“Keep me from lying to myself.”
Do you ever lie to yourself?
A study from the University of Massachusetts conveyed that 60% of people lie every 10 minutes. The study revealed several interesting statistics about how most of us occasionally tend to be dishonest. What the study did not cover was the amount of lies we tell ourselves.
Take the subject of food alone; how often do we claim we will not consume as much caffeine, sugar, or saturated fats or know we need to cut back, and we tell ourselves we will start next week? Weeks later, we are still lying to ourselves about our intentions.
Proverbs tells us, “All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit” (Proverbs 16:2, NRSV). James tells us we have a propensity to deceive ourselves. (James 2:22)
Many of us lack the self-awareness that we can, without help, 100% determine whether our thoughts and perceptions are true or not. Our inability to be honest with ourselves is the basis that promotes our need to add David’s prayer to our list of requests.
“Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.” (Psalm 119:29, NLT)
David’s simple prayer protects us from the misleading thoughts that, when entertained long enough, can lead us down the painful road of regret. David experienced self-deception when he convinced himself it was okay to sleep with a woman other than one of his own wives.
David slept with Bathsheba, and she became pregnant. When David received this news, he tried to further hide his sin by having her husband sent to the front lines of battle in hopes of a “natural” death. The husband did die. David married Bathsheba, and they suffered the loss of their first-born son.
However, David’s tangled web of thinking had failed him long before his lustful encounter with another man’s wife.
“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him… But David remained in Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 11:1, NRSV). While we do not know the reasoning supporting David’s decision to stay home, the scriptures indicate this was not normal behavior for a king. What was David thinking?
We do not know what thoughts inside and conversations outside that led to David’s staying home, but his thoughts to remain was a costly decision. Our thoughts feed future actions, and these potential actions are why having the truth saturate our minds is imperative.
The NLT uses the phrasing, “Keep me from lying to myself.” Other translations use words like falsehood and deceit.
“Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.” (Psalm 119:29, NIV)
“Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.” (Psalm 119:29, BSB)
“Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness, And graciously grant me Your law.” (Psalm 119:29, AMP)
To pray a prayer that keeps us from lying to ourselves, from deceit, falsehood, and unfaithfulness is not a lighthearted request. David’s appeal is coupled with a petition for God to grant him the knowledge of knowing His Word. There is a connection between God’s Word and our ability to be honest with ourselves.
Imploring God to help us operate with self-honesty and know His Word better will lead us in the direction of an authentic life and escape the statics of those who lie.
I pray that God keeps you from lying to yourself and that you grow more and more in your knowledge of God’s Word. May people see you as a person of integrity, drawing others to Jesus by living a life that is honest with yourself and others. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: Keep me from lying to myself
Reflect: What do you imagine could have been some of David’s reasoning for not going out to battle? Can you remember a time when you have deceived yourself? If so, what was the outcome? What are some of the fears that might be associated with being honest with oneself? Take some time to think through and pray David’s prayer.
Deeper: 2 Samuel 11:1- 12:14; Psalm 119:25-32; Proverbs 12:13-22
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(Bible References: NRSV – New Revised Standard Version, NLT – New Living Translation, NIV – New International Version, AMP – Amplified Version, BSB – Berean Standard Bible)
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