“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
A reflective question; when is a time you might need God’s forgiveness? David said, “When I kept silent about my sin … Your hand was heavy upon me” (Psalm 32:3-4). Can we sum this up as letting go and letting God?
Confession does four things:
- It lets you experience God’s forgiveness. He already knows your sin, but He can’t forgive you when you blame-shift and make excuses. “If we confess … he will forgive our sins.” The first move is up to you.
- It restores your emotional and physical energy. Nothing’s more draining than denial, and nothing’s more invigorating than a clean slate. David said, “My strength … failed because of my guilt” (Psalm 31:10). Reflecting on his affair with Bathsheba, he said, “When I kept silent … my vitality failed … I acknowledged my sin … You forgave the guilt” (Psalm 32:3-5).
- It lets you move on. Confession lets you hit the “reset” button and start again. It’s important to draw a line between the past and the future in case you’re tempted to regress.
- It lets you grow. Thomas Edison said failure taught him 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb. Making failure work for you instead of against you, starts with confessing it to God and accepting His forgiveness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, let me confess my sins before you — in detail! Help me change — in detail! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
