I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. 

1 Chronicles 29:17 (NLT)

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Endurance. Perseverance. Integrity.

These words really test our mettle—what we are made of. Hard words. Often abandoned or ignored words. I know because I have been there, done that.

A little over six years ago, I participated in my first Beth Moore study on Daniel. As the lion roared at the end of each lesson, I often found myself in tears and finished that study with the lingering feeling that it was so good but not many of the details. Now, I’m doing it again with our local ladies.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read my earlier workbook but my curiosity got the better of me and I pulled it out. I don’t look at it until I’m completed the week’s lesson but it’s interesting for me to note a few things:

  •  I, obviously, didn’t get the routine because the first few lessons, all the blanks were still blank. I finally figured out how to catch that missing word from a woman with a southern accent that speaks a mile a minute.
  •  Some answers have the very same words both times.
  •  Some answers reflect the happenings of period of time.
  •  Some answers show that God has been working and is changing me in ways to complete His purpose for me.

The book of Daniel challenges us to live with integrity in a world filled with the Babylonian motto, “I am, and there is none besides me.” Sound familiar? Everywhere we look or read or watch today, it’s all about me. What can I get out of it? Who is going to give it to me? How do I look? What can I buy? Me. Me. Me.

But that’s not what God is looking for when He talks about integrity. As Beth describes it, “The lifeblood of integrity is becoming the same person no matter where we are—no matter who’s around.” My version, “What you see, is what you get.”

Integrity requires consistency so that I can live each day with a clean conscience in a world of temptation, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit for direction. I don’t have to rack my brain for whatever cover story I might have used the last time because the truth is easier to remember than a lie.

One last word to add to the list — resolve.

I challenge you to look at your life and assess where you are on the integrity scale. If it needs work, get to it. If it looks pretty good today, beware. Satan’s goal is to trip us up.

Remember that integrity doesn’t just happen. We must purpose or resolve to live a life of godliness and integrity. Dare to be different.