我们继续来思想诗篇七十三篇带给我们的信息。我们留意诗人的态度，他毫不犹疑地讲述关于自己的事情。正如我们所看到，他承认自己的脚几乎滑倒，他几乎失去信心。我发觉诗人的诚实既给人鼓励，又能振奋人心，不像今天教会里有很多伪装的人。钟马田博士（DrMartynLloyd-Jones）在一次讲道时提到：「在我们的属灵生命里，有些人总是想要给人一种永远走在高峰的印象，没有甚么比遇到这种人更令人感到沮丧。」我非常同意他的话。

你知道吗？我们必须诚实地表现自己，不要扮作从没有被难题困扰，这一点非常重要。如果你真的没有困扰，那很好；但如果你有这种感受就应该勇于承认。然而坦诚开放的态度会不会变成一种表现欲？是有这个可能。有些人承认自己的失败，目的是要吸引别人的注意。但我不相信这是诗人的动机，因为他写这首诗，很明显不是为了荣耀自己，而是为了荣耀神。

通往属灵成长的道路，是从我们诚实地面对自己内心的挣扎开始。如果我们那么注重建立或保持快乐，以致忽略自己内心的负面感受，或者假装这种感受不存在的话，结果只会贬低自己的人格。诚实外表的背后可能包含了内心的挣扎，但这比伪装或否认更能带来生命的成长。

We continue looking at the attitude of the psalmist, who does not hesitate to tell the truth about himself. As we saw, he admits that his feet had well-nigh slipped and his faith had almost gone. I find the psalmist's honesty both stimulating and refreshing, especially when compared to the tendency of many in today's Church to pretend that things are not as they are. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said in one of his sermons: "I know of nothing in the spiritual life more discouraging than to meet the kind of person who seems to give the impression that he or she is always walking on the mountain top." I agree.

You see, it is far more important to be honest than to appear to be the sort of person who is never thrown by problems. If you are not thrown, then fine, but if you are then admit it. But can't openness be a form of exhibitionism? Yes, it can. Some people may confess to failure as a means of drawing attention to themselves. But I do not believe that this was the psalmist's motive, for quite clearly he wrote the psalm to glorify not himself but God.

The pathway to spiritual growth begins when we realistically and honestly face up to the struggles that are going on inside us. If we are so concerned about developing or preserving pleasant feelings that we ignore the negative feelings within us or pretend that they are non-existent, then we end up demeaning ourselves. An honest look may involve a struggle, but there is more hope in that for growth than there is in pretence or denial.