Message #17 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series "Confession"

by Kaye Johns

How often do we find ourselves confessing the same sins over and over again? That repeated sin may be symptomatic of our confessing to receive relief from our guilt, rather than true repentance. Repenting of our sin is turning away from it, giving it up -- not in our own strength, but in His. His Holy Spirit, living in us, empowers us to overcome the temptation of and desire for sin.

The trouble is, we often live without asking for that empowerment. Suppose one day we read in 1 Samuel, "Failing to pray for others is a sin." [1 Sam. 12:23] We look at our prayer lives and realize days go by without our ever taking time to intercede for others. Our schedules are already too tight, and the only way we can find extra time to pray is to get up a little earlier every morning. We confess our sin, we set our alarm, and nine out of the next ten mornings we hit the snooze button. Every day we confess, "Lord, I’m sorry, I didn’t get up, I didn’t find time to pray as I should."

God never asks us to do something He won’t empower us to do. It’s our choice. We can choose to set the alarm with a prayer each night, and the minute it goes off, we can begin to pray, "Help me stay up. Help me wake up enough to pray." Anything less than seeking His strength at the point of decision indicates a less than complete desire to change.

We’re quite capable of confessing sins we don’t really want to give up, aren’t we? But our Lord wants us to turn from them. It was not only John the Baptist who said "repent" [Matt. 3:2]; it was Jesus Himself. [Mark 1:15]

Pray with me now -- Lord, forgive us when we confess without repentance. Help us desire to turn away from our sins in the strength of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

ã 1999 PrayerPower Ministries, P.O. Box 1368, Dallas, TX 75380-1368, 1-800-949-PRAY.
May be copied for personal or church use; please include PrayerPower name, address and phone on copies.