Devotionals for the Heart: Why God wants you to confess your sins

The Healing After Confession
A devotional by Essie Faye Taylor

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”—James 5:16 (KJV)

Have you ever been hurt so deeply, yet you didn’t want the person who hurt you to know the depths of your pain?

Do you remember putting on a brave face or mustering up an, “I’m okay”, while simultaneously fighting back tears, shame, or embarrassment? Do you remember giving yourself a good “talkin’ to” about how you shouldn’t feel this way or perhaps you told yourself to never let them see you sweat?

Today I want to challenge the notion of faking it until you make it. Wipe off that fake smile that you’ve plastered on your face. Let that cry out—scream if you have to—and let’s get REAL! Confession is good for the mind, body, and soul. It brings healing. In James 5:16, the Apostle James speaks about the importance of confession of our faults. As the brother of Jesus Christ, he had experience with confession. He didn’t believe Christ’s ministry at the onset. He grew up with Jesus and saw him as his older brother. He was converted after Christ’s resurrection and became the presiding elder of the Jerusalem church. Later in his lifetime, he realized his error of unbelief he had when he was younger and converted to follow Christ as a disciple. From experience, he explains the healing power of the combination of prayer and confession. He charged the believers of Christ to confess their faults to each other.

In so saying he admonishes them to create a safe space for each other, to be vulnerable, and to share their shortcomings, if you will. This safe place is a no-judgment zone of love and discipline. He didn’t simply say for us to confess, but he also said to pray. Pray with that brother or sister—stand with them in faith that they might overcome that fault. The Apostle John, whom Jesus loved, also declares that when we confess, God springs into action to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

Confession opens the door for repair because when we can be vulnerable and admit that something is wrong or we have made a mistake, God is there to meet the need. When we have sinned, God is faithful and ready to forgive. When you are hurting, God is ready to heal you. When you are brokenhearted, God is ready to mend your heart and help you put your life back together again. Confession brings repentance.

Confession with another believer forms agreement. We know that according to Scripture, where there is agreement that:

1. God will be there (Matthew 18:20).

2. God will do whatever you ask (Matthew 18:19).

Call to Action:

1. Acknowledge the healing power of confession.

2. Be honest with yourself about your shortcomings.

3. Confess your faults in safe spaces and open the door to your healing.

4. Welcome the prayers of your safe community and partner with them as you heal.

5. Remember, healing belongs to God’s children (Mark 7:27).

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, You are our God who understands our pain and brokenness. You see our hurt and tears. You long to heal us and repair all that was destroyed in our lives. Help us to find safe spaces where we can confess and find prayers of agreement. Help us to partner with our brothers and sisters so our wounds can be healed. Demonstrate by your power the healing virtue found in confession. May we confess and find forgiveness and restoration. May we confess and move toward actions that will change toxic behavior and thought patterns. Help us to do this by granting us the resources, knowledge, and discipline to seek Your presence. As we do this, please heal us. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Broken, But I’m Healed” by Byron Cage. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Essie Faye Taylor is a woman of faith. She’s a bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter. 

Essie is the author of the “Finding the Love You Deserve” series for women and teens. She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to heal themselves, love and accept themselves, and pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path.

Essie is a Chicago native where she lives with her husband Donald Taylor II.

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Connect with Essie:
Website: www.essiefayetaylor.com
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Essie%20Faye%20Taylor/author/B09XF3TC22
Listen to Essie’s music at https://on.soundcloud.com/X6DeoRXra7YoKcC2A.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/ on Instagram
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esther.tate.39
Read Essie’s YouVersion Devotion Plan here: http://bible.us/r/Abn

Devotionals for the Heart: Confession

On Confession
A devotional by Lisa Lickel

“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” ~James 5:15-16 (ESV)

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” ~John 20:23 (ESV)

"In acts of mutual confession, we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied but transformed. "~Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline

I am in awe that being a Christian is a process, a journey of many steps that is a call for continual renewal and examination. When I accepted Jesus Christ into my life and confessed him as my Savior and Lord, I became a Christ-follower. We share the ABCs of faith: Accept, Believe, Confess. Confess Christ as the Savior, yes, as well as allow ourselves to confess to each other that the Belief part—the part where I act on what I believe—is often a quagmire of ugliness from which I need help to escape.

Admitting I’m wrong or make mistakes has always been a hotbed of fear for me because the punishment was old-fashioned—swift and sometimes physically and always emotionally brutal. I have been harder on myself, too, for the desire to make excuses, to not take the time to make certain the information is correct, for taking the easy way out. I have lashed out at others in fear and pride; I still cluck my tongue at others’ intentional or accidental acts of insensitivity when I’ve committed similar acts in the past.

Often, the worst thing we can do is treat others as we want to be treated. Those are the times we need to step outside of our comfort zones and examine our motives. Forgive me, my neighbor, for not noticing your need. Forgive me, Lord, for glossing over spending fifteen minutes with you and you only. Forgive me, friend, for sharing a thought that was painful for you.

Having a physical prayer partner or a being part of a small group Bible study which has a sharing time can fulfill this need to confess and accept forgiveness. I realize that unconsciously I have participated on both sides with my new friends in Christ and desire to be more intentional; hearing confession is never a time to store gossip fodder. Confession is good. It is healing. It is a lesson in growing and becoming, in transforming my life. 

Confessing should result in genuine change. I don’t want to confess simply to relieve my personal sense of guilt and shame—sure, that’s the bandage effect, but not the antibiotic to heal the deep sin-wound in my soul. 

My confession makes me want to spend more time getting to know my neighbor; for realizing that my Jesus is waiting for me—me!—to sit down with him; and for listening more than spouting off platitudes, even if personally I would rejoice in the response.

My Prayer: Thank you, Lord of my life, for reminding me of your loving presence, always waiting patiently for me to come and share the best and the worst of myself with you.

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Author Bio:

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. 

A multi-published and award-winning novelist, she also writes short stories and radio theater, is an avid book reviewer, blogger, a freelance editor, and workshop leader.

She is a member of Chicago Writers Association and part of Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp and Writing Retreat, Inc., mentoring writers from across the United States and Canada.

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Connect with Lisa:
Website: http://www.LisaLickel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lisalickelauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lisalickel
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lisajlickel
Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/2bPxi2X