And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart … (1 Ki 9:4a)

Integrity is a matter of the heart, an inward character. It is who you are in your thought life and self-reflection.  This is the real you. Being a person of heart-integrity is much harder than to act with integrity in an outward way.  The latter can be faked (to some degree), but the former cannot.

There are only two that know your heart – you and God. The inner center of your being, that is the meeting place of God, the sanctuary that He cares about, where He spends His time. And in that place God finds the real you, all else is stripped away.

We may as well put aside the superficial fascia that we laminate like veneer on our outward persona to others — God is not impressed. What He is impressed with, though, is authenticity that goes to the center. Not a fad, but a rock-solid truth. A hard, wrenching, gut level truth with ourselves and with God.

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. (Ps 51:6)

It is there that He meets with us. It is there that He delights with us. It is there that He reassures us of his grace and mercy. It is there that He accepts us and reminds us, “I love you.” It is there that integrity of the heart incubates.