Thoughts for Life: #96 Integrity in Word

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: The person of God must be a person of his word. His holiness, love, and integrity must be evident in his speech. All our statements, reports, and writings must be open, honest, and kind.

Both God and man judge us by our words. "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:36-37). (Google image, Man speaking).

1. Say nothing for which you are not willing to accept full responsibility. Say nothing about an absent person which you would be unwilling to repeat in his presence.

2. Beware of a compulsion always to comment or say something about matters under discussion. Be willing to delay your comments. You do not need to tell everything you know unless your information is essential to the discussion. Speak when your comments are needed; be silent when they will not be beneficial.

3. Be positive in as many of your comments as possible. Avoid the reputation for being a negative person.

4. Beware of flattery and exaggerated praise. These will cause you to lose the respect of those who hear you.

5. Express full and cordial credit to all those to whom you are indebted for ideas and help.

6. Avoid plagiarism [falsification] in speaking or writing.

7. Do not assume the attitude of an authority in areas where your information, experience, and training are incomplete.

8. Be careful and understanding in your remarks about others as you would be if it were a member of your own family.

9. Be slow to give credence to negative reports and continue to believe the best as long as possible. Be specially careful to avoid casting any reflection or aspersion [slander] on a fellow-Christian or a Christian leader.

10. Never criticize the motives of others. You rarely can put yourself in their position and so fully understand their motivation. Always give the benefit of the doubt. Remember, you only hear words and see acts; you do not know the full motives.

11. Be totally honest in intention in everything you say. Speak to bless, help, and guide.

12. Be accurate in every detail in reporting statistics and descriptions. Beware of over-generalization, understatement, or exaggeration.

13. Be faithful in characterization. All statements must be so fair, equitable, and uncolored in description that your comments could be repeated without hesitation regardless of whoever is present.

14. Avoid statements which can be understood two ways. Avoid all duplicity; let your positions be clear-cut. If you change your position, say so, but beware of appearing to equivocate. Watch lest people feel they cannot depend on what you say.

15. Daily ask the Holy Spirit to guide or restrain you in your speech.

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Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.

Ablaze for God
#96 Integrity in Word
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 286- 287) ZondervanPublishingHouse

Praying hands

Father, in order to be leaders of integrity in the words we speak, there are several pieces of advice given us here.

When we speak, we need to accept the responsibility of what we've said, that it is truthful, and that we meant it to be a blessing and a helpful guide.

Our waiting to speak something that is needed in a conversation, is a good guide, as we should be accurate, and not guilty of criticizing the motives of others present.
We ask Your Spirit to restrain our speech to help us remain speakers of integrity, and to guide us as to what we should say and do to honor You.
In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

Is. 41:10 (NKJV) "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not
dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous
right hand."

Ecc. 5:2 (NKJV) "Do not be rash with your mouth,
and let not your heart utter anything hastily before
God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few."

Prov. 25:11 (NKJV) "A word fitly spoken is like
apples of gold in settings of silver."

Today's quote-

~ Billy Graham- "In many ways conversion is a mystery, for from our viewpoint as humans it is both man's work and God's work. Our responsibility is to turn to Christ in faith and repentance, turning from our sins and asking him to come into our hearts by faith. We express our desire to change the course of our lives, and we acknowledge our helplessness to do this apart from God's help. We commit ourselves to live in accordance with God's will. And when we do, God the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. If our commitment is genuine, God works in our hearts to regenerate us. Then we have truly been converted—we have been born again by the Spirit of God!" (p. 93 of THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS by BILLY GRAHAM, Library edition).

Today's question-

Are you aware that the Holy Spirit speaks to us individually?

As every believer is to bring God glory, His Spirit within us is faithfully speaking to us. When we read, study and listen to His Word, we are filled with powerful statements of God for His Spirit to use to help us live fruitful lives.
Our spiritual life is carried out through our life's calling. God is glorified through the work of his people, whose calling is to do their work (vocation) to His glory.
God is at work on the undercover of men and women. Every believer is anointed and appointed by God. We are constantly being changed from glory to glory as we learn through new experiences by God's grace.
Daily, He is speaking to us by His Spirit to guide, correct and encourage us individually.

Upcoming posts-

Take Down the Goliaths
3rd- Saturday's post by Max Lucado

#97 Integrity in Personal Ethics
6th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#98 Integrity in Finances
8th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Sky Garden
10th- Saturday's post by Bill Crowder