Love God Greatly - Jonahናሙና

God offers everlasting mercy

The people of Nineveh took the crucial steps for repentance: they acknowledged their wrongdoings and “turned from his evil and from the violence in his hands” (v. 8). Once we know we are doing things wrong, we need to turn around and repent. 

Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Since Adam and Eve, human instinct leads us to cover our sins. Our conscience makes us ashamed of our sin and we don’t want others to see it. We even think we can hide it from God. Yet, this instinct to hide our sin doesn’t benefit us. It prevents us from being real about our condition before God. The path to receiving God’s mercy is to confess and forsake our sin. 

Confession should be appropriately specific. “If I made any mistakes I’m sorry.” is not a confession of sin. You sinned specifically, so confess specifically. 

Confession should be thorough. “Some confessions are not thorough. They are too general. They are not made to the persons concerned. They neglect completely the necessary restitution. Or they make no provision for a different course of conduct in which the sin is forsaken. They are endeavors for psychological relief.” (Orr)

Confession must have honesty and integrity. If we confess with no real intention of battling the sin, our confession isn’t thorough, and it mocks God. 

How do you confess your sins? Are you being specific, thorough, and honest with God? Don’t hurry this part of prayer. We need to confess our sins if we want our relationship with God to grow and flourish. 

Oh Lord, help me be honest with You and with myself when I sin. Help me confess all my sins to You and make my heart clean. Amen.