These verses are on my mind as I write this post:

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Psalm 120:1–2, ESV

The psalmist starts with the understanding that his prayer is heard. What is his prayer?

His prayer is to be delivered from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

We need to look no further than the playground of our youth to find examples of lying lips and deceitful tongues. It seems that there is always someone nearby who uses their words to hurt rather than heal. As we move into adulthood, we find people at work, and unfortunately, in the church who practice hurtful speech. It is even worse when the deceit comes from a family member or close friend.

My understanding of what it means to be delivered from them has morphed recently. Nowhere in Scripture are we promised that we will not encounter people who lie and practice deceit. People say things that hurt us. Jesus went to the cross at the hands of such people.

But we are delivered from their power to make us respond in an inappropriate way. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can acknowledge the untruth in their speech, we can even acknowledge the hurt that it causes, without lashing out or being overwhelmed or destroyed in the process.

Be angry (acknowledge the hurt) but do not sin (respond inappropriately). God will deliver you from the lies and deceit.

I bet you will have an opportunity to practice this today.

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