How Important Is Integrity in Your LIfe?

Scheduling time is a necessary and important part of our daily lives.  Being on time for important events and appointments say volumes about our values and character. The core values our attitudes and integrity represent are commitment as well as performance.

Proverbs 11:2 makes an interesting observation related to integrity: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Integrity portrays commitment to high moral principles that do not vacillate with every wind that blows or with how much stress must be endured.

Listen to David’s words to Saul from 1 Samuel 24: “This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I will not lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” 

Integrity is a treasure worth protecting regardless of the pressure or stress life presents.           

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Please [O God] help me learn to do the right thing, and I will be honest and fair in my own [life]. I refuse to be corrupt or to take part in anything crooked, and I won’t be dishonest or deceitful. 

~Psalm 101:2-4 Contemporary English Version

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How Are Pride and Humility Incompatible?

Humility is often perceived as meekness, which means it is seen as a weakness rather than a strength. This common usage of meekness is negative, for it portrays a person as weak. In the worst sense it implies lack of courage to stand up for yourself.

Pride can be thought of as a strength or weakness. Pride can be a strength when balanced with the awareness that all you are and have are blessings from God. Being proud of your children, a home, and career is okay when balanced with thanksgiving to God for his provision.

Humility is a strength if it insures we never forget that our strengths are insufficient for long-term success. Saul, God’s chosen King of Israel, failed to honor God by refusing to humble himself and follow God’s calling and boundaries. 

Refuse to permit the cares of life to turn you away from God’s insight and wisdom that he offers you for balancing your strengths and weaknesses. You can remain faithful to God’s calling with the faith and strength he willingly offers you.                               

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He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

~Isaiah 40:29 New International Version

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What Helps in Recovering from Criticism?

Alternatives to criticism are not impossible to discover when there is a receptive heart and mind. Begin by accepting that criticism’s message is that you are a failure, but an alternative to that message is believing you are capable of making modifications in your thinking and behavior.

If you are the one being criticized, acknowledge specific failures. It’s important to accept feedback where failure has occurred and to recognize definite faults in making good judgments. It’s appropriate to apologize for identifiable failures and to ask for instructions on how to improve behavior.

Owning up to major or minor failures opens the door to insight and wisdom. 

Proverbs 9:12 gives this affirmation: “You are the one who will profit if you have wisdom; and if you reject wisdom, you are the one who will suffer.” May God open your heart and mind to listen to corrections and God’s wisdom.     

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When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

~Proverbs 11:2 New International Version

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Avoid a Fall into Failure

Failure and defeat are as much a part of life as are success and victory. As a child I had difficulties learning to read, spell and articulate. Remedial reading programs did not exist, but by the fifth grade I had taught myself to read. Today, these issues are diagnosed as a form of dyslexia.

While some failures and defeat are beyond our control, others are caused by inattention or irresponsibility. Pride is often used an excuse to compensate for a weakness that has in its composition the ingredients for failure. Pride prohibits confession of weaknesses for fear of revealing hidden feelings of inferiority.

Sampson’s pride barred him from admitting personal weaknesses. This attitude laid the foundation for his undoing and disgrace. Proverbs 11:2 warns, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Isn't it wonderful that humility and wisdom are safeguards against pride? Make humility your priority so God can bless you with wisdom. 

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Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

~Proverbs 18:12 Christian Standard Bible

The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him.

If they fall, they will not stay down, because the Lord will help them up.

~Psalm 37:23-24 Good News Bible

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Surrender That Stubborn Pride

 Stubbornness has been both praised and criticized throughout history. Some people take pride in their stubbornness. Karl Jung, the Swiss psychologist, wrote, "I regret the foolish mistakes that sprang from my stubbornness, but without that trait I would have never reached my goal." Stubbornness can keep us on track while we’re pressing on toward worthy goals.

Sophocles, the Greek dramatist expressed another view in his play Antigone: "Stubbornness and stupidity are twins," but some people believe stubbornness protects their fragile self-esteem. In truth, stubbornness can be a huge obstacle to overcome while seeking and receiving forgiveness. How easy is it to give in to pride, even when knowing it’s a glaring mistake?

However, obstacles can be turned into opportunity. Obstacles can be challenged head-on by refusing to give in to real and artificial barriers and by asking God for courage and wisdom to grant and receive forgiveness. You can surrender your stubborn pride to Christ, who will sufficiently enable you with the strength to overcome it. 

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You stubborn and hardhearted people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.

~Acts 7:51 Contemporary English Version

Too much pride can put you to shame. It’s wiser to be humble.

~Proverbs 11:2 Contemporary English Version

Then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. I will listen, wide awake, to every prayer made in this place.

~2 Chronicles 7:14-15 The Living Bible