And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head.
Mark 6:25-27
Lord, give me the courage to not only admit when I am wrong, but to withstand the ridicule of those who will look upon me critically when I take back what I have said or done. Give me the resolve to want to do right by You and others more than to salvage my reputation. I confess that I can be sometimes swayed more by popular opinion than by doing the right thing, especially when I come to the realization that I made a mistake. It may not have been intentional, yet the fear of exposing my failing and the potential reputation damage that I may have to suffer causes me to shirk away from coming clean. Foolishly I press on, sometimes even doubling down on the error, only for it to catch up to me, compounding the sin, hurting others, and searing my conscience. What makes it worse is the separation from You that comes from harboring sin. Forgive me Lord for this failing in character. Show me when I respond in such a fashion. Give me the spiritual courage to own when I have made a mistake or misspoke. And when I find myself in that situation, grant me a repentant heart, willing to suffer the humiliation that comes from admitting my wrong, seeking the forgiveness from those I have hurt, and the resolve not to compound my sin with more sin. Help me to desire Your righteousness more than a salvaging my reputation that all might know that I serve You and aim to please You at all times. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.