For some of you, this topic of speaking the truth may not be such a big deal as it is for me.  I have had very many opportunities to speak the truth but chose to lie. Why youmay ask? Well, I had the PBPY Syndrome (paint-a-better-picture-of-you Syndrome).

What is that?

For a very long time, I felt uncomfortable about who I was and what I could do, therefore, I would help my ego, just a little bit. Funny as it may seem to you, for me it was almost automatic. Whatever I didn’t want you to know about me, I covered up. I show you a different version instead.

I told stories with a little pinch of salt and pepper added just for flavor. Whatever sounded boring to me I gave it more live. It became a normal thing that even I couldn’t tell the difference. My brain fed me the information, I packaged it well and shared it.

Even after years of becoming a Christian, I still didn’t realize anything was wrong. Just never paid attention. Until the time (a few years ago) when God began to open my eyes to this rot.

I met with a friend for lunch one special afternoon. In an attempt to get to know each other better she wanted to know more about me… of course. Well, you guessed right, I painted the image I wanted to display. Kept some info and added some colors.

I could almost hear God (in me) saying “Really…?”

Of course, I lost my peace that moment. I went home. And I couldn’t pray.

I tried to ignore it, but I knew if I really wanted Christ to be in charge I’m gonna have to make things right. This was around the same time I had an issue with a song I sang freely while I was in the university. Back in the days, I was so sure I meant what I was singing. But at this time,  whenever the song came to my mind, I would sing it till I get to the last 2 lines. And wouldn’t continue. The song goes;

• I’m your’s, Lord
• Everything I have
• Everything I am
• Everything I’m not
• I’m your’s, Lord
• Try me now and see
• See if I can be completely yours.

I Came Clean

It was a battle in my heart but I knew I had lost just didn’t want to admit it. I would rather keep it the way it is, I really don’t need to go back to her. I knew I must do it but I didn’t want to face her and say the truth was tampered with. I was trying to save my face but I was losing my peace.  I can’t remember how long it took me but one day I invited her over and told her the truth.

This incidence was one that brought about a floodgates experience in my walk with the Lord. It was around the time that I began to really live purposely for Jesus as an adult.  I was able to complete the song (with fear and trembling). Not sure how this happeneded chronologically, but it was more like a season of restitution for me. From then on, as I studied the scriptures I was able to understand what it meant to be free. Free of fear, shame, guilt. This was about the time I understood what Jesus did for me. I wrote more about that here. 

Speaking The Truth Made Me Free

He/she whom the Son has set free is free indeed. I am free! Let me add it here that for me, speaking the truth is something I still pay attention to. I am on a constant watch on my heart and mouth. Many times I still feel the temptation to add some colors to my words. And even sometimes I catch myself exaggerating, when I notice this, I add a new statement to correct myself.

Let me add it here that for me, speaking the truth is something I still pay attention to. I am on a constant watch on my heart and mouth. Many times I still feel the temptation to add some colors to my words. And even sometimes I catch myself exaggerating, when I notice this, I add a new statement to correct myself.

It was a habit of my old self that Jesus dealt with on the cross. I let him take a hold of my mind and heart as I speak. And we continue to build a new habit.

My dear, I don’t know if you have a lie that needs to be corrected. I don’t know if you are trying to save yourself the shame of facing them, to tell the truth, I tell you the freedom in Christ is way bigger than the shame of sin.

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5: 1

I pray for grace for you to abide in Christ, grace to worship him in spirit and in truth. I pray for the grace for speaking the truth and nothing but the truth.

God bless you!