We are experts at rationalizing – attempting to excuse, minimize, or justify our bad behaviour. We rationalize because we don't want the inconvenience or embarrassment the truth might bring. We rationalize when we are still angry with someone and want to justify our resentment. God's word paints a very clear picture about this poisonous mixture of truth and lies.
If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar. His word is not in us. Suppose someone claims to love God but hates a brother or sister. Then they are a liar. They don’t love their brother or sister, whom they have seen. So they can’t love God, whom they haven’t seen. (1 John 1:10, 4:20 NIRV)
We need to seek God to awaken us to the harmful choices we are making. He knows the poison stored in the roots of our destructive actions and reactions. He knows and understands the actual impact of all the events that make up our lives – good and bad. There may be traumatic events in our past to which we still have emotional links and the resulting fear translates into our rationalization. God wants to heal our wounds and set us free from the false belief the evil one attached to those memories. Are we willing to be healed?
God’s love goes deeper than any painful, shameful action in our past. For all sin that has resulted from rationalizing our behaviour, there is instant, total, and completely undeserved forgiveness. This is the way God’s truth begins to come alive in us – we speak truth to our hearts and minds and choose that truth over rationalization. When we surrender our imperfect understanding of ourselves and our past behaviour to God and ask for help, He will reveal the root cause of our confused conduct and show us the best way forward.
…Don’t let anyone lead you astray. The person who does what is right is holy, just as Christ is holy. The person who does what is sinful belongs to the devil. (1 John 3:7-8a NIRV)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have rationalized my thoughts in order to excuse my unwillingness to do the right thing. I ask You to give me wisdom and the courage to examine my thoughts and actions in accordance with Your word. Help me to get rid of the roots of bitterness and fear which support my rebellion. Help me to walk in truth in the light of Your presence. Amen
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