What does a life lived with integrity look like?

Having integrity means doing what we say we’ll do and doing the right thing even when it costs us something and no one would ever know if we didn’t do it.  It means being honest and not just talking a good line but living that out every day.

God tells us in Proverbs 10:9 “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”

I’ve got to admit – there are times I really hate telling anyone that I realize I made a mistake.  It would be so much simpler to lie about it and cover it up.

It seems easier to take a crooked path.

There are other situations where I don’t feel like taking care of a responsibility or doing ‘the right thing’.

It seems easier to take the crooked path.

Every once in a while a ‘shady’ short-cut looks very enticing instead of struggling with all the work that is going to be involved to do something the right way.

It seems easier to take a crooked path.

The crooked path is dark with holes and cracks that make us stumble and fall.  We’re kidding ourselves if we think people around us don’t realize when we’ve taken crooked paths.

It’s obvious.

God tells us the blessing of walking with integrity is that we will walk securely.  The path of integrity is straight and solidly built on the truth.  God’s light shines on this path and it is filled with his love, grace and security.

Each day, each choice, we are deciding which path to take.

Please help us stay in the path of integrity, Abba Father.