The Power of Confession

We sometimes think of repenting during Lent as sober and sorrowful. But when we let go of sin, we find renewal and enjoy the gift of forgiveness. Today we learn from the Psalmist who confessed his sin and found the joy of forgiveness. 

From an Africa Study Bible application note:

David recalled what happened to him after he had sinned against God. He was so strongly aware of his wrongdoing that in the first two verses he used three different words for his transgressions—“disobedience,” “sin,” and “guilt.” As long as David refused to confess his sin, he felt God’s hand against him both in his soul and his body. And that continued day and night. 

David’s turning point came when he confessed his sin before God. This restored his relationship with God and he could experience peace and joy once more. Sin troubles our communion with God and un-confessed sin makes us miserable. We cannot have peace until we confess our sin and return to Him. 

Every child of God can experience the peace that comes with confession and forgiveness. We should confess any sin as soon as we realise we have sinned. God accepted and restored David when he confessed. God will also accept us and restore us if we wholeheartedly confess. “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9).

Today: 

Pray a prayer of confession, using this prayer from the Anglican Church of Kenya liturgy as a model. You can replace “us” with “me” and “we” with “I”. Read the prayer a couple times slowly, pausing at each break, and dwelling on the words.

“Eternal Father, God of our ancestors, before your power all things tremble, but through your Son, we approach your throne. We have done wrong and neglected to do right; our sins of commission and omission weigh heavily on our hearts. Lord, have mercy and count them not against us. Grant us the joy of forgiveness and lighten our hearts with the glory of Christ, who died and rose again for us. Amen.”