For the next few days, I want to give you three practical tips to help you become a more honest and transparent person. First of all, if you’ve made a habit of lying or even of “stretching the truth,” you have to tear down the house of cards you’ve built. The unfortunate thing about lies is that it’s hard to tell just one. After making up a story about something, it’s likely that you will have to tell another one to sustain the first one. Before you know it, you’ve woven a web of dishonesty that finds you trapped and forced to keep spinning so you won’t be found out. As much as you might want to, there is no way to gradually tear down a house made of cards — when one falls, they all do. 

Friend, the best thing you can do if you’ve embraced a lifestyle of dishonesty is to come clean. When you do, the house of lies will fall and things will immediately get harder, but it’s a difficulty you can embrace knowing that the pain leads to freedom. I liken it to spring cleaning; it will get messier before it gets better, but it’s all part of the process. Even when there’s stuff strewn everywhere and it looks more chaotic than ever before, you can relax and know that it must get harder before healing happens. Yes, you will be required to humble yourself, do the work of turning things around, and face some consequences, but the reward will be greater than the sacrifice. A truthful heart and clean conscience are a soft pillow; embrace them and you will fully enter the Lord’s rest!