The Integrity of God

In our Western culture we ratify a verbal agreement by ‘shaking on it’. The handshake is an important symbol of trust. We ‘shake hands’ right-hand to right-hand. Most people are right-handed. In order to shake an enemy’s hand you had to put down your weapon or, here in the ‘Wild West’, holster your gun.

In some Eastern cultures the gestures of trust and agreement are even more intimate. They often involve greetings of kissing both cheeks and reaching out with both hands.
We have an expression that says ‘my word is as good as my name’. You can trust that I will fulfill my word to you based on my good name from the past.

God sets an even higher standard of integrity and faithfulness for Himself. He exalts His name (who He is) and His word (what He says He will do) above everything else. And of those two, He magnifies His word even above His good name. This is the foundation of our faith. We can absolutely trust that our God, as revealed in Scripture, is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. God has complete integrity.

We can put down our weapons and come close. We can enter into agreement (covenant) with Him without fear. His Word is our weapon against the lies of the Enemy. It is the basis on which we have forgiveness and assurance of salvation. It gives us hope in perilous times.

For some of us it can be a bit of a journey from fear to trust. We hold tight to our weapons of self-protection and self-fulfillment. We stay distant from the Father and approach Him as slaves rather than beloved sons and daughters.

Begin today by remembering those times, those places, where the Word was true for you. Look for the ‘fingerprints’ of God on your life; where He met you, carried you, supplied your need and healed you. Look for the ‘footprints’ where He went before you. Find scriptures that match your experience and memorize them. Speak them out when the Enemy pursues.

Choose today to see the faithfulness and integrity of your Father. Pick up your weapons and defeat the spirits of slavery and fear. Choose to trust.

Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see You as You really are. Enable me to trust. Train me to war against the Enemy and his lies. Make me a person of integrity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.