12. Psalm 19 and the Problem of Self-Deception

Why is self-awareness so difficult?

In this teaching on Psalm 19, John Ortberg explores self-deception, blind spots, hidden faults, and the surprising difficulty of honestly seeing ourselves.

The Psalmist asks:
 “Who can discern their own errors?”

That question launches a fascinating exploration of:
- Freud and the unconscious mind
- Cognitive bias and self-deception
- Why humans protect their image
- The role of feedback and mirrors
- Spiritual growth through honesty
- Grace, confession, and healing

This episode explores how Scripture and modern psychology intersect around one central truth: human beings are remarkably good at hiding truth from themselves.

And yet real freedom begins when we become willing to see.

Scriptures:
- Psalm 19:12–14
- Romans 1
- Obadiah 1:3

Resources mentioned:
- Freud
- George Eliot
- Gregg Ten Elshof
- Awakenings

#psalm19  #JohnOrtberg #SelfAwareness #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psychology #Prayer #BibleStudy #BlindSpots #Psalms


📚 Today's Resources:
George Eliot, Middlemarch 
Gregg A. Ten Elshof, I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life 

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00:00 Introduction & Mirror Thumbnail Idea
00:09 Psalm 19 & the Problem of Self-Awareness
00:30 “Forgive My Hidden Faults”
00:58 The Problem With Unconscious Behavior
01:19 Freud, Depth Psychology & the Iceberg Mind
02:08 What Freud Got Wrong About Trauma
02:58 Memory Wars & Self-Deception
03:17 The Hidden Layers Beneath Consciousness
03:52 George Eliot & “Confessing to Ourselves”
04:16 The Four Levels of Consciousness
05:00 Skydiving & Stress-Induced Memory Gaps
05:57 Peripheral Awareness & Hidden Faults
06:31 Self-Deception in Modern Psychology
06:58 Romans 1 & Suppressing the Truth
07:25 The Self-Serving Bias Explained
08:16 The Fundamental Attribution Error
09:03 Everyday Self-Deception & Rationalization
09:53 Praying “Help Me See the Truth”
10:19 Reviewing the Day With Honesty
11:02 Why We Manage Other People’s Opinions
11:35 Freud, Sin & the Depth of Self-Deception
12:01 Inviting Other People to Help Us Grow
12:39 “Would You Tell Me More?”
13:23 Closing Prayer From Psalm 19:14