The Importance of Confession

How’s the following for an honest confession? “But they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and did not heed Your commandments. They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage” (9:16, 17).

Nehemiah recorded this prayer by some of the spiritual leaders of Israel, and their confessions read like a laundry list of the sins God has repeatedly warned His people to avoid: pride, arrogance, closed ears, failing to remember God’s works, and general disobedience.

These ancient people understood what we must understand, and that’s the importance of being willing to confess sin whenever it comes to our attention. That is especially important to those of us who have children because our sins and shortcomings affect not only us, but also our children.

Good news comes in the next line of the prayer, “But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (9:17). What a great promise! God is faithful, even when we aren’t! What better reason to come to Him in humble obedience?

Taken from FamilyLife Marriage Bible