Life is difficult right now. Our world has been turned upside down. In turbulent times we need help. A little direction is desired when you don’t know what to do. Guidance can come in many forms: a friend, a mentor, a book, a podcast, or some other informational resource, especially the best source, the Bible. Many of my latest posts have focused on the topic of dishonesty. When you want to stop this type of behavior, a little insight from the Word helps when you feel lost and out of control.

I don’t confess to knowing everything, but as a Christian, I do profess to know that God knows everything! So, what better place to go for counsel? God left us his Word to help us in all areas of life. If you don’t do anything else, get in your Bible and act on what you read as you listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice. If you will listen, He still speaks today. God wants to help you live a pure and victorious life. So, let’s look at what the Bible says about lying. Let’s learn together how you can use the following 10 verses to help you stop being dishonest.

10 Bible Verses to Help with Lying

I don’t like my negative behavior, and I assume you don’t like yours, especially dishonesty. Shame and frustration can easily consume us when we “did it again.” Most people don’t want to hurt others. Hurtful behavior destroys our marriages and relationships. I have talked before about how lying can hurt your marriage, and now I desire to give you guidance to stop dishonesty, from the one who knows best, God. Let’s take a look at 10 verses that can help you with increasing honesty and stopping lies.

Proverbs 18:21

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NASB 1995)

Read this verse a few times. Close your eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about what this verse means and how it applies to you. This verse is one I have used many times. It is powerful. Taken literally, it provides a message that can make you think about what you are saying, as well as the rest of the verses we will look at.

Death and life?

Remember when you speak this verse that what you say can kill or bring life. We all know this to be true. What have you said lately that hurt someone? Or, what has been said to you that hurt? Doesn’t your heart start to sink? Don’t you die a little inside if you let that word get to you? Our words can hurt others and even bring death to their souls and spirits. There is even research that shows how criticism and negativity in marriages can cause a decline in your immune system’s capability to help you stay well.

We also know that words bring joy, life, peace, and comfort. I walked by a woman in the store today who looked me in the eyes, smiled, and said, “Hello, how is your day?” Just those words from a stranger made me feel seen and acknowledged. I didn’t feel alone at all at that moment. I saw that their is hope in the world that people can be kind and good. Our words matter. They can bring life.

Are in?

Simply, death and life “are in” the words we speak. Inside every utterance is the ability to bring death or life. Are you seeing how significant our words are? See how they can impact others. INSIDE our words is life or death. They carry the message we are intending in that moment. Have you ever spoken a word and that word became what we call a “self-fulfilling prophecy?” Something was in those words. They influenced things around you to bring that about.

The power?

What is power? It is strength, something that can move something else, usually big. It is control or influence. Jesus said, “The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains.” (Matthew 17:20 – paraphrased) Now, that is power!

Our tongue has power, more than we like to acknowledge. We don’t like to believe that we caused others to feel bad just by a word. We certainly didn’t intend to hurt someone, but the words we speak have the power of life and death, whether we like it or not.

Our words have power that is subtle, but greater than we can imagine. Think about light. In the darkness, it penetrates every inch of darkness it can get to. That’s power. Our words do the same. We cannot see how far-reaching our words may go, but we can start to be cautious with them and know the power they have.

Of the tongue?

The tongue usually refers to our words and speech. The tongue helps us make different sounds and utterances with our mouths. The tongue helps up speak more clearly. So as you make grunts, clear words, noises, sing, hum, or any other action with your tongue (ie, sticking your tongue out, whispering, or mouthing things so as not to be heard), you are emitting a power that holds life and death. So, “Make a joyful noise…” (Psalm 100:1 NIV) and “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19 NIV).

Proverbs 6:16-19

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush to evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” (NIV)

To Be Hated By God

This verse is very strong and brings a warning to us. I use it because it directly references a lying tongue,  being a false witness, and devising wicked schemes. All of the actions listed in this verse expressed something that God hates: unfortunately, they will probably use the tongue at some point throughout the action.

I can imagine that if God hates these things when he sees them, it makes his blood boil, as we might say. I don’t think God hates us, but he does hate the actions we take. Why? Well, for one, lying or any other negative behavior brings death and pain to others. If God loves us as people, he certainly does not want us to be in pain or hurt (I understand some people don’t believe in God because they can’t understand why God would allow so much pain and hurt, but that discussion is for another day and there are some great books on that subject – CS Lewis: The Problem of Pain – Find it HERE on Amazon).

Yet, we cause hurt and pain as people with our free-will choices. Thus, God hurts for those who are in pain and hates the actions that were taken. He luckily sent Jesus who died and wiped our sin away when he arose from the dead. However, that doesn’t stop dishonesty from being a major problem and bringing anger from God that brings judgment if there is no repentance. Please know that God loves you, but ultimately He wants you to choose Him, follow Jesus, repent of your sins, and receive Jesus as your savior.

2 Corinthians 10:5

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (NIV)

Don’t let your thoughts cause dishonesty

Your thoughts can be the cause of your dishonesty that destroys, hurts, and opens up God’s anger toward your actions. Your thoughts have power too. You can believe them or not. You can ruminate on them or stop them. Sometimes it is hard to get rid of unwanted thoughts, especially when you have a history of trauma, but it’s possible. God says everything is possible with Him.

Stop negative thinking! Stop evil thoughts! Make them obedient to God. That means: Knowing God’s Word and matching your thoughts up with what he says. Anything that does not match with His Word is probably a lie from the devil or just an illogical, emotion-driven desire that you have that does not line up with goodness. Recite this verse. Practice taking every thought captive and seeing if each thought lines up with God’s Word. You will experience a stop to lying quickly.