Seeking Him: 12 Days to Spiritual RevivalSample

Day 3: Honesty

Ever since Adam and Eve first disobeyed God, the tendency to cover our sins has been a part of our sinful human nature (see Genesis 3:7–8). We don’t have to be trained on how to hide or pretend—it comes naturally. Even after we are redeemed in Christ and the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us, we often battle the urge to deceive. But God cannot bless or revive a heart that refuses to acknowledge the truth.

Though handpicked by God to be a leader, David rejected God’s law, abused his power, acted on his lust, and committed adultery (see 2 Samuel 11).

As damaging as that was, however, he could have spared his household and kingdom many months of anguish had he simply been honest about his failure. Instead, he hid, covered up, and denied his wrongdoing.

He lied to Uriah, the husband of the woman he had sinned against so grievously. He lied to his warriors. He lived a lie before his people. He lied to himself by acting as if what he’d done really wasn’t all that bad, that he could get away with it, and that there would be no major consequence to suffer.

Above all, David lied to God by attempting to cover his sin and refusing to acknowledge and confess it.

Psalm 32 is David’s firsthand account of his process of discovering the profound joy of experiencing God’s mercy and forgiveness. Read this passage:

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Selah (Psalm 32:1-5)

David lived with God’s convicting Spirit pressing down on his soul for nearly a year. Being silent about his wrongdoing—refusing to confess his sin—only deepened David’s anguish. He deteriorated physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

As we read the opening verses of Psalm 32, we can almost hear the joy and relief returning to David’s spirit. When he finally let go of his pride, humbled himself, and got honest with God and others about his sin, heaven-sent relief poured over him. The weight of his iniquity was lifted, and his sin was carried away.

That can be your experience, too. As this passage indicates, God is willing to “cover” (with the blood of Christ) every sin that we are willing to “uncover” before Him. If David could experience the freedom and joy of a restored relationship with God after committing such great sin, you can know that blessedness, too!

God wants His children to experience intimate fellowship. That is possible only if we are honest with Him about the true condition of our hearts as He knows them to be. No matter what you may have done, you can experience God’s great love and amazing grace.

Think about this: confessing our sin—breaking the silence—ushers in God's forgiveness and cleansing. So why hide? Why remain silent?

Consider:

Is there something in your life that you know is displeasing to God, some attitude or past behavior? Are you trying to hide it from God, hoping He’ll overlook it? Is God calling you to break the silence today?