We rationalize things we do and say – giving ourselves excuses for bad behavior.

‘Well, I can gossip about this person because I know they are always saying bad things about me.”

“And I can do this mean thing to this other person because they are always mean to me.’

“I can say this because it’s the truth.  It may sound mean, but it’s the truth.”

It may be the truth, but saying it at the wrong time and the wrong place is not love.

It’s not forgiveness.

It’s not how God calls us to react to the evil in this world.

We lie to ourselves.

We tell ourselves that whatever we want to do is ‘not that bad’.  Everyone does this and – it’s not like we’re murdering anyone!  Right?

It’s just a little bad.  I never said I was perfect.  Most of the time I’m good.

We talk ourselves into taking the wrong path.  The path that is evil in God’s sight.

We lie to ourselves.

Isaiah tells us, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,

who put darkness for light and light for darkness.”

Woe to us when we lie to ourselves.

Please help us know the truth and live the truth, Abba Father.