Life's Daily Challenge Devotional

Defining integrity

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it," (1 Thess. 5:23-24).

To the one desiring integrity,

Most people define integrity as being honest and truthful. Most people also use a crooked measuring stick when it comes to defining truth in their own life or in their judgment of others. Remember truth is not a concept, but rather a person. Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Here are two definitions that will give us further insight into the truest nature of what integrity is: Completeness; Prosperity; Innocence; Perfect simplicity; Upright at a venture -- Strong’s Concordance.

An unimpaired condition; soundness; adherence to a code of moral, artistic, or other values; the quality or state of being complete or undivided; completeness; honesty, unity -- Webster’s Seventh Collegiate Dictionary.

To walk in integrity is to be whole and complete, which you can only be in Christ. It is the prosperity of simply being who you are. Integrity is being true to your intended design, calling and purpose. It’s being true to God, Himself, which requires being true to who He made you to be. This implies that you must also be true in your dealings with people. Each encounter with another person becomes a divinely appointed opportunity to share God’s character and ability.

In a world of busyness, you can rest knowing that you don’t have to do everything. In fact, out of all the things God wants you to do, He has an appointed time and season for each. You don’t have to please everyone. You don’t have to be driven, by yourself or others. God’s Spirit will lead you. You can be free from the anxiety of trying to keep “all your ducks in a row.” You can have faith that God knows what you need to accomplish each day. Faithful diligence to His leading will make you successful in all of the endeavors to which He has called you. Seeking His Kingdom in the midst of your daily responsibilities will free Him to bless you where you have previously striven and struggled to protect, promote and provide for yourself. Your mission in life becomes to follow one voice alone...one day at a time...one step at a time. Your complicated life can be restored to the simplicity and innocence of a child.