![]() © 2019 Combustion Five / Third Story House Music (ASCAP) (admin. ![]() If we lived like it was true every Sunday morning pew would be crowdedīut didn’t you say the church should look more like a hospitalĪ safe place for the sick and the sinner and the scarred and the prodigalĪnd know that you love for me won’t change There’s a sign on the door saying “come as you are” but I doubt it When being honest is the only way to fix it I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine but I’m notĪnd when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets safe with you behind closed doors Lie number 2 everybody’s life is perfect except yours James 3:18, "And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.Lie number 1 you’re supposed to have it all togetherĪnd when they ask how you’re doing just smile and tell them “never better” Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you." (ESV) Thinking about your current relationships, what are some practical applications you can make as you pursue soul integrity?Ģ Corinthians 13:11, "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Is the Lord moving you towards real honesty, real peacemaking or a combination today? Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who gives me the wisdom to move beyond my reactions. It makes us true peacemakers-people who aren't proving or pretending but rather honestly demonstrating what they are experiencing in a godly manner.Īnd being a true peacemaker reaps a harvest of great qualities in our lives: right things, godly things, healthy things.ĭear Lord, through You I am able to bring all my exploding and stuffing under Your authority and truth. This soul integrity brings balance to unglued reactions. Yes, we're after soul integrity-honesty that is also peacemaking that leads to godliness. The minute we divorce one from the other, we stray from soul integrity and give a foothold to the instability that inevitably leads to coming unglued. Truth and godliness always walk hand-in-hand. It may seem godly in the moment, but it's false godliness. But it's also dishonest when we don't say things that are true. Sometimes dishonesty comes in the form of saying things that aren't true. Saying "I'm fine" to keep the peace, when we're really not fine, isn't honest. Either it will erode our health and later present itself in a host of emotional and physical anxiety-induced illnesses, or it will accumulate over time and surprise everyone when the peacemaker eventually erupts. But when we do this at the expense of honesty, we harbor a corrosive bitterness that will eventually emerge. The upside to stuffing is that we have the semblance of peacemakers. That's what we do when we stuff and pretend everything is okay. It must grieve God to see plastic versions of peacemaking that aren't reined in by honesty. ![]() Ultimately my goal should be to add peacemaking to my honesty. I need to ask questions of them with the desire to better understand instead of throwing out statements of accusation. I need to see things from the other person's perspective. So, if I want real honesty, I have to ask the Holy Spirit to show me real truth. That's why we need peacemaking honesty-honesty reined in by the Holy Spirit-if we're going to have authentic soul integrity. I can feel justified in being blatant about my feelings-not hiding a thing-and prideful for being so real, all under the guise of being honest enough not to stuff.īut in reality, honesty that isn't true isn't honesty at all. I can be honest with how I feel and still exaggerate or misinterpret what is factually true. You see, my honest feelings may not be truthful assessments of the situation. Not all honest expressions of my feelings are real honesty. I must remember I need real honesty combined with real peacemaking. I want to be honest and peacemaking at the same time. " Yes, I want this kind of wisdom-this soul integrity. James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure (honest) then peace-loving. The godly way is approaching this situation with soul integrity-responding in a way that's honest but also peacemaking. If ever I catch myself pretending or proving, I know I'm processing my hurt the wrong way. If someone says something or does something that hurts me, what is the godly response? Is it to pretend like everything is fine so I can keep the peace? Or is it confronting the person to prove how wrong they are? "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17 (NIV) The godly way to deal with hurt is by approaching the situation with soul integrity-responding in a way that's honest but also peacemaking.
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