When The Door Slams
Why do you notice notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you do not consider the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your friend, 'Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye. Matthew 7:3-5
Defense mechanisms are the ways we lie to ourselves without even knowing that we are doing so. They can cause great emotional pain, and it is important that we understand them as we get older. There are examples and explanations of all forty defense mechanisms in the scriptures.
Think about this: One of the most commonly used defense mechanisms is projection. When you put your hand on an overhead projector, you see a huge hand on the screen, but of course the hand is really on the projector. In the same way, if you lie a lot (from being abused, for example) in your unconscious, then you will project it. You will lie to someone else, but will be blocked from your self-awareness if it is too painful for you to face the truth.
The unconscious anger you have toward yourself for "unclear thinking "will be projected to someone who reminds you of yourself, man or woman and it will be very difficult for you to accept and love that person. A father tends to project on his oldest son and a mother on her oldest daughter. Most teenagers project their own faults onto their parents. The unconditional love and acceptance take so much work in families.
Think: Is there someone who greatly irritates you? Maybe it time to take a hard look at myself. Am I projecting painful or ugly lies inside me onto him or her?
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
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