In the last devotional in our series on honesty, today we're going to focus simply on what it means to live honestly every day.

My hope for today is that God will empower us to all continue this journey of honesty and humility on a daily basis.

Let's open up our hearts in real intentional ways today as we experience the power and love

of our Heavenly Father.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart,

this person's religion is worthless.

James 126.

There is no substitute for the peace and joy of living honestly.

When you find courage from the unconditional love of your Heavenly Father to truly be yourself,

you alleviate yourself of the pressure and stress of keeping up appearances.

And when you're free from keeping up appearances, you have time and energy to devote to that which is real,

that which is eternal.

James 1.26 says, if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart,

this person's religion is worthless.

Did you know you are capable of deceiving your own heart?

James makes an incredibly strong statement here.

How could my religion be worthless if I simply tell a small lie here or there?

How could a little deception in my heart make my religion null and

void? This verse illustrates just how important our hearts are to God. First Samuel 167 says,

for the Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. Your religion is only

as valuable as it is true. The parts of you that are outward, your words, actions, and

appearances are only as valuable as they are a true reflection of your heart.

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