Monday, January 30, 2017

Harsh

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. ~Proverbs 6:16-19

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." ~John 8:44

As you can see, there is no quarter given in either the Old or New Testament for a liar. If you are a liar, you are hated by God and described as an offspring of the devil by Jesus. Bad company to be in. To be sure (and as I have said repeatedly) I am not a bible literalist. But I always add that the bible is wonderfully instructive. So it is here. From the corridor of time comes ancient lore of how seriously lies were taken. (very!) So why do people lie so often? Why do you?

To ruthlessly examine the excuses you employ to alter (revise, rationalize, minimize) the truth can liberate you from self-loathing and self-sabotage. It can free you from the lie at the core of your being: I'm not good enough. Because you believe that, nothing you ever do will be good enough. And that is a monstrous lie. One that requires harsh methods of eradication. One method you can try is to stare into a mirror and declare; I am through lying to myself--and mean it.