Being Insincere

 We ought to say what we mean and mean what we say. That is a good rule to live by. However, there are times when people try to deceive others. They want to fool them by what they say. They are not sincere in what they ask or say. They do not really mean it, but they have an ulterior motive for asking. God sees through all of this. We can't fool God. He searches our heart. He hates to see us being insincere. That is what happened to Jeremiah, when the people left in the land came to him asking for him to pray for them. (Jeremiah 42:6) They claimed that they would listen to the voice of God, whether it was pleasant or unpleasant, because they wanted things to go well for them. They we very insincere in this statement. They had already decided what they would do, no matter what God said. They were simply hoping God would answer according to their desires.

Why is it that we want to get our own way most of the time? We want to be in control of our lives. We act in selfish ways. We think we know what is best. This is true,  even of believers. We have to be careful of pride and selfishness controlling us. It is far better to ask God to show us the way and to follow His way. No, we won't be in control, but it will turn out well for us, if we obey Him. That is why every prayer and every prayer request needs to be spoken in sincerity, and we should be ready to do whatever God says. Remember, we can't manipulate God. He has a plan for all of us, and we should simply surrender and follow Him. Trying to trick God by asking insincere prayers is a terrible affront to God, and He will punish us very badly if we commit the sin of insincerity.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 44-46.