I have a confession... many and often

I have a confession... many and often.

It is that I often hide away from confession. Many times it is REASON ONE: for my own lack of recognition of my sins or weaknesses or even out of a lack of willingness to truly examine, and I mean EXAMINE, myself and my ways. Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

If you are reading this and waiting for me to confess something to you here, in blogosphere-land, you are going to be disappointed.

This would be REASON TWO: for fear of appearances. Appearing imperfect or flawed or like someone who's fallen short. Who wants to fall short and announce it? Really!!?? Yet, Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and FALLEN SHORT..." Let's get real here folks, stop hiding behind the save face lie and start being real one with another.

I long for God to cleanse my guilt and shame and the evil of my ways. I long to be counted "Righteous" in His sight. I long for Him to exchange my stained garments for robes of white. But it's not following laws that will cleanse me. Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." See, His Word helps us to recognize our sins. It's like a spotlight and when we shine it into our minds and hearts and upon our lips we can realize where we are falling short of the beauty He longs to create in us. God does want us to confess our sins. But, I think alongside of that He asks us to recognize something else and confess it. 

It is our desperate need, our hopeless state, our complete incompleteness without the Savior-Jesus-cleansing and healing and freeing us from the bondage of sin. Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Yet along with that we are told in 1 John 1:9 that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Confessing our sins and renouncing them is about walking in ways that honor and bring glory to God. It's about seeing the standard He longs for us to walk in and the beauty He longs to create in our lives and hearts and the peace He wants to fill us with. 

 So ask Him,

Psalm 26:2
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

Recognize these truths,

Proverbs 5:21
For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. Jeremiah 17:10
“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

And acknowlege this truth,

Job 7:17-19¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,
¹⁸ that you examine them every morning
    and test them every moment?


Clearly, He is mindful of us. He gives us much attention. Let's give ourselves the same attention, our hearts the same examination and let's strive for the right type of beautifying today--the inner beauty--the heart.

1. 2 Timothy 2:19
   Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2. James 5:16
   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.
3. Psalm 32:5
   Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
4. Psalm 38:18
   I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. 
5. Proverbs 28:13
   Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
6. Isaiah 59:1
   Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

So let's ask God to examine us, and let's examine ourselves today. Then, let's truly confess both to God and one to another. Let's not shrink back from living by faith. And, let's persevere!

Hebrews 10:36-38 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.For,“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And,“But my righteous^[g] one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

I would challenge you today with these questions: When did you last confess, truly confess, a sin or struggle to another brother/sister in Christ? And when did you last spend time examining and then confessing to your Maker?

If you're looking for inspiration today to motivate you to spending your time quietly with God--SO THAT as Anita says, His Word may be the floss to pick out the junk in your heart and life....you have to check out her inspiring story, the story of Anita Keagy: http://www.ambassadorspeakers.com/ACP/speakers.aspx?name=ANITA%20KEAGY&speaker=1441 

Confessions are never easy, but they are always worth the work and challenge. And often times we see the beauty God can make out of the battle scars when we seek the Healer and His power to work mightily amidst our weakened state.

We all have confessions we could make.....many and often. Yet often, we do not make many, in fact, we rarely make ANY. So today, purpose to confess many and often rather than few and rarely.