My sin makes me so tired. This weekend I was really feeling the weight of it, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Over time this led me to the joy and freedom that comes when we exchange confessing our sins for the grace of Jesus. It is so healing to confess our sins to Jesus, he is always ready to forgive and restore us. It’s also healing to confess our sins to one another. James 5:16 tells us, Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
We don’t do enough confessing in Protestant circles, yet it brings a fresh tidal wave of grace each time we do. While this blog is no substitute for real church community, it does serve as a virtual community of sorts. As a way of experiencing Jesus’s grace with all of you, I want to confess my sins before you. I will write them in the comment section, and I encourage you as a reader to write your own confession in the comment box below mine. You don’t need to write a paragraph like I did, you can jump right into your list if you’d like. (For this post, let’s keep all comments on the blog, not on Facebook) Feel free to put your name or to post anonymously. After you write out your confession, please copy and paste the following Scriptures into your comment as you celebrate all Jesus has done for you:
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
He is:
Author of Beyond the Battle: A man's guide to his identity in Christ in an oversexualized world
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Jesus, thank you for always forgiving and for never giving up on me. Thank you for coming to this earth to die on that old rugged cross so that my sins would be paid for. Continue to fill me with your Holy Spirit to strengthen me in my struggles against sin. Lord, I’m tired from my sin. Make me new. Restore me. Make me whole in you. May your love sustain me so I don’t need to look elsewhere. I confess the following sins to you, knowing you love to forgive me:
Forgive me of my self-righteousness.
Forgive me of being so judgmental.
Forgive me of my jealousy, which rots out the secret places of my soul.
Forgive me of lust.
Forgive me of ministry greed (of never being content).
Forgive me of building my little kingdom and wanting so much glory for myself instead of building your Kingdom, Jesus, and praising for you whenever victories happen in your name.
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Lord,
forgive me for lying to others and not keeping my word and hurting them, especially the people I care about
forgive me for too often prefer being entertained rather than following you
forgive me for wanting others to see me rather than you, and lying to myself that I don’t
forgive me for getting angry at others for my sin that I’m blind to
forgive me for seeing others’ struggles and not having enough love or courage to care or get involved
forgive me for how easy I return to sin that you’ve forgiven and trampling on your grace
forgive me most of all for times when I doubt you and your love and your forgiveness
Lord, I need your mercy and grace.
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
And two more,
Hebrews 7:25 Jesus… “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
Isaiah 40:31 “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Amen! Thank you for participating in this with me Alan! God’s grace is so strong and so unending. I love those extra verses you added!
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
For the first time in a long time, I chose to cope with stress by ogling nude and scantily-clad women online.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Not sure what happened my confession, but here it is: For the first time in a long time, I chose to cope with stress by ogling nude and scantily-clad women online.
Thank you for participating in this with me Ryan. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability here and for seeking out Jesus’s grace to make you whole. How are you doing? I know I’m writing to you a month after you posted. How has the last month been? Do you have helps in place to keep you strong in the area of online sexual purity? Praying for you brother!
I confess how often I do what’s wrong and how little I even want to do the right thing and how slow I am to return to you. I confess I’m too ready to believe lies and am not faithful to your truth. I believe, help my unbelief and confusion. Lord I want to be free.
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Last weekend I was looking at some other post but read this and couldn’t forget it all week. It’s been so long since I’ve been to confession or received absolution. Too long, but last time hearing the priest’s words didn’t do anything for relieving my conscience, nor after doing penance. I’ve tried over the last week doing this in private but it hasn’t meant that joy and freedom you wrote about, so I’m leaving this here.
O God, I have sinned. It’s been so long since I’ve confessed, please forgive me. I am a sinner to my core and deserve your just punishment. O my God, you are good, and I confess that I have offended you by my sins. My lusts drive me to hurt others, I’m doing a bad job at work because of my laziness, I get angry too quickly, I think too little of others because I’m selfish, I lie because it’s easy, my pride makes me think I can get by on my own. O God, you deserve better from me, and with the help of your grace, I resolve not to sin anymore. I look to you O God, you are my only hope. Please forgive my sins and restore my soul. Amen
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Is it ok to be desperate? I don’t have a handle on what’s wrong and don’t even know the right words. I thought I was a christian but I’m wondering if I’m just spinning my wheels. I know what the bible says, that it’s true, but it seems so distant and I don’t know how to love the things I believe. Inside’s like a prison and I just want to be free and confess that I don’t know what to do anymore. I know you forgive sins but I can’t escape sinning but please forgive me and my sins again. I feel cursed and forsaken but I know you’re not like that. I confess I don’t deserve anything from you but know only you can save me. So God, I’m at this dead end but I look to you and wait for you.
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
Thank you for this confession and prayer, Justin. I’m reminded that in Christ, when the Father looks at you, he ONLY sees Jesus’s perfection and righteousness blanketed over you. I pray that that brings you peace and joy. I made a list of Scriptures I like to meditate on when I need to be reminded of this:
http://www.atacrossroads.net/what-does-the-bible-say-about-gods-love-for-me/