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Jeremiah 8:6 "I have given heed and listened, but they have not spoken aright; no man repents of his wickedness, saying 'What have I done?' Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle."

 

How often when we sin in small ways, like telling a little white lie, or talking about someone behind their backs, do we catch ourselves in the moment and ask "What have I done?" Not often! Rather, if we think of it all, we tell ourselves it was nothing, or justify it in some way.

 

Do those little things often enough without questioning yourself, and it becomes easier and easier to slip into the bigger sins. That was what Jerusalem had done, that's how they got so bad by Jeremiah's time, and so unwilling to change, by "perpetual backsliding", holding fast to deceit, refusing to return. (Jeremiah 8:5).

 

This is one reason why frequent examinations of conscience and confessions are a good idea. If we don't catch ourselves in the moment, when we invite the Holy Spirit in and think back over our day or week, hopefully the small moments when we went wrong will resurface. We can then recognize what we've done and ask for forgiveness and grace to avoid doing it again.