View the Bible Reading Plan for this Month: July
There is a holy rhythm to integrity. It listens before it speaks, and it acts only after truth has settled in the heart.
Roy T. Bennett once wrote, “Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity.”
While his words are not Scripture, they echo a biblical truth that reverberates throughout the Word of God—that character is not built in moments of applause, but in moments of quiet decision.
Integrity is not simply about doing the right thing when everyone is watching; it is about becoming the right kind of person when no one is. It is the blending of truth in thought, word, and action—a harmony that mirrors the very nature of God Himself. Proverbs 10:9 (ERV) says, “People with integrity live secure, but those who are crooked will be destroyed.” It is a reminder that wholeness brings peace. When you live with integrity, your soul is not divided between what you say and what you do.
Let us explore how godly integrity begins in three sacred movements: how we listen, how we speak, and how we act.
Listening with Curiosity: The Beginning of Wisdom
The first act of integrity begins in silence. Before truth can be spoken or lived, it must first be heard. Listening is more than hearing words—it is attending to the heart behind them. It is a posture of humility that says, “Teach me, Lord.”
James 1:19 (ESV) gives a divine framework: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Listening with curiosity is not passive; it is spiritually attentive. When you listen from a posture of grace, you invite God’s wisdom to shape your responses.
Think of Samuel, who as a young boy heard the voice of God in the night. His response, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 ESV), was not just the start of his calling—it was an act of integrity. He did not rush to interpret or speak prematurely; he waited to understand.
Listening with curiosity means being willing to be changed by what you hear. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to correct your assumptions and soften your heart. In your relationships, your work, and your spiritual growth, curiosity keeps your heart open while pride keeps it closed.
Integrity begins here: when you let truth enter your ears before you let words leave your lips.
Speaking with Honesty: The Power of Truth in Love
Integrity does not mean bluntness or cruelty; it means that truth and love are never in conflict. The person who speaks with honesty speaks from a pure heart—one that desires healing, not harm.
Ephesians 4:15 (CEB) says, “Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, who is the head.” Honesty without compassion can wound, but compassion without honesty can mislead. When your words flow from both truth and grace, they carry the fragrance of Christ.
Jesus Himself modeled this balance perfectly. When He spoke to the woman caught in adultery, He said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11 ESV). His words neither excused sin nor crushed the sinner—they revealed integrity: a perfect harmony of justice and mercy.
To speak with honesty is to speak from integrity. It means saying only what aligns with truth, even when that truth costs you. It means rejecting flattery, gossip, and deception, choosing instead the dignity of truth-telling.
In a world that rewards performance, speaking with honesty is an act of rebellion—and of worship.
Acting with Integrity: The Courage of Consistency
Words reveal what we believe; actions prove it. To act with integrity means that your behavior matches your beliefs even when obedience is inconvenient.
In Matthew 5:37 (CEV), Jesus said, “When you make a promise, say only ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Anything else comes from the devil.” He was calling His followers to simplicity and sincerity—to a life where words and actions walk in agreement.
Integrity is not perfection; it is alignment. It is the willingness to walk the same way you talk. It is choosing faithfulness over expedience, holiness over popularity.
Daniel lived this out in Babylon. Surrounded by compromise, he refused to defile himself with the king’s food. His private conviction became a public testimony. His integrity was not reactionary—it was rooted in reverence for God.
Acting with integrity often requires courage because it will cost something—sometimes approval, sometimes convenience, sometimes comfort. But Proverbs 2:7 (NASB) reminds us, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” Every act of righteousness builds unseen protection around your life.
When you act with integrity, you do not have to defend your reputation—God does that for you.
When Listening, Speaking, and Acting Become One
A life of integrity weaves these three strands together until they form an unbreakable cord. Listening keeps you humble. Speaking keeps you accountable. Acting keeps you consistent. Together, they form a witness that honors God and builds trust with others.
Psalm 15:1–2 (ESV) asks, “O Lord, who shall sojourn in Your tent? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.” Notice how the psalmist describes integrity not as an isolated act, but as a rhythm of life—walking, doing, and speaking truth.
Integrity invites God’s presence. When your inner and outer life align, your spirit becomes a dwelling place for His peace. You stop striving for perfection and begin living in authenticity.
You may stumble, yes, but integrity ensures that you do not stay down in hypocrisy. It draws you back to truth, back to repentance, and back to grace.
Integrity Is the Fruit of a Listening Heart
Listening with curiosity leads to understanding. Speaking with honesty leads to clarity. Acting with integrity leads to peace. And all three flow from a heart that is yielded to God.
Proverbs 11:3 (CEV) declares, “If you are good, you are guided by honesty. People who can’t be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty.” When you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, integrity becomes less about effort and more about transformation.
This is how Christ lived. He listened to the Father with perfect obedience, spoke words that healed and restored, and acted in unwavering truth—even unto the cross. His life is the perfect model of listening, speaking, and acting with integrity.
You do not have to strive for this perfection; you simply have to stay connected to Him. He forms integrity in you as you walk with Him daily.
Reflection Questions to think about
How can you listen with more curiosity and humility in your relationships and prayer life?
Are your words reflecting honesty wrapped in grace, or are they shaped by fear or approval-seeking?
What small, faithful actions can you take today to align your walk with God’s truth?
How does integrity invite peace and security into your daily decisions?
Affirmations to say to yourself
I choose to listen before I speak, allowing wisdom to shape my words.
My honesty is rooted in love and guided by truth.
I act with integrity even when no one is watching, because God is watching over me.
I walk securely because my heart is aligned with God’s Word.
The Holy Spirit strengthens my integrity each day as I listen, speak, and act in truth.
Integrity is not a single decision—it is a continual posture of surrender.
It means allowing your heart to be shaped by the same truth you speak and live. When you listen with curiosity, speak with honesty, and act with integrity, you become a living reflection of the One who is Truth Himself.
And when the world grows loud with deceit, your steady walk of honesty becomes a quiet testimony that God still dwells among the upright.