Written By Amanda Christopher

Confession

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16

The act of confession in the life of a disciple of Jesus refers to openly and honestly examining the heart alongside the Holy Spirit, admitting and repenting of sins, receiving forgiveness, and promoting a renewed relationship with God and others. Confession includes humbly sharing our feelings and fears with God, as well as our sins. Confession and repentance bring a person to humility and restoration through Jesus’s mercy and can lead to a renewed purpose and testimony in the life of the person. Disciples of Jesus experience healing and growth in Christ when engaging in honest confession, deepening our relationship with God and others.

Practical Suggestions

  1. Pray. You confess sin to God through prayer, but you can also pray for the courage to confess to another person, and ask Him to help you see any other things you need to confess (Psalm 139:23-24).

    • Identify someone in your life that you can be honest with about your deepest struggles. A DNA Group should be a safe place for honest confession.

    • While it may not be appropriate to confess all sins in your MC, family gatherings should be safe places to confess our misbelief, disbelief, and many of our struggles. Take steps to be honest with your MC.

  2. Grieve your sin. It is appropriate to mourn your sin and the hurt and separation it has caused (Psalm 51:17; James 4:8-10). Grieving your sin and recognizing its seriousness will help you repent and turn away from sin (2 Corinthians 7:10).

  3. Be specific. Don’t hide your sin in generalities. If you really want to be healed, you should confess exactly what you did and seek help in making specific changes to remove that sin from your life.

  4. Trust God. Believe God’s promises that you are forgiven, that confession is for your own benefit. (Psalm 16:11). Christ has paid for the sin you confessed, and there is no condemnation for those who trust in Him (Romans 8:1).

  5. Parents, confess your parenting and response mistakes to your children and ask for their forgiveness. These are opportunities to both practice and teach confession.

Amanda Christopher
Previous
Next