King David describes what happens when we leave our dry bones alone: they waste away, ignored by our groaning. Often, this groaning sounds like an excuse: “I’m busy and there’s so much I’m working on. I can always re-engage next week.” And week by week, our choices keep us from reconnecting and our bones begin to waste away. We prioritize our work, our time between, and our selfish endeavors over our relationship with our Father. Eventually, we start to feel guilty and our hearts become hardened.

To be candid, we’ve all been there. We’ve all put our own desires and ambitions above our pursuit of God and felt distanced from him at one point or another. That might be you right now. It’s part of our sinful nature and we get to name that honestly. Luckily, our proclivity to sin doesn’t end the story.

In Psalm 32, we learn about the beauty of confessing our sin. When we name it and allow it to no longer be a stumbling block, we begin to chip away at our guilt. God forgives us and surrounds us with his love in a way that makes it clear we won’t be controlled by it any longer. We are free people who have access to the Father and are offered restoration through the confession of our sins.

Application

Confessing your sins can be hard. You might not know where to start or what to name specifically. Try thinking about sin as anything that distances you from your relationship with God. After you’ve had time to name what that might be, confess it to God with this prayer:

“God, I realize my bones are drying as I’ve distanced myself from you. I confess my sin honestly and offer it to you for forgiveness. Forgive me, restore me, and protect me from ________ so that I can be closer to you. Surround me with your love and guide me to your heart. Amen.”

Go Deeper Resources

Find a notebook or pieces of paper and write down your prayers of confession. Keep it with you through the week as a reminder of the things that hold you back from your relationship with the Father. When you see it, voice this simple phrase: “The Lord forgives and the Lord restores” as a way of acknowledging sin’s presence in your life but not allowing it to hold you back.