Hollywood Prayer Network on TruthSample

STAY AWAY FROM TEACHERS WHO OPPOSE THE TRUTH

"It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes... we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions - especially selfish ones." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 

"The very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history...In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act." George Orwell

PRAY:  Dear God, I want to be truthful to my friends, but sometimes when I speak God's truth it makes them angry at me. I want to sanctify others by Your truth but I can become their enemy. Would You help me to speak truth with love and grace, and to be sensitive to the right time, place, and situation where You will be glorified, they will be blessed, and I will be Christ-like. You have given Christians the power to bless people as holy, just by speaking truth to them, but that doesn't always happen. Don't let me be afraid to speak truth, but don't let me hurt people in the process. I need You to guide me, direct me, give me the words and the wisdom to choose when it's right to speak truth and when I just need to pray. Also, please help me to accept words of truth from my friends, so that I can listen, learn, and grow with them, and not get defensive, angry, or hurt. Oh, I need You every moment! Selah!

REFLECT:  Have you ever hurt a friend by speaking truth to them? Has anyone hurt you or made you angry because they were speaking truth to you? It's hard to hear truth. But God gives it to us in three ways, and we have to be open to all three: Through Scripture, through the nudge of the Holy Spirit, and through other people. We want to be sanctified as believers, set apart to do God's work, and we want the people we love to walk in His truth and be free to share it with us as well. But sometimes it hurts to face a truth that reveals our weaknesses, sin, or ignorance. Can you offer truth to others, in love, and can you accept truth that others offer to you? It is a huge step in maturity to not create an enemy, or be an enemy, as we learn to walk in God's truth. Scripture seems to point us to both truth and grace - and always with love.

ACT:  Sit quietly and ask the Lord to reveal to you if you have any enemies - either because you have pushed them away, or because they have pushed you away. Was it because of truths or lies that were spoken? Be vulnerable with the Lord and ask Him what to do about each situation. Do you ask for or extend forgiveness? Do you open up about your hurt, anger, or pain, or do you commit to pray about what is in your heart until the Lord brings peace or reconciliation? Choose what you need to do regarding anyone you have hurt, or who has hurt you, because of speaking truth. Maybe you spoke without grace or love. Maybe it was the wrong time, or words were spoken with anger. Whatever happened, take it all to the Lord and ask Him to reveal your next step, so that you can walk in truth and have no enemies in the process.