“The unexamined life is not worth living” was a famous pronouncement uttered by Socrates at his trial for impiety and corrupting youth – which by the way, he was subsequently sentenced to death, as described in Plato’s Apology.
However, I believe it should also be a pronouncement by each one of us, as God’s beloved children. The bottom line is, we can always expect something to happen when we choose to do self-exploratory surgery. For as we discover the truths about ourselves.
But I warn you, the enemy won’t be so gracious toward such a process. I can guarantee that a cold front will start moving in, and that an old, dark cloud called denial will try to blanket and blind you to the things you need to expose, you need to look at. Thus, you may find yourself second-guessing – ‘I guess this is really not that big of a deal. For the most part, I’m not like this. Why am I making it such a big deal?’
Now, listen carefully, going deep within our self, and being ruthlessly honest with our self, is not an easy venture, but it is essential for the victorious and effective child of God.
Here’s the deal, the sin I want to conceal the most is the sin I need to reveal the most. If I find myself hoping it will go away, it is most definitely something I need to deal with so it will go away.
Now, do not miss this, the goal to getting well and walking free happens when I stop running, hiding, or pretending.
So, allow me to encourage you, find a quiet place where you can be still and hear God. Do not try to rush through this process, but rather get prayerful about it. Once you find that place, pray as David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24).
And as we ask Him to ‘search’ us – be ready for what He uncovers – selfishness, pride, envy, insecurity, approval seeking, greed, fear, worry, bitterness, unresolved conflict, unresolved guilt. And as these things come to the surface, repent of them.
Now, one of the things I have found to be vital in this process is having a trusted, godly person to process these through with. I will tell you this, I did not lose any weight in that moment, but it sure felt like I did. James tells us, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16).
There are several reasons for this, but for me, and most importantly, is that I am not alone, and I have a true friend and accountability.
