He
who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces
them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
NIV
When kids do wrong to each other, it’s
common to see an adult bring them together and demand that they say the phrase,
“I’m sorry”. The response is often a
half-hearted and mumbled repetition of the required words.
While the intent behind this is noble, it’s
not very helpful. It’s more helpful,
especially in the long run, if the offense is named and forgiveness is
requested. “I’m sorry” is often repeated
to get the situation over with as quickly as possible. “Will you forgive me for stealing your
cookie?” brings the humility necessary to rebuild trust in a relationship.
The same is true in our relationship with
God. We can say, “I’m sorry for sinning”
without really admitting that we were wrong.
When we say, “Father, please forgive me for lying to my boss”, we open
our hearts to God’s grace and take an important step towards the good character
that will make us more honest in the future.
This week, take two steps to help you grow in confession.
1. Whenever you sin, pause and ask God to
forgive you of the specific sin you committed.
2. Set aside a brief time, 10-15 minutes, to
sit quietly before God. Read 1 John 1:8-10 and Psalm 139:23-24 and then ask God to show you
if there are any specific sins you have overlooked. As he brings them to your attention, ask for his forgiveness and be confident
that he will forgive you.
