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Listen while you read: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"1
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Psalm 119:29 – Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. (NLT)
I was telling myself a big one — lying to myself — and the trouble was that I believed it.
My lie began about the time I turned fourteen. It went something like this: "You don't need school." If I didn't need school, I didn't need to study either. So, I did little of it. After I started driving, another lie popped up. If I didn't need school, why go? Every opportunity I got, I ditched class.
By the time I reached the twelfth grade, the lie had grown. School wasn't necessary, studying wasn't essential, and attending was optional. Why go at all? So, I quit. I found a full-time job at a grocery store, but I had to lie about being out of school to get it. After several months, they cut my position. I finally decided to tell myself the truth: I needed an education.
Knowing God's Word is a privilege, one which keeps us from lying to ourselves. When we know God's Word, we won't lie by telling ourselves that we're okay and don't need God. Instead, we'll believe the verse that reads, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23 NLT)
Neither will we lie by telling ourselves that we'll live forever, so we might as well live it up without worrying about whom we're hurting. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a NLT) squashes that lie.
If we lie to ourselves by believing that there's no God to whom we're accountable, we read, "Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.'" (Psalm 14:1a NLT)
And if we imagine that we can get to heaven by any route that we choose, we find Jesus saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NLT)
Lies are always harmful, but the ones affecting our present happiness and eternal destiny are more so. Others may lie to and about us. We may lie to ourselves. But God will never lie. His Word contains unchanging truth that doesn't vary by time or culture.
Let us each and all feed on the truth from God's Word.
Prayer: Father, thank You that we can always depend on You to tell us the truth about sin and ourselves. Amen.
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About the author:
Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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Amen Martin.
Great thoughts to start my day. Thanks, Martin.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Oh Martin, isn’t that the truth! Thank you for sharing this timely devotional with us. Blessings.
Thank you, Martin, for this powerful devotional. I also like the glimpses into your past that you frequently share.
Martin, Thanks for sharing how your self-deception was finally confronted because it didn’t work for you. I’m sure you’ve never stopped thanking God for this merciful intervention.
Thank you, Martin, for another of your “right on” devotionals. Yes, following the word of our Saviour is the right way to go in our daily life and will give us the best outcome of any situation. Blessings for your special writings.
Good morning, Martin,
Thank you for the great message and sharing part of your faith journey. We definitely have periods in our lives where we made bad decisions and have been saved.
May you continue to inspire others using your experiences and the Bible as a reference. Blessings.
Another beautiful moment of truth! Thanks for sharing, Martin. Blessings.