesians 4:25, BSB

Learn · Reflection

Reflection

Honesty is built in the small decisions of everyday life. Telling the truth can take courage, especially when we are afraid of the consequences. Even so, living honestly brings peace and strengthens healthy relationships. God honors the person who learns to walk in integrity and truth.

From the time he was young, Abraham Lincoln was known for something very simple but powerful: people trusted his word. So much so that many called him “Honest Abe,” which means “Abraham the honest one,” because he tried to act with integrity, even in small things.

The story goes that one day, after helping a customer at the store where he worked, he realized he had charged a few coins too many by mistake. As soon as he noticed the error, he walked a long way just to return that money. To many people, that might seem like a small thing. To him, though, acting honestly mattered.

We live in a world where it sometimes seems easier to hide the truth, to exaggerate, or to tell only part of the story. But honesty builds trust. Telling the truth does not mean speaking without love or hurting people. It means learning to live sincerely, even when that is not the easiest road. God can trust great responsibilities to the person who chooses to live with integrity.

Talk · Conversation

Talk about it

In what small thing this week was it easier to hide the truth than to tell it?

Thank · Gratitude

Give thanks

Today I thank God for the people who tell me the truth, even when it stings a little.

Ask · Prayer

Pray together

God, help me be honest in the small things, like coins nobody would ever count. Let my word be trustworthy today.

Begin · Application

Carry it into the day

Today, go back to something you told only half of, or stretched, and tell the whole story.

Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible. Public domain (CC0)