Romans 12:3 (NLT)

“…I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves…”

Herein lies a warning. Even if you can deceive everybody else, don’t deceive yourself. Self-deception is the worst kind of mental sickness that there is. Deceiving others to make yourself look better than you really are might make sense (even though it’s wrong), but what is the gain from deceiving yourself? If you know your real status but keep pretending that you are something else or someone else, who gains from this form of foolishness? We need to be honest with ourselves. The cure to self-deception is brutal self-evaluation.

A man who does not evaluate himself is living in a fools’ paradise. He may either be living in the glories of his past or he may be living in an artificial world of his own creation. Whichever one it is, he is being dishonest about his present situation, and such dishonesty will only lead to disaster. Be honest about where you are in your journey. Be honest about your successes and your failures. Be honest about where you are in life. A man who has assessed himself correctly is never shaken by the assessments of others – whether they are true or false. Correct, spirit-led self-evaluation gives you a strong and stable platform in life; knowing where you were, where you currently are, and where you are possibly headed. It’s time for honesty.

“Deliver me from all self-deception Lord. Help me regularly assess myself honestly and critically. In Jesus name. Amen.”