When is the last time you sat down with God and confessed your sins? Is confession and repentance part of your regular prayers?
Perhaps you haven’t given much thought to why confession is important?
Why we need to take time (more than just the corporate prayers of confession on Sunday mornings) to unburden our hearts to God, coming clean about our sin, and (most importantly) asking God for help to turn from that sin and do better.
Confession is Important to Keep Your Heart Aligned with God
The grocery store we frequented when I was a child had this beautiful display of artificial flowers by the entrance as part of the floral department. I was fascinated with these fake flowers that were always perfect, except once in a while a bloom would fall off onto the ground. How I wanted some of those pretty flowers.
One day, when my mom was busy trying to get the bags of groceries out to the car, I saw them. A handful of blooms had fallen off their artificial stalks and were lying on the ground. I quickly scooped them up and put them in my pocket.
I was thrilled to have some of those flowers, but the excitement quickly wore off as I realized I couldn’t play with them in the open. After all, I’d stolen them, hadn’t I? I couldn’t let my mom see them or let her know I’d done such a terrible thing. How could I have let her down like this? I knew stealing was wrong. I would never have stolen anything big, but these were so small… Such tiny things, and already on the ground, probably headed for the trash can anyway. My young mind swirled with these thoughts all afternoon.
That night, as I sat in the bathtub, I couldn’t contain it any longer. “Mommy,” I blurted out. “I did something bad today. I stole some flowers from the grocery.”
Why Confession is Important to All Christians
Confession is an essential part of our walk with Christ. As humans, we are sinners, but God asks us to be aware of our sin and, with his help, continually turn from those sins and do better.
You probably pray some form of confession on Sunday mornings and it’s embedded in the Lord’s Prayer. These are corporate reminders of the personal confession you need in your life because we are all sinners.
God already knows your sins and the blood of Jesus provided forgiveness for our sins, yet you’re still called to confess them.
Confession isn’t just about listing your sins to God, but more to admit to God where you fell short and work to get your heart back in alignment with Him so you can do better next time.
It’s accepting God’s mercy and grace through his forgiveness.
It’s unburdening your heart, releasing the guilt that so often builds up for the sins you’re holding inside.
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 34:1-5 NIV)
4 Steps of Confession to Reconcile Your Heart to God
1) Admit Your Sins to God
Get specific in naming your sin. Confess it to God, admitting your sins and asking for His forgiveness.
This step is more for you than God. He already knows your sin, but you need to accept that you’ve sinned and own up to where you’ve fallen short.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV)
2) Ask for God’s Forgiveness
You are already forgiven through Christ, but God still wants you to ask. He wants you to come before him with an open and penitent heart, so he can lead you in a new direction.
Acknowledge you can’t change the past, but instead ask God for help to move forward.
Your life doesn’t have to be defined by your past. God has bigger plans for your life than that.
Ask God for help to move beyond your past.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
3) Ask God to show you where you need to change.
What attitudes and actions need His correction and guidance?
Repentance is a crucial component of confession. It’s not enough to just admit your sin. You also have to make changes to stop sinning and do better.
So, ask for God’s help. Let him guide you to make the changes that will lead you closer to him.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)
4) Accept God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
Now accept God’s forgiveness. Allow God to shower you with his mercy and grace.
Sometimes this is the hardest part, yet God’s love and forgiveness will wash away all the guilt and shame.
Leave your sins at the foot of the cross and walk away clothed in his love and compassion.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:8-12 NIV)
What Do You Need to Confess to God?
I’m sure my mother was relieved that taking some flowers off the floor of the grocery was all that was burdening my young heart that night. They really were no more than trash, yet they were the perfect opportunity to teach me about doing what’s right.
That day I not only learned it’s not right to steal, but I also learned the power of confession. My guilt at even this tiny offense was tearing me up, yet once I confessed and heard my mother forgive me, I felt free. Sure, I had to face the consequences for my actions, but my soul was no longer weighed down with guilt.
What guilt are you carrying in your heart?
What confession do you need to make to God?
Ask for His forgiveness and let Him lead you forward.
Resources for Confession
If you want a guide to preparing your heart for confession (whether with a priest or alone with God), this book, Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church, provides exercises for self-examination to help you prepare for confession and reconciliation with God. (affiliate link) {You don’t have to be Episcopalian to benefit from this book and its exercises.}
Prepare Your Heart is a Lenten devotional based on the daily Lectionary readings for Lent. These prayers and reflections are focused on confession and repentance, coming clean with God so you can align your heart with His. If you want to go deeper with confession and realigning your heart with God, pray through this 40-day devotional. You can use this prayer guide even it’s not the season of Lent.
[This post is part of the Visible Faith series. Click here to learn more about this series on how to live a vibrant, visible faith.]
Betsy de Cruz says
As always, Kathryn, you point us to a deeper relationship with God through specificspiritual disciplines. Lovely and true. Thank you.
Mary Geisen says
Great words as always. You never fail to point us in the right direction. These words… “Guilt is often our reminder that we have a burden on our heart, a sin we haven’t fully confessed.” impacted me today. Thank you and blessings on your week.
Jeanne Takenaka says
Beautiful words, Kathryn. And such truth in them. I am so thankful that God loosens the grip guilt holds once we confess to Him (and to others,) what we’ve done.
And this: “Guilt is often our reminder that we have a burden on our heart, a sin we haven’t fully confessed.” I hadn’t fully considered this, but you’re spot on. Thanks for sharing your wisdom today.
I’m your neighbor at Holly Barrett’s place today. 🙂
Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
Kathryn,
This is beautiful…I love ALL of those verses because they speak so profoundly of the grace we find when we take our guilt to the feet of Jesus. Thank you for this reminder today…I really needed it. So blessed to have a Savior like Jesus!!
Blessings,
Bev
Shannon says
Kathryn- such a great post! We don’t have to carry around our guilt! Love these versus so much!!
Michele Morin says
Thank you for leading the way in the “simple” truths of keeping the way clear with God. I read your words and am confronted with the truth that this Christian walk is truly a relationship.
Brooke @ thevinepress.org says
Yes, so true! Confession is such a powerful gift that God has given us for freedom. I’ve found it to be essential in discipleship as well. Thanks for sharing!