In John chapter four, when talking with a woman who had an interest in knowing more about receiving the living water Jesus had to offer (even though she didn’t fully understand yet what that really meant), Jesus said for her to go and get her husband and then return.

The woman stated that she didn’t have a husband. However, Jesus “called her out,” stating that while she was speaking the truth—because the man she was currently with was not her husband—she had previously had five husbands.

This woman used the principle (which is not always a bad one, by the way): “When you speak, speak only the truth, but you don’t have to speak all the truth!” The problem for her was that she was not aware of the omniscience of her Listener.

I do the same thing with God. I think I can “withhold” some of the truth when I come to Him in prayer, and that I’ll be blessed or even “rewarded”—i.e., get my proverbial “cookie”—for the element of the truth that I share or confess.

But this thought hit me afresh this morning: That’s not fulfilling my desire to sincerely, honestly, transparently, and humbly offer on the altar “all of me.”

“All of me” includes telling Him all of the truth of the story, all of my confession (which He already knows anyway!).

Lord, thank You for showing me another “part of me” area of my life. I long to change, but I’m weak of spirit, and so I appreciate Your patience and Your unconditional love.