02/12/2025
Are we afraid to speak directly to God? Do we feel safer going to a deacon or our pastor when we have issues in our lives? If you look inward and find that this is true of yourself, don't fear, there is nothing new in this... it has been happening since at least the time of Moses.
“And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.”
Exodus 20:19-20 KJV
When we go to others with the great sins in our lives it feels less threatening. Facing God can be intimidating when we have failed Him in some major way. To bow before him and confess our sins and seek contrition is more than humbling... in our eyes it is facing His disappointment in us. Yet, the interesting thing about our apprehension is that we think that by avoiding Him we are keeping our sins secret until we have somehow made them right through an intermediary... but this is untrue.
God knows all things and He knew your heart the moment before you sinned, and He saw your transgressions as you were committing them. There is nothing about you that He does not know, and yet He loves you even so.
“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”
1 John 3:20 KJV
I remember an incident following a high school football game when one of my sons went to a friend's house. I knew before it happened that something wasn't right, and I knew as it was happening that something was amiss. Later, I found out that the parents had not been home and that the boys had thrown a party. I waited for him to come to me. Although I was disappointed in him, I still loved him, and the life lesson wasn't going to be that of me confronting him, or someone else telling me about it... but rather, in his coming to me on his own accord to talk to me about it.
When he did come, I told him how disappointed I was and how I expected more of him. I left him to stew over this for a couple of days and each time I saw him I could see the downtrodden nature in him. When I finally knew that he was at the place of true regret, we sat down on the side of the bed in his room, and as I told him how much I loved him, and that he would always be my son... he apologized and promised he wouldn't do that again. After that time together, his demeanor changed immediately. The heavy load had been lifted.
Our relationship with the Heavenly Father is much the same. When we go to Him with our sins and transgressions He already knows we are coming, and he forgives us because we are His children... but we must want to be forgiven, and mere words are not enough... he looks into our heart and just as I could see the downtrodden nature in my son, He can see the contrition in us. It must be there.
Once forgiven, we should trust in His complete forgiveness, just as my son trusted in mine. God separates our sin from us and we should do the same within ourselves. Don't let your past sins destroy your joy in the Lord. He has forgiven you... now forgive yourself.
“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.”
Psalms 103:11-13 KJV
God forgives us so that we can return to a pre-sin state. He doesn't want us to drag a ball and chain around behind us for the rest of our lives. He wants the joy to return, and for us to live a renewed life.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 KJV
Prayer for Forgiveness:
Father I thank you for your perfect forgiveness. I thank you for the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ; who you sent so that the world would be reconciled unto you. Lord, I repent of my sins and confess them before you. I sit on my bed with you and tell you of my wayward life... even though you know what I am about to say. Father, I realize that my confession is for me; it allows me to relieve myself of the burdensome sins that you are already prepared to forgive me of... even before the words leave my lips. Dear Lord... help me to forgive myself and return to your peace and joy. Let me use your forgiveness as my guide in forgiving myself and others.
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who is merciful, just, and full of grace. Holy are you who sees my sinful, broken, and downtrodden heart, and then hears my confession and accepts my sincere contrition… and forgives me. Hear today the things I have to confess and feel the sorrow and contrition in me as I ask you for your forgiveness for them. Hear not only my prayers but the prayers of Jesus as I kneel before Him and he makes intercession for me before you. Father, please have mercy, and forgive me now. Let the joy and peace I am promised return, and my praise for you rise up as I call out “Great are You my God!”
Amen! Amen! Amen!
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1-2 ESV
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.”
Psalm 86:5-7 ESV
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.”
Psalm 143:3 ESV
Rich Forbes