In Whom There Is No Guile…
One day, my manager called to tell me that he had not received the confirmation for a reservation I was supposed to book, so he wanted me to forward it to him. My heart dropped. I’d forgotten to book the reservation. As my mind raced, my first inclination was to lie and say that I was waiting for the company to send the confirmation. This way, he would not know that I’d made a mistake. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit nudged me, and I truthfully responded with “Dang, I forgot to make the reservation—doing it now.” My manager was very gracious and simply asked me to forward the confirmation to him once I received it.
As I reflected on my instinct to lie, I remembered Jesus described Nathanael as a man “in whom there is no guile” (John 1:47). This meant that Nathanael was a man of integrity. He was truthful and unpretentious. What an awesome compliment to Nathanael from our Lord! Unfortunately, when I looked at my own life, I couldn’t say that I was a woman without guile. I was pretentious and lacked integrity.
This realization about my character once again took me to my knees. I begged God to help me. I prayed that God would do “heart work” on me. I desired to become a woman with “No Guile.” As I prayed and studied the Word of God, I realized that there was so much more that I needed to explore about myself. As I examined my heart, I found that sometimes my motives were impure, and many times, I aimed to please people instead of God. As painful as it is to admit, many things that I did were to get accolades and pats on the back.
Friends, I asked God to help me. I had no idea how to change my motives and people-pleasing ways, but God knew. As I embraced the Word of God, I began to change. I started asking God before I embarked on anything. I also asked him to check me when I was working in my own will or seeking the glory that only He deserves. God did exactly what I asked Him. Today, I am so thankful to say that I am better. I am still a work in progress, but God is doing “heart work” on me and renewing my mind every day. His Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).
Do you have ways that are unpleasing to God? If so, give it to Him in prayer. Ask God to help you; He will hear and answer your prayer.
For God’s Glory,
Tahnee
