Have you ever lied to yourself? That’s what I realized I had been doing all day yesterday. I woke with a sore throat and clogged head but I was determined to go to singing practice. Having missed the last few weeks I desperately wanted to be there so I could help lead the singing at church on Sunday.
I took the required tablet. ‘I’m fine,’ I told myself. I perpetuated the lie later in the afternoon though I started feeling worse.
As we were having dinner, the rain came- driving, pelting rain. Common sense insisted it was stupidity to go out, because no matter how hard I try to keep dry an umbrella never quite works. Ignoring common sense I dressed. I was going. I wanted desperately to sing.
Eventually I had to admit defeat, as flu symptoms came back in force. I began sneezing and was so choked up and shivery, I gave in and went to bed. I’d been lying to myself all day, trying to convince myself I was better when clearly I wasn’t, which bring us back to my initial question -have you ever lied to yourself?
Before you answer – think, have you ever lied to yourself about what you are capable of? We need to honestly evaluate ourselves. That means not thinking ‘more highly’ of ourselves than we ‘ought to think, Romans 12:3.’ It also means using the gifts God has given us and allowing others to use theirs.
Have you lied to yourself about what you are not capable of – saying in effect, you couldn’t possibly take on a certain role or job in your church because you were not qualified or experienced enough? If God calls us to a work, He also enables us to do it, If you doubt that, look at these verses, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Hebrew 10:23, and Hebrews 11:11.
Have you lied to yourself about your motives for doing a good work, finding they’re really more about self interest or some benefit to you rather than the other person?
Have you lied to yourself about having forgiven someone for a past hurt, when deep down you know you haven’t? It’s still festering. You remember every hurtful word they said and keep bringing it to mind. Prayer for the other person is often a good antidote. It is hard to remain angry and unforgiving when we are praying for someone.
Have you lied to yourself about your relationship with God? Are you spending time with God? If so, how much? Are you diligently reading and obeying His Word? Are you growing in holiness? The Christian life is a growing life of transformation and change. Salvation is only the beginning.Have you lied to yourself and to God?
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
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