The challenges of life often test our ability to maintain a walk in the rhythm of integrity. Why is this important? Integrity is the inward strength, or glue so to say, sealing God’s love and truth in our soul, reflecting outward as a living testimony to the world. Therefore, it enables us to be honest, humble and transparent before God. It is what also enables us to reject and overcome forms of pride, fear and insecurity that cause many conflicts.
David, the man after God’s own heart, learned the value of walking in the rhythm of integrity. He learned– sometimes the hard way– that integrity puts you in a state of being at complete true peace with God. That’s because it brings you to a place of freedom from ambivalence and duplicity, or double-mindedness.
RELEVANCE
Integrity brings you to a deep sense of freedom and innocence before God. This is because it strengthens your inner code of moral convictions to the point where you can’t deny God, your sovereign Creator; but can, however, resist acting against your conscience to do what you know is morally and ethically wrong.
Integrity, therefore, serves to help you be more consistent and at peace with your thoughts, motivations and actions. David’s psalms reflect his engagement with God and lessons he learned about the value of integrity. He can teach us a lot. Embrace his heart’s cry:
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
(Psalm 26:2)
Paul embraced such convictions. It was with this heart condition and mindset that he could boldly declare; “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you” (2 Corinthians 1:12-13).
So, as you focus on elevating your mindset to be in greater alignment with God and live in greater rhythm with God, keep in mind what God has to offer. We all stand to gain a lot by living in Christ’s fullness through the Holy Spirit’s grace gifts. The writer of Hebrews expresses it succinctly.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
The concept of receiving a kingdom should stir a great passion in you for the Lord! Yes, friend, we have much to gain! God has much in store for us. So, He beckons us to receive the fullness of His love and grace gifts and be stirred by His Spirit to walk in the fullness of integrity– and His joy. Yes, God looks for integrity as a measure of our faithfulness towards Him, so He can entrust us with more.
Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. (Matthew 25:23)
REFLECTION
What obstacles or issues seem to pop up that bring you to compromise integrity?
What kind of mindset do you think it takes to maintain a rhythm of integrity?
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Psalm 7:8; Psalm 25:21; Psalm 26:1-2; Psalm 41:12; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs 28:6