Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” One with heart integrity acts the same as their words. Honesty is the freedom to be openly transparent. There is no need to hide in the shadows.

2 Corinthians 8:21 Amplified says, “For we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.” The context of this chapter is taking collected money from one place to another. I love Paul’s character assessment of Titus. Verse 22 says, “…whom we have often put to the test and have found him zealous (devoted and earnest) in all matters…”

David asked the Lord to put his heart to the test. Psalm 26:1-2 says, “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord; and prove me; try my mind and my heart.”

The one who walks in integrity doesn’t need to be looking over their shoulder. There is nothing hidden making them fearful that someone might find out. There is no guilt, shame, or regret that lurks in the back of their mind. There is no fear of what others may think. They walk in heart purity and intentionally make choices that will keep them from falling into sin.

Notice in the above verse. Paul said that they took thought beforehand. Daniel was an example of this. Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” Long before any temptation would ever present itself, Daniel had set his heart to not give in when temptations would arise in the future to pull him off course.

Here is an interesting observation from Genesis 20:5-6. Abraham had lied to the king of Gerar by saying that Sarah (his wife) was his sister. So the king took her into his house. Verse 3 he had a dream. In it God said, “…Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

Verse 5 says, “…in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” The Lord replied in verse 6. It says, “…yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.”

When Abimelech acted in integrity, the Lord Himself protected him from sinning against Him. Anytime we sin against another we are sinning against the Lord. Integrity of heart is character that is finely honed, refined, and perfected each time we intentionally resist and walk away from a temptation.