Trust, Honesty and Integrity...

UPDATE: Having started my new job I am amazed at how incredibly God has provided for me. It is in a place which starts with bible readings and prayer every day, where faith and integrity are part of the core ethos and is definitely a place in which I can work with a clear conscience.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”

(Revelation 21:5 - New International Version)

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation.’”

(Isaiah 12:2 - New International Version)

Something that Christians need to be conscious of is the need to live out what we believe. This involves holding ourselves to God’s high standards and principles in the way we conduct our lives, as opposed to the lower standards that the secular world deems to be acceptable.

This can be very hard to do as it often comes with a cost. Being honest and demonstrating integrity in what you do can lead to being passed over or missing opportunities, as others with less ethical natures may be rewarded by a world that doesn't always look closely at a person’s character, being content instead with a cursory glance at the shiny surface they present to the world.

Unfortunately, people can be fooled by those whose nature does not reflect God’s principles. God cannot be fooled. God knows our thoughts and sees the inner desires of our hearts. He knows whether or not what we say and do is honest and has integrity.

”Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”

(Psalm 139:4 - New International Version)

Patience is a virtue

God also rewards us for being steadfast and true. Not only is He our salvation, the greatest gift of all, but He longs to shower us with other gifts. Sometimes the gifts are immediate, but sometimes they are held back until the right time, or until He has ensured that we will be mindful of them and grateful for them.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

(John 15:5 - New International Version)

I've been trying very hard to put all of my trust in God, particularly in recent months, probably more so than ever before in my life. It has not been an easy time, and there have been moments when doubt and disappointment could have overtaken me and when the temptation to give in to the demands of the more worldly aspects of life has been great. Sometimes it feels like it would be easier to lie...

Honesty IS the best policy

I've been looking for a new job as, having taken a stand for honesty and integrity in my current workplace, life has become very 'difficult'. I have been blessed by God in getting many interviews, but until today my honest answers to some tricky questions about this 'difficult' employment led to nothing. Not becoming disheartened and not doubting God’s plan was hard. Really hard.

I am glad that I persevered. Today God blessed me with a new job and the people interviewing me were open minded and open hearted, respecting the stand I have taken for God’s principles of honesty and integrity. I think that, having gone through so many unsuccessful interviews, God was using this time to teach me about perseverance and humility. God has been right beside me. I have really felt His presence next to me and know I could not have kept to His principles without His strength keeping me upright.

His word is my strength

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 - New International Version)

Reading the Bible each day and studying God’s words and wisdom has been a huge source of strength for me. It has enabled me to build up my trust in Him more and more, especially as He has been using my studies to build me up in exactly the places I needed the reinforcement. I have been reading the Psalms, and the comfort they have brought me, as well as reminders of His promises, has been incredible. Being reminded that we are ‘in the world, but not of the world’ has been a source of encouragement to keep going, to retain my integrity and keep being honest. I have also been reminded that I need to spend time with God each and every day, in study and prayer.

A scripture study from our senior pastor has also pointed the way, reminding me that God has a plan for my life, even when I can’t always step back far enough to see it. Yesterday morning, at exactly the time I needed it, a word of Scripture arrived in my inbox; it was like God was sat next to me.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

(Hebrews 10:35-36 - New International Version)

Trust + Perseverance = Good Things

Trust is not easy and has to be worked at. Perseverance is required, as we must continually believe that God has great things in store for us when we are faithful to Him. Life doesn't always go exactly the way we want it to, at exactly the moment we want it to, because God has bigger and better things waiting for us.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

(John 14:6 - New International Version)

Jesus is truth…therefore honesty and integrity are needed if we are to be like Him. We must uphold these Kingdom values in our lives, showing Christ through our words and actions if we are to be a light unto the world. I pray and trust in God that I will be given the strength of character to follow Paul’s example:

“I speak the truth in Christ – I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit”

(Romans 9:1 - New International Version)