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Truth Bomb Scriptures Free PDF

Welcome to those of you joining me after reading my Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion Lord, Help Me Speak the Truth in Love. (To read the devotion, click here.) And if you leave a comment on this post, you will be entered into a drawing for a copy of my latest book When Making Others Happy is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life. (Winner announced Monday, October 4th)

Do you sometimes have trouble speaking truthfully? I do. I shade the truth. Dress it up a bit before taking it for a spin. Oh, I have good reasons for my less-than-straightforward speech. Sometimes, I slightly twist the truth so I won’t hurt someone’s feelings when asked for my opinion. Other times, I fail to be honest because I am afraid my response might upset a friend or coworker. Still in other situations, I outright lie just to avoid a confrontation with someone over a political or other hot-topic issue. And I also admit there are times I only tell half the truth, conveniently leaving parts out. However, as I often tell my children, “A half-truth is still a whole lie.”

At the root of all these varied forms of dishonesty is this commonality: I lie in order to please someone else. However, all this twisting, shading, fibbing and half-truth telling certainly does not please the only One who matters — the Lord.

I find that memorizing relevant scriptures helps me in my quest to be a truth-teller, but also be kind. To help you do the same thing, download my free PDF below called Truth Bomb Scriptures for Memorization.

May God empower us all to tuck the truth in an envelope of kindness as we speak to others.

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33 Comments

  1. Hello Karen,
    I know I have terrible communication skills because I’m too busy trying to find a way to say what the other person may want to hear, to the point where I’ve lost sight of who I am and of who God wants me to be. I’ve been people pleaser for a long time and have been fearful of what others may think of me. It’s gotten very frustrating to where I want to be straightforward and mean about it, but I know being mean about the truth is not what God would want from me. I pray that I find the balance of being kind, but most of all being truthful about my kindness. Thank you for the devotional you posted, I felt like I was being read like a book lol and I hope everyone that struggles with this will learn to be loving truth tellers. God bless

  2. I remain in awe when devotions speak directly to me and my life. Thank you! Like others have noted, I am also a people pleaser. I am now 62 and struggling to release that trait. Thank you again! ??

  3. Thank you for this devotional! I too tend towards being a people-pleaser. I so easily forget that God alone is who I should strive to please. Thanks for sharing.

  4. I must admit this behavior describes me over my lifetime. I’m guilty of this. But I have always not wanted to hurt others feelings also. But I see (and always feel) the harm in this also. I’m hoping as I “grow up” I can be the person God really created me to be. I’m always open to His guidance. I just had my 70th birthday. I’m still learning. And grateful.

  5. Karen, I appreciate this devotional. I, too, endeavor to speak the truth in love, and it is a challenge to use my words diplomatically without shading the truth. I would be interested to read what you have to say about this topic, more extensively, in your book! Thank you for being honest.

  6. Best thing I’ve read in a while! I’m not a people pleaser, but this really hits home about how I need to work on being honest and truthful in a loving way.

  7. Man I needed this devotion tonight. Thank you for sharing your story and challenging me to do better in this area. I never thought of people pleasing as lying but that’s a truth I now need to wrestle with and overcome.

  8. Oh, my! I’m convicted. Perhaps we don’t have to answer those questions that we are afraid might offend someone. Jesus spoke the truth in love to the woman at the well. You gave us all something to ponder. Thank you for this devotion.

    1. I seem to sometimes say the truth. But not in a loving manner. It comes out to make a point, and then I regret it cause it was harsh but the. But now the person is mad at me. Help!!

  9. I’ve always been a people pleaser, but not until my later twenties have I realized just how much of a people pleaser I am. I have come to realize that I spend so much time and energy on this that it ends up making me miserable and controlling my life and attitude. I am putting this book on my “must read” list. I feel it would be beneficial for me. Loved the “Truth Bomb Scriptures” download too!!!

  10. Oh how I needed this devotion. God truly is amazing at how He brings what we need when we need it.
    I’m almost 60 years old and I’ve ALWAYS been a people pleaser, and that is NOT always a good thing.
    Thank you so much for being honest and helping me to be honest with God and myself!

  11. Thank you so much for these wise words. As I have gotten older, I realize how much being a people pleaser hurts others as well as myself. I truly want to please my Lord and Savior more than others!

  12. It is very hard for me to speak the truth in love. Like you said in the devotion that we often do one or the other, but rarely both at the same time. I noticed it on myself too, that I’m either “tell it as it is” or “sugarcoat” things. I really need God’s help to teach me to speak the truth in love. Thank you for this wonderful teaching, Karen!

  13. Powerful devotion! Confrontation is tough. It’s easier to not say the entire truth. I also don’t want to be the person that responds harshly. I need to give myself permission to take more time to respond so I can marry truth with grace!

  14. Thank you so much for this devotional. In this day and age, it has almost seemed kinder to shade the truth than to speak the truth. I appreciate the reminder that the truth is always the better alternative to please our Lord and Savior. Hope to read your book soon. XOXO

    1. Thank you for this. I have always been a people pleaser, either keeping silent or telling half truths. It seems when I do get up the courage to speak in truth I am criticized as said to be giving push back. These scriptures and readings will help me tremendously

  15. I too am a people pleaser so this devotional today hit home for me. I think one of my biggest reasons for doing this is too feel loved and appreciated when I should be seeking God for validation, not man.

    1. Faye – Thank you for sharing – I too try to please people to feel loved and appreciated. I know I’m my head that God’s opinion is the only opinion that matters but it is hard to carry that out in daily life.

  16. Thank you so much Karen!! I have dealt with people pleasing for most of my 60 years!
    I needed this today and I so need help to say and do what the Lord wants ! I’m just so afraid of hurting others!!! Yes I need help !????

  17. Thank you for this. I appreciate your wisdom and example! I am wondering, though, how you can speak the truth when you KNOW it will hurt a person’s feelings? I.e. “Does this dress make me look fat?” I would love your advice on how to answer questions like this!!
    Thank you!

    1. Aww Lisa! I love your heart in asking how to answer questions like that; the ones that you wish you are not asked in the first place, and that make you sweat! I do not know if this will be helpful or not, but as a high school Fashion Design teacher, there were often conversations about clothing, fit, colors, styles, etc. The most challenging questions always revolved around Body Types and clothing silhouettes for them. I found it most honoring and helpful to state “You look good in (colors) and (whatever prints or patterns; florals, stripes, specific directional lines such as vertical, horizontal or diagonal) and I like the (____) of that dress, but I don’t think it flatters your (curves, height, face, eyes-something specific in order to be truly helpful). Have you thought about/ Or do you have…(identify a specific color, style length, pattern/print)” to help steer towards something more flattering.
      Hopefully this is helpful. ? It is really difficult to be asked those questions. I try to remind people I am going to be honest so if they want my true opinion I will give it to them and offer to help if they dislike my answer but, otherwise, they need to ask someone else.

  18. It is a blessing to read this today! I am dealing with a family member that has a double tongue and trying to cope with it all right now as we navigate our Dads health care. This could not have come at a better time! Praise the Lord. Thank you, Karen.

  19. Thank you for this reminder today. I too try to please others and don’t want to hurt feelings by telling half truths. I need to remember that God wants us to be truthful and honest.

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