Deal With Sin: Name and Confess
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Father, I look to your Word today to lead me to truth that I have not seen, to see parts of your character that I have not seen or understood correctly and to ask your help to love you and others more completely. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)
REFLECT:
“Think right, act right and you’ll be (and feel) right.” Words from my spiritual mentor that still ring in my ears despite his recent passing. It is so easy to ignore or cover over things we do not want to deal with now. Exercise, dieting, apologizing, painting, checking tire pressure or cleaning out the freezer are things I can easily put off. However, doing so comes with consequences, some large and some small.
The same applies to known sin in our lives, however the consequence of sin isn’t small. It is broken fellowship with the Father. In fact, ignoring or covering over sin blocks prosperity. It is an act of arrogance in the face of a holy God. (See Luke 18 passage in our continued learning.)
APPLY:
When you realize your sin, stop, and name and confess your sinful heart, actions, words and/or thoughts to a merciful God. Be specific with him about your disobedience. Give it a name (confess it) and commit in sincerity with him that it is a violation of his call to holiness (renounce it). “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive …… and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Think right, act right and you’ll be right.
While you are at it, exercise and go eat your vegetables, too.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Merciful Father, help me today to think according to your heart and wisdom and to act obediently to deal with my sin immediately. Lord, you are so good, so good to me. Amen
CONTINUED READING:
1 John 1:5-10; Luke 18:9-14
WORSHIP: