Friday, June 6, 2008

Integrity: Part 2

In the previous post, I talked about having integrity within your home. Let’s take a look at what integrity means and how we can practically live out this characteristic.

Integrity means completeness, innocence, perfection, uprightness. With integrity, you desire to be blameless, righteous, and holy. So, how do you do that? Well, here are a few things that have helped me in striving to “walk in integrity within my house.”

1) Each day (preferably in the morning), pray and read the Word (A Psalm a day is an idea). The Word is our only Truth. The only way to walk in integrity throughout the day is to have a sanctified mind. “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).

2) After you pray and read the Word, pick a key verse to meditate on throughout the day.
Idea: Post the verse on an index card. Take an index card and on the left side write the days of the week then write the verse beside that day (eg. Monday – Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10). Post the index card in a place that you frequent throughout the day (eg. by the kitchen sink or bathroom mirror). By the end of the week, you have a complete card with all your verses from that week. This is also a great way for scripture memorization.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

3) Be quick to confess your sins to God and apologize to your hubby and children. If you get a bad attitude, respond harshly or angrily, yell or scream, etc, you should be quick to make the situation right with God and with your loved one. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

4) Whenever you watch TV, go online, listen to music, or read anything, ask yourself:
1. Is this beneficial or worthless for my soul? “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless” (Psalm 101:3).
2. Is this allowing me to stay spiritually sober and in a mindset of prayer? “Be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” (I Peter 4:7).
3. Do you realize that Jesus is right there with you? Is He & His Word being honored, reverenced, and glorified by what you’re looking at? “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).

These 4 points just touch the surface of striving for integrity. There are many, many others. So, take the time to ask the Lord how you can best express integrity of heart within your house.

I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Psalm 101:2-4

2 comments:

Steph said...

Thanks Caryn...I needed to hear this. With summer starting and all family routine a bit out of order...I have let myself get a bit lazy about spiritual things. It's so easy to make excuses!

This was perfect! I love the index card idea! Thank you!

Mez said...

Caryn! I love those verses you quoted to go along with some of those points! It's also definitely good for me to be reminded of that too, this being the summer and life being crazy and what not. The index card idea is a fabulous one!
How are you and your family?