There is an old saying that "confession is good for the soul".
But, if you're like me, it's a hard thing to do. There is an inner resistance to admitting we have sinned - against God or someone else.
Yet, the Bible makes clear that confession of sin is essential to inner healing, a right relationship with God, and ultimately power in prayer.
As I see it, confession follows repentance and leads to God's forgiveness. Each step draws us closer to God.
Repentance is a heart decision to turn away from sin and back to God. Next, we confess with our mouths that we have done wrong. And then God forgives, graciously restoring us to intimate communion with him.
The apostle John summed it up in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Author, prayer warrior and world evangelist Dick Eastman says in his book The Hour that Changes the World: "This brings to our attention an essential law of prayer: My prayer life will never rise above my personal life in Jesus Christ."
He adds: "According to Scripture, there can be no effective prayer life where sin maintains its grip in the life of the believer."
As the psalmist says in Psalm 66:18: "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."
"Why is confession so difficult for some?" asks Eastman. "Perhaps because confession is really the most painful part of personal prayer."
I realize that there are some sins I resist confessing because I don't want to admit I'm wrong. That's especially true if confessing means having to ask someone for forgiveness.
But this hard-shell resistance may be standing in the way of inner peace and powerful answers to prayer.
Eastman says he includes a time of personal confession every day during his prayer time.
He uses Psalm 51: 10-11 as the basis of his confession: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me."
He breaks this passage down into four steps:
But, if you're like me, it's a hard thing to do. There is an inner resistance to admitting we have sinned - against God or someone else.
Yet, the Bible makes clear that confession of sin is essential to inner healing, a right relationship with God, and ultimately power in prayer.
As I see it, confession follows repentance and leads to God's forgiveness. Each step draws us closer to God.
Repentance is a heart decision to turn away from sin and back to God. Next, we confess with our mouths that we have done wrong. And then God forgives, graciously restoring us to intimate communion with him.
The apostle John summed it up in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Author, prayer warrior and world evangelist Dick Eastman says in his book The Hour that Changes the World: "This brings to our attention an essential law of prayer: My prayer life will never rise above my personal life in Jesus Christ."
He adds: "According to Scripture, there can be no effective prayer life where sin maintains its grip in the life of the believer."
As the psalmist says in Psalm 66:18: "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."
"Why is confession so difficult for some?" asks Eastman. "Perhaps because confession is really the most painful part of personal prayer."
I realize that there are some sins I resist confessing because I don't want to admit I'm wrong. That's especially true if confessing means having to ask someone for forgiveness.
But this hard-shell resistance may be standing in the way of inner peace and powerful answers to prayer.
Eastman says he includes a time of personal confession every day during his prayer time.
He uses Psalm 51: 10-11 as the basis of his confession: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me."
He breaks this passage down into four steps:
- A plea for divine holiness ("Create in me a clean heart"). He reviews the previous day's activities and asks God to point out areas that need confession so that a healthy relationship with the Lord can be maintained;
- A request for a divine attitude ("Renew a right spirit within me"). He considers his relationships with others and whether he has a forgiving attitude toward them;
- A request for divine guidance ("Cast me not away from your presence"). He confesses his need for the presence of God during the day to lead him and to defeat temptation; and
- An appeal for divine unction or anointing ("Take not your Holy Spirit from me"). He says to God that he needs the Holy Spirit to operate through him.
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