Lips Free Of Deceit God Hears

David comes to God praying that God hears his prayer because he speaks truth. Speaking the truth is a “prayer formula” that even those who don’t serve God know. Everybody knows the mouth must not speak deceit, flatter, or lies if the mouth wants to speak to God. But this “prayer formula” is one that most Christians forget. Surprisingly, it is normal for some Christians to pray to God, pouring out their souls with divine words after gossiping, lying, deceiving, and backbiting.

David’s words, “hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit speaks of a lifestyle of honest. One who lives an honest life needs not lies, deceit, or flatter. Those who practice a dishonest lifestyle do so intentionally to deceive, flatter, and lie.

My uncle Jim, in the words of my mother, was the chief deceiver. He would eat a free breakfast most morning at the community café, calling the owner Cap, short for captain. Those in the café who didn’t know the owner was a retired military captain would get a history lesson. Teaching this history lesson earns uncle Jim a free breakfast that he brags about, scoffing at Cap.

We live in a flattering society, but so did David and the people of the Bible. Even if we are not flattering to deceive others and get what we want, all forms of fatter are dishonesty. It's easy to flatter, wanting to please others and gain acceptance, but our children watch us and ready us like a book. What we practice they learn, and become at early age, flatterers, to get what they want from others and us.

Honesty is the lifestyle for Christians, although some may look at this lifestyle as human weakness, it is our only hope of answered prayer. Let us live honestly so we say to God when we pray what David said, “If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress (Psalm 17:3 NRSV).”