Psalm 15:5 (MSG) Keep your word even when it costs you

Psalm 15:5  (The Message)
A David Psalm

5"Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living
      never take a bribe.

"You'll never get
blacklisted
if you live like this."

This Psalm lists several important do's and don'ts - but of this list, I specifically chose the set of do's out of the list for a couple of reasons.  The first is that it is impossible to live by don'ts.  The only way to be successful at don't is to focus on do's.  The second reason is that lying becomes a significant part of the problem(s) in the life of an addict that suffers.

At first, a lie seems easy.  "It won't hurt anybody," we think.  It's just a white lie - or sometimes it's just an omission.  "What they don't know won't hurt them," we tell ourselves.  The lies certainly seem easier than the alternative of getting caught doing something wrong.  Eventually though all the lies, cover ups and hiding grows until it becomes impossible to keep consistent.  It's quite literally a hell that becomes unbearable.  Then we start our recovery and we see all those lies aren't necessary.  We don't have to be perfect.  We don't have to worry about how people perceive us along as we're authentic to ourselves.  There it is it, eventually it becomes obvious that the person who suffered the most of all at the hands of our lies were ourselves.  So once we could shed the lies we could become the person God intended us to be.

Dear Lord, I am grateful.  Grateful for your truth.  Grateful for the plan you have for me.  Most of all I am grateful that you keep your word.  Be with those who are still suffering from an addiction.  The ones who are buried in their own lies.  Show them there is a better way.  A way, in your word, where the lies are not necessary.  A way, where it will be easier for them to keep their word.  A way, where they can be happier and have greater peace.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.