confess

Opening Prayer: 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 32:1-5, NIV)

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-5

Journal: What stirs within you as you read this Psalm?  What is disturbed within you?  What do you do with that?  What might you need to acknowledge, uncover, or confess?  Will you?  The life of your soul depends upon it.  

Reflection: Misunderstanding, then, on this point of known or conscious sin, opens the way for great dangers in the higher Christian life.  When a believer, who has as he trusts entered upon the highway of holiness, finds himself surprised into sin, he is tempted either to be utterly discouraged, and to give everything up as lost; or else, in order to preserve the doctrine untouched, he feels it necessary to cover his sin up, calling it infirmity, and refusing to be honest and aboveboard about it.  Either of these courses is equally fatal to any real growth and progress in the life of holiness.  The only way is to face the sad fact at once, call the thing by its right name, and discover, if possible, the reason and the remedy.  This life of union with God requires the utmost honesty with Him and with ourselves.  The blessing which the sin itself would only momentarily disturb, is sure to be lost by any dishonest dealing with it.  A sudden failure is no reason for being discouraged and giving up all as lost.  Neither is the integrity of our doctrine touched by it.  We are not preaching a state, but a walk.  The highway of holiness is not a place, but a way. (The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith) 

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. Count yourself lucky—God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him.

     When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.

     Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.” Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. (Psalm 32:1-5, The Message)