Dear Lord,
Lord, I fear that I have rationalized sin, for if I have rationalized sin will you then not hear me? And, if I have, is there any hope for me. (Jeremiah 7:9, 10, 16)
II Chronicles 33:1, 2, 12, and 13: Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. But he did evil in the sigh of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to him; and he received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew the Lord was God.
If God can do this for wicked King Manasseh who committed acts of abomination and rationalized them to lessen his guilt, then think what God can do for us. All we need to do is humble ourselves, as Manasseh did.
Then our prayer will become: “O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” And I thank you that you have heard me” (Psalm 25:11; John 11:41).
God always longs to forgive, it just takes a humble heart on our part, to put away self, stop rationalizing our actions and listen to the calling of God.
The Bible In Your Hand 