Confession Always Ends With God’s Mercy
Confession Always Ends With God’s Mercy
Lord, if confession strengthens my relationship with you, why is it so hard?
When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard me walking about in the garden. So they hid from me among the trees. People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. The kind of sorrow I want you to experience leads you away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.
Genesis 3:8; Proverbs 28:13; 2 Corinthians 7:10
So how do I confess my sins to you?
Test and examine your ways. Turn back to me. Lift your heart and hands to me in heaven and say, “I have sinned and rebelled.” If you confess your sins to me, I am faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all wickedness.
Lamentations 3:40-42; 1 John 1:9
What prayer of confession can I offer to you, Lord?
I recognize my rebellion—it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart.
Psalm 51:3-4, 12, 17
Guilt and shame always make us want to hide. Adam and Eve hid in the garden and covered themselves with leaves after they sinned. Their sin placed a relational barrier between themselves and God. When sin separates you from God, confession is the bridge that reconnects you. Where is guilt or shame causing you to hide from God or others? The first step to restoration is bringing your sin into the light so it can be washed away by God’s forgiveness.
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