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Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 NLT

I had an unusual dream this morning before waking. In the dream I was contracting an arsonist to set fire to my contents of the house I was in, so I could make a claim. As the man was setting fires I realised I was sinful attempting to deceive my insurers and would not be able to make a claim. Then I realised I was living in a good friends house and had probably damaged her fixtures as well. Suddenly she was there and I knew I wanted to tell her my sin but she was too busy telling me all was OK, not much of hers was damaged anyway. Foolishly I blurted out, "well you have had over $6,000 in rent from me over the years." I remember the feeling of offence at being charged unrelenting rent by a friend. She ignored this comment and I knew I was now battling a new deceptive reason for not telling my friend the truth. self-justification.amd offence. 

When we have done wrong self-justification comes along. We attempt to rationalise away our guilt and sin. James tells us why we sin, we have evil lurking in our flesh ready to trap us.

Paul tells us in Romans 8 that if we walk in the spirit we do not satisfy the flesh. Our carnal nature is at odds with our spirit man. There is a battle that we can win as we walk in the spirit. The dream shows the flesh and spirit in a battle. It appears the flesh uses deception and self-justification as its tools whereas the spirit walks in truth and confession of sin.

God wants us to face our sin. David, the psalmist, was confronted by his sins of murder and adultery by God. He was also forgiven as he repented. Repentance is a beautiful gift and we would be wise to accept it in humility. 

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