To one degree or another, we all engage in the self-deceptive practice of rationalization. In most cases, we do so because we are fearful. We are afraid to face reality, scared things will not go the way we want them to, dread the thought of giving up control, and anxious we might get hurt. But at the heart of our self-deceptive practices, we come to see that the issue is spiritual. When we choose to do our will as opposed to the will of the Father, we can be assured rationalization is present. Doing God’s will is not easy, but it is always best. While we might not know the finer points of the Lord’s will in a given matter, when we engage in habitually sinful behavior, we sense something is wrong deep within our spirit. At times, we might deny this sense. Other times, we might attempt to avoid it. But when denial and repression prove ineffective, rationalization provides a tweak to reality, which allows us to continue in our own willfulness.
With this final post we wrap-up the series on self-deception. I pray you’ve experienced some degree of revelation about your life and what issues God might be looking for you to resolve (see Psalm 139:23-24). Next, we’ll be turning our focus on effective ways to resist the devil.
Portions of this post were excerpted from my book, The Conditioned Mind. If you would like to discover more about self-deception, and how to overcome the crippling effects of sin and guilt, select the book title link above. Be blessed, my friends!
No comments:
Post a Comment