DAY 11 - CONFESSION

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4)

As a follower of Jesus, we are all called to live a life that includes confession. Jesus talks about confession multiple times in the gospels to his disciples. If Jesus taught it to his disciple, it must be important, right? For me, growing up in the church, a confession was what I called the “big talk.” When one believes in the power of salvation, confession is required. We are told from our Sunday school teachers, our youth leaders, and our pastors that confession is a crucial part of our relationship with God. But do we actually know what to do? Personally, confession to me was just religious head knowledge. I knew that it was key to being a Christian but never implemented it as a part of my relationship with God. Because I did not see confession as a crucial part, but only processed it as head knowledge, there became a groaning nature about myself.

The scripture above states that when we keep silent, we waste away, our strength is dried up, and we don’t know what else to do in our relationship with God. I have learned that confessed is not about you proclaiming all your wrongs, but it is about depending completely on the Father to forgive you. The beautiful thing about forgiveness is living out of that forgiveness. Living out of forgiveness is living a life in the strength and righteousness of Jesus. Confession is one part of a Christian's life that is not easy; but we, as followers of Jesus, are not called to live an easy life.

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge: Today, maybe you have viewed confession in your Christian life like me- just knowledge of what we need to do. At the end of you day, take the time to review your day and ask the Lord to reveal to you any part of your day that did not imitate Jesus.

Prayer:  Father, we thank you for your mercy and love that you give to us each and every day. I ask now that you will help me live today in the image of your Son. Forgive me for not depending on your forgiveness in my life. May your Son's righteousness and strength be lived through me today! I love you, Father.

Rev. Kristina Crabtree
Minister of Spiritual Formation