God’s heart is to forgive us. He knows all that we’ve done and will do, all of our shortcomings and sin, and his desire is to forgive us for all of it. We let shame, guilt, and fear keep us from confessing our sin though, often forgetting about his forgiveness, and we miss out on the freedom that confession brings. We sometimes think we’re the only one who’s sinning, forgetting that everyone sins, and we let sin keep us isolated. But regular confession opens us up to God’s healing power, restoration, and community. Every time we confess how much we have missed the mark of God’s love and truth, we open ourselves up to the mending work of the cross. We get to exchange our sin and receive God’s forgiveness - an exchange only made possible by God and his love for us.
For Individuals
If you have 5-10 minutes
A couple of times this week, take a few minutes during your prayer time and spend it confessing to God.
Imagine first that you are in a safe place, surrounded by the love of God. Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees you. Remember - he sees you with love. Think back on your day, and identify a sin you committed, Ask God to forgive you and help you to change.
You might need to ask God to reveal your sin to you. If you aren’t sure what to confess, spend those couple of minutes asking God to help you see.
After you confess to God, physically open your hands to symbolize receiving God’s forgiveness. After you pray, take note of how you feel - do you feel closer to God? Has confessing helped you to move nearer to him than ever before?
If you have a bit more time
Spend some time reflecting on your life and note any sin you keep repeating. As you ask God for forgiveness for that sin, ask him also for help in removing that sin from your life. If it would be helpful, ask a friend to help keep you accountable as well.
How to include confession in your small group this week
Read Psalm 32:1-5 together as a small group. Talk to each other about confession and be honest about whether or not you regularly confess to God. Pray for each other to pursue God’s forgiveness by confessing. Then pray for each person to receive the forgiveness that God has for them.
Ways to experience confession as a family this week
Teach your kids about forgiveness by modeling it. The next time you make a mistake, talk to your kids about it. Confess that sin, and (if appropriate or needed) ask for their forgiveness. You can also share with them how you asked God for forgiveness. Help them to know that they could confess to you or to God and receive forgiveness as well.
If you’re ready for more
Is there a relationship in your life that would benefit from confession? Are you carrying guilt and shame over sin in some way that is affecting your relationship with someone else? If you’ve confessed that sin to God and experienced his forgiveness, ask him if you should confess that sin to someone who might need to hear the confession as well (even if they don’t know). Ask God for his wisdom and discernment to know if a confession is necessary and right, and ask for his help to know how to go about that.