Maintain Integrity in Your Language

Maintaining integrity in the use of language is a basic principle for effective communication. This is difficult to maintain in the presence of a heated discussion. Refuting another person’s beliefs can evolve into a “must win” mentality when accompanied by strong emotions.

If integrity is diminished, efforts to prove others at fault become the basic objective. As integrity weakens, nonverbal communication may become exaggerated, as authenticated by facial expressions, a passionate voice, and the fervent gesturing of hands and arms.

Yet when each person's integrity is honored, attempts to squelch communication is a non-issue because respect for others is paramount. Integrity permits diverse opinions and even desires their expression. In this atmosphere each person feels safe to be different, which builds trust and increases the potential for deeper intimacy. God's unconditional love and care honor our individuality. Let us follow God’s example. 

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The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them. 

~Proverbs 11:3 New American Standard Bible

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Insight: God's Light for Values - Part 2

The essentials for effective change are insight, endurance and action, and usually develop slowly in separate stages but may occur simultaneously. Insight generates honesty with oneself and then stands with what is right and with authentic moral decisions. Insight serves as a bridge to value formation and clarification.

Values lay the groundwork for the development of self-respect and are incompatible with guilt, shame and disgust with oneself. God does forgive our sins when we confess, repent and express faith in Christ Jesus. Self-respect is a product of a clear conscience and is strengthened by refusing to take the easy way through life's challenges.

Ephesians 5:22 identifies self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. So, insight is God’s enlightenment that helps us make healthy choices. Self-respect derives from a clear conscience and aids us in choosing the narrow way that leads to life now and for eternity. The challenge is both difficult and rewarding.