Message #5 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series "Confession"

by Kaye Johns

None of us likes to examine our conscience too closely, even though we know we must confess our sins if we’re to keep our lines of communication with the Lord open. We’re quick to confess the obvious sins that come to mind without much effort because we can’t get away from them.

But coming before the Lord, as David did, to pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me..." [Ps. 139:23-24] is another matter. Do we really want God’s Holy Spirit probing our innermost heart? It’s not easy, but if we are to grow close to the Lord, to live in the abiding love relationship Jesus invites us to share -- if we are to pray effective prayers, knowing that God will hear and answer -- we must ask the Lord to reveal the truth of our sins, how we have grieved and quenched His Spirit.

That’s because we’re masters at glossing over our sins. We don’t recognize them, or we call them by another name. We blame someone else, or excuse them away. We get mad, and it’s "righteous anger." Or it’s because we were born with a quick temper, and it’s part of our personality. Or we were suppressed by our parents and now we can’t help ourselves.

We can make excuses. We can call it something else -- but it doesn’t change the fact that sin is sin and separates us from our God until it’s confessed. His Spirit will help us see the truth, so that we might choose to confess and be forgiven and cleansed, but we must give Him a chance, in the quiet of our prayers. We must be willing to be shown.

Pray with me now -- Lord, it’s difficult to humble ourselves and allow You to reveal our sins to us. We don’t want to know. We need Your help. Amen.

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