THE POWER OF CONFESSION
Are you familiar with the saying, “Confession is good for the soul.”? While I have heard it and said it on numerous occasions, I had given little thought to how significant these six simple words were. Confession: to confess is to own-up to one’s wrong-doing, thus admitting one’s guilt: while knowing full well that a penalty or punishment is justly due. To confess is to risk vulnerability and invite exposure along with the consequences imposed by whoever is standing in judgement. And although there are inherent risks involved with confession, I submit that there is also inherent power.
Yesterday we addressed the matter of sin silence and its adverse effects on our whole being or souls. We also touched briefly on how to break the bonds of sin silence: that is to confess. What is beautiful about us making our confession to God, is presented in the latter half of today’s verse. Verse 5b, “‘… I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you [the LORD] forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Therein is the beauty! As the psalmist prepares himself to make confession, the LORD has already forgiven him. This reminds me of the account concerning the prodigal son in Luke 15. When the estranged son is on his way home, but still afar off; he rehearses his confession… what he will say when he encounters his father. All the while, the father is hoping, waiting, and watching for his young son’s return. Then, when the father spots him in the distance, he runs to him. And before the son can make his confession, the father has already forgiven him, embraced him, and made moves to restore him to full sonship… full relationship. The father celebrates the son. Why?! Not simply because he is home again, but because he has returned from the dead.
Let Us seize every opportunity the Lord sets before us to be in right relationship with our God. When we recognize our errors… our sins and iniquities, Let Us be swift to return to God and confess the wrongs we have done. Know that just like the prodigal son, our heavenly parent sits ready to draw us close again.