LIVE EVERY MOMENT IN THE FACE OF JESUS

CONFESSION AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE…

“Confession is so difficult a Discipline for us partly because we view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners. We come to feel that everyone else has advanced so far into holiness that we are isolated and alone in our sin. We could not bear to reveal our failures and shortcomings to others. We imagine that we are the only ones who have not stepped onto the high road to heaven. Therefore we hide ourselves from one another and live in veiled lies and hypocrisy.

But if we know that the people of God are first a fellowship of sinner we are freed to hear the unconditional call of God’s love and to confess our need openly before our brothers and sisters together. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied but transformed.”   – Richard Foster

LIFE IN THE FASTING LANE-Living A Transparent Life Before God

Living transparently means, first, that we acknowledge the fact that we cannot hide anything from God (Psalm 139:7-12). When we cherish our secret sins, we fool ourselves into thinking we can also keep them hidden from God. However, when we confess our sins, we invite God to shine the light of His truth into every dark corner of our heart. We pray, "Lord, show me what I have been trying to hide from you. Help me put it out in the open so you can heal my broken life."

Living transparently means, second, that we acknowledge the fact that our sin is offensive to God (Jeremiah 44:4). When we cherish our secret sins, we fool ourselves into thinking God does not mind. But when we confess our sin, we are essentially agreeing with God that what we did was an offense to Him.

Living transparently means, third, that we recognize the fact that God must deal with sin (Nahum 1:3). When we cherish our hidden sin, we deny God's justice. But when we confess our sin, we recognize that we deserve nothing more than God's wrath. In this recognition we cry out, "Mercy!" and God is ready and willing to forgive us. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

LIVE EVERY MOMENT IN THE FACE OF JESUS -- Praying, Fasting and Confessing