Have you ever been lied to by someone you badly wanted to trust? They lied over and over, and in your soul you knew they were lying, but you so desperately wanted to believe the lies you simply discounted your soul’s wisdom?

I have been lied too, over and over, and I knew it in my heart. So, I know how it feels to be emotionally manipulated into wanting to believe the lies someone tells. I also know how important it was for me to take an honest look at people who think it is okay to lie, myself included, so I could stand on the side of God who desires I value honesty by seeking fact rather than fall for lies that cannot stand up to evidence.

Facts are not emotional. Lies manipulate our emotions, often to the point all reason or desire for knowing what the facts are vanishes. But we are the ones with power to demand truth by choosing to seek fact – tangible evidence – upon which to determine if we are being lied to, or not.

God gave us free will! That comes with a HUGE amount of personal responsibility to be honest with ourselves and to demand honesty in all of our relationships. Because if we’re completely honest with ourselves, we know it in our soul when someone is lying to us.

But it is entirely up to us to act against dishonesty and set firm and unwavering boundaries with anyone who lies to us. It is up to us to seek fact rather than depend on someone’s word alone to determine what is actually true. This is certainly something Jesus would do. It is something we must do too.