How can we avoid being "valiant for lies" in our daily interactions? Setting the Scene: Lies vs Truth in Jeremiah 9:3 “They bend their tongues like bows; lies instead of truth prevail in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account—declares the LORD.” Jeremiah describes people who have become skilled archers with their tongues, launching words that wound truth itself. The problem is not ignorance but willful disregard for God. When He is “not taken into account,” deception fills the vacuum. The result: people become valiant for lies—bold, persistent, even passionate in spreading falsehood. Recognize the Root of Being “Valiant for Lies” • Forgetting God’s presence and authority (Jeremiah 9:3) • Allowing the heart to drift toward evil (Proverbs 4:23) • Seeking the approval of people over the approval of God (Proverbs 29:25) • Letting unexamined emotions steer conversation (Matthew 12:34) Until these roots are exposed, surface corrections rarely last. Cultivate a Heart that Loves Truth • Invite Scripture to set the standard: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) • Treasure honesty at the core: “Surely You desire truth in the inmost being.” (Psalm 51:6) • Adopt the mindset of Psalm 15:2—walking with integrity and “speaking the truth from the heart.” • Pray through passages such as Proverbs 12:22, letting God’s delight in truthful lips shape affections. Affection for truth must precede effective speech; the fountain determines the flow. Train the Tongue to Serve Truth • Exchange lying for open honesty: “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor.” (Ephesians 4:25) • Filter every word through edification: “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up.” (Ephesians 4:29) • Reject flattery and exaggeration: “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.” (Proverbs 26:28) • Pause before speaking or forwarding information: “He who answers before he hears—it is folly and shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13) Repeated, conscious practice retrains reflexes so that truth becomes the default. Guard Against Cultural Currents of Falsehood • Test every story, meme, or headline: “The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17) • Measure every opinion against Scripture rather than popularity. • Choose companions who value truth; “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) • Refuse to weaponize partial truths for personal gain. Half-truths serve whole lies. Embrace Accountability and Correction • Invite trusted believers to confront inconsistency. • Confess quickly: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” (1 John 1:9) • Welcome correction from God’s Word, sermons, and personal study. • Celebrate restoration more than reputation; humility keeps deception from taking root. Walk in the Spirit, Not in Deception • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • Depend on the Spirit’s fruit—especially faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). • Let every interaction become an arena where the Spirit’s power overrules fleshly impulse. Spiritual vitality is truth’s strongest ally; the Spirit delights in magnifying Christ, who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Living It Out Today • Start each day by acknowledging God’s presence; deception loses strength when He is consciously honored. • Memorize or post key verses (Jeremiah 9:3; Ephesians 4:25; Proverbs 12:22) where eyes and mind meet them often. • Before speaking, ask internally: “Will this build, heal, or clarify?” • Fact-check before sharing—online integrity matters as much as face-to-face honesty. • If caught overstating, correct yourself immediately; swift repentance disarms pride. • End the day with reflection, thanking God for victories and confessing any lapses. By rooting the heart in Scripture, training the tongue in godliness, resisting cultural tides, embracing accountability, and walking in the Spirit, believers move from being valiant for lies to being champions of truth. |
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