My friends like me because I can be counted upon for an honest assessment. I’m straight-forward. It’s also the reason they hate me. The passing of time and the offering of many apologies has tempered my frankness but I still slip now and again. Sometimes, I try to use what psychologists refer to as the “sandwich approach.” That’s when you say something nice, then say what you really want to say, and then say something nice again. I don’t always remember to, though.

My husband is a peacemaker, but he understands that I like my tonics straight up. So several years ago when I got the worst haircut of my life (and haven’t cut it since), I did what every wife does after she gets a haircut. I put my hands on my hips, paused for a dramatic effect, and said, “So? What do you think?” My husband did what no husband in his right mind would do. He answered, “It’ll grow.”

The Bible is kind of like that too– honest–but more judicial and perfect in its observations. When you hold it up, it is a mirror to your soul and it doesn’t lie. There’s no airbrushing of sin and you’re not allowed to think something is—as my seven-year-old says—“goodish, baddish.” God is good and sin is bad. The Bible isn’t PC and it doesn’t mince words, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Or, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4)

We just finished reading II Chronicles and discussed the pattern of the kings last night. The good kings obeyed God, and God blessed them. The bad kings were wise in their own eyes. God sent warnings in His mercy and then war, disease, and trouble when they didn’t repent. There’s much more treasure there, but that’s the big picture.

And so, I don’t think it’s a shallow, thoughtless prayer from the one who prays simply, “Lord, we love you. Help us to obey.” It’s how my children pray and how I ought to, too. It’s good to be straight-forward every now and then.