WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONFESS?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONFESS?

 

 

Is there anything easy about confessing a sin? No. But skipping today’s question won’t move you any closer to fulfilling God’s plan for your life. It would, in fact, be a terrible idea to say, “O God, you’ve just got to help me with my purpose in life,” all the while refusing to turn away from sin. Today is a good day to confess your sin(s), which simply means to “agree with God.” Let him receive your confession today, before you lay any requests at his feet.

 

 

NOT A PRETTY PICTURE

 

 

What is your most unrelenting sin? Is it hatred, cheating, stealing, hoarding, or a judgmental attitude? Is it lying, gossip, infidelity, or impatience? Are you struggling with an obsession or a sense of entitlement? Are you harboring bitterness in your heart? And who would want to go before the throne of God to admit her laziness, addiction to drugs or pornography, or martyr syndrome? See how Michelle McKinney Hammond, cohost of the Emmy-nominated talk show, Aspiring Women, has dealt with her sinful nature.

 

 

MICHELLE MCKINNEY HAMMOND AGREES WITH GOD

 

 

For years, Michelle couldn’t figure out how she could have such a successful advertising career, yet continually flounder in the area of love relationships. This led her on a journey in search of perfect love, but what she found was not quite what she expected: she fell in love with God as her spouse! Today, she has become a nationally known author, speaker, singer, and television cohost, as well as the president of HeartWing Ministries. Michelle teaches women, both single and married, how to develop more intimate and fulfilling relationships with God and others. Michelle wishes that every woman could discover the joy that comes from having a romance with the Lover of her soul. She strives to communicate the Word of God in a practical manner, so that others can experience victory in their lives in the area of singleness and everyday relationships.

 

 

Years ago, Michelle confessed her anger and her doubt that God could heal her broken heart. God heard her confession and restored her trust in him. Today, she confesses that her sin of being a people-pleaser causes her to overcommit herself, which leads to feelings of resentment when she has been stretched too thin, which leads to more guilt about not having the right attitude. She thinks she may be getting better, though, about not overcommitting in the first place.

 

 

She says, “Confession is the only path to deliverance and restoration. It reveals the painful reality of how undone we really are and what changes need to be made in our lives. It’s actually quite liberating to see our situation through God’s eyes, because he always includes hope in the picture.”

 

 

What Do You Need to Confess? Ezra Confessed

 

 

Ezra, a prophet and a man of integrity, cried out to God on behalf of the Israelite men who had disobeyed God by marrying foreign wives. Ezra 9:6 captures his prayer: “O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.” Read Ezra 9:6 again and then 10:1–17. On whose behalf, yours or someone else’s, do you cry out to the Lord most often?

 

 

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

 

 

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon 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 32:3–5)

 

 

 

SUGGESTED PRAYER

 

 

Dear Lord God, when I, _________, kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon 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. I pray that I will renew my relationship with you today through faithful confession of those things that are blocking me from fully experiencing your love. You know how much I love you and how sorry I am for my sins. Forgive me as I readily agree with you about my sins.

 

 

So . . . What Insight, Prayer, or Action Step Has God Laid on Your Heart Today?