“If we say tha we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
God will not allow us to feel right when we do wrong. Our souls suffer, our spirits are diminished, our God-given potential stunted when we deceive ourselves and the truth is not within us. The lies we tell ourselves often perpetuate sins of domination-that we are of a superior race; that our violence is noble; that women are inferior to men; that our exclusion and judgment of others is justified; that God is on our side, our team, our nation, our cause. We easily manipulate and distort the truth to our benefit and the benefit of our people. Crusaders and colonizers committed atrocious sins that we must still confess, because many of us still benefit from the spoils of this “justified” violence.
Convincing ourselves that our lies are God’s truth is a dangerous and deadly game. Our minds run on overdrive, performing mental calisthenics, seeking reasons to justify our beliefs and actions that are not of God. Living a lie is exhausting, life-draining, soul-sucking. The truth will set us free. Let us not deceive ourselves, but lean into the truth, confess our sins, and return to God’s path of justice and righteousness.
Examine: In what ways have you been deceptive or dishonest with others? With yourself? With God? Sit with this dishonesty. Breathe. Notice thoughts and feelings that arise.
Imagine yourself at the feet of God, ready to confess your deceit and live into the truth of who you are. What will you say here before God? What burden will you let go to release this deception from your heart, mind and soul?
Pray: Free me from dishonesty, O God, so I can live with truth.
