TRUTH

STEP ONE

WORKBOOK PAGE

Truth 5.0—The Naked Truth

1. “It is entirely possible to consider yourself an honest person, yet be blinded by self-deception.”

     How does JUDGING OURSELVES benefit us in our quest for emotional freedom?

     Write out 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 below:

2. When you judge yourself, you must: 

     a) Look at not just what you did or thought, but why.

     b) View yourself objectively—not defensively

     c) Judge yourself according to the standard of the Word, what God says is right and acceptable— not according to worldly standards.

     d) Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

     e) Know that this is not a one-time event.

     f) All the above

3.  We can begin to judge our hearts by first examining our MOTIVE, INTENT, AND DESIRE.

     MOTIVE: The reason we do what we do. Provides the initiative.

     INTENT: What we mean to accomplish. Provides the purpose.

     DESIRE: The things you want. Provides the direction. 

     Which of these is the most important? ____________________

4.  What are your DESIRES? Write down the things that are most important to you. 

     Have you lived your life according to your desires? Why, or why not?

     What desires have led you into trouble? List them below.

     Do you currently have any illicit desires? Circle them.

5. When we want to change the desires of your heart, we can:

     a. Pray and ask for diving help

     b. Manage our behavior (do what’s right)

     c. Concentrate on the good (keep our mind out of the gutter)

     d. All of the above

6. Write out Psalms 51:10; Psalms 37:4 below; Jeremiah 29:13; Galatians 5:16. What do each of these verses have in common?

7. Three ways to escape responsibility by avoiding the Truth are:

     a. Excuses

     b. Rationalization

     c. Denial

     e. All of the above

8. EXCUSES are inferior explanations used as a pretext or plea for overlooking a fault. They justify poor judgement, bad behavior, or lack of responsibility.

     When have you made excuses for something you did/didn’t do? 

     When have you made excuses for the bad behavior of others? (Ex: when they treated you badly or coaxed you to do things you knew you shouldn’t.) List them in your journal. 

     Why did you make these excuses? 

9. RATIONALIZATION is false reasoning. It pleads for an exception. Rationalization includes playing the blame game, deliberately misinterpreting situations to stack the facts in one’s favor, and compartmentalizing (created a double life.)

     When have you rationalized your decisions and behavior? 

10. DENIAL is the refusal to accede to reality. Denial:

     a. includes evasion, diversion, confusion, and feigning innocence. 

     b. offers the false promise of forgetting

     c. prevents one from adapting to life situations and making needed corrections and adjustments.

     d. is an escape for those who don’t want to face the facts and take responsibility.

     e. is for cowards

     f. is particularly dangerous because it is fundamentally self-deceptive.

     g. all the above

11. Refer to your three most formidable facts. 

     What EXCUSES did you make for your decisions or actions—or for others?

     How did you RATIONALIZE the situation?

     How did you RATIONALIZE the behavior of others?

     Were you in DENIAL? If so, tell what happened. How did that affect your perspective?

     How were were you LYING to yourself?

12. Refer to your answers in #11, above. What would have happened if you had decided to GET REAL and called it what it was in the moment? Make a note by each one.

     WORST THING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN: 

     BEST THING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN: 

     Other: 

********

BONUS QUESTION: Denial employs cowardice. Getting real (Truth) takes courage.

     Explain the correlation of these with faith and fear.

Be courageous—You can do it!

Return to Truth Content & Workbook Guide