Text: Psalm 32:1-7
Once we’ve praised our Father, once we’ve put Him where He belongs and remembered who is Good, it’s hard to not feel like the spotlight shifts to our own ick. It is a beautiful truth that because of our standing with Christ Jesus, it’s not our confession of our sin that enables us to be saved. You’re not required to remember all the things that you’ve done or describe your transgressions in depth to be pardoned. Like all of the other beautiful parts of sanctification, our Father has given us wisdom regarding confession and repentance so that we can grow closer to Him and one another. It’s not a have to, it’s a get to.
But how to? Psalm 32 presents a beautiful picture. The first step – don’t keep silent. Don’t hide from Him, don’t avoid Him, don’t drown Him out. The days I regret most in this life are the ones where I’ve put my spiritual fingers in my ears and made enough noise or listened to enough chatter from others and refused to sit quietly with my ears tuned to the Spirit and my heart honestly telling the Lord where I’m at. Don’t keep silent. Be honest with Him about where your heart is at and what you’ve been up to. It’s silly really to hide from someone who sees all and whose love covers all. How much time does a child waste and how much more wrath will they store up for themselves when they run from a parent who longs to restore them to right standing?
Next, get honest and acknowledge your sin. How have you hurt others? How have you hurt yourself? How have you committed sin and what have you not done that should have been done? Again, it’s not about checking it all off. It’s about being honest. When the disobedient child finally faces His parent, is it wise or unwise to pretend like they have no idea what it is they’re being called to acknowledge? Hold your hands and your heart up to Him and show Him what you’ve got.
Lastly, we’d be missing the beauty of the gospel if our next step in confession and repentance involved “cleaning ourselves up” or “fixing what we’ve done.” David says, “you are a hiding place for me,” and that is absolutely the perfect response for a repentant heart. Remind yourself that you’re covered in the blood of Jesus and praise Him for letting you be there. Walk forward in the knowledge that you are justified and hidden in the covenantal love of your Redeemer.
Praying for you Ashley. Been there, done that! It’s not worth keeping it in. Literally will make you sick. Thanks so much Candacejo and Carolynmimi, I needed your comments today. He covered my guilt and shame! Thank you Lord for your Grace so undeserved!
You are welcome Hayley, God is so much more forgiving to us than we ever are to ourselves.
I am so ashamed to even type this, it is something that I have to confess.
About 4 years ago, I was fired from an internship for being late more that 3 times in my first 90 days. That alone is hard to admit – just some stupidity that lost me a good oppertunity. Then I lied about it for the rest of the summer and then used money that I inherited to cover that lie. It still hangs very heavy in my heart. I feel that I should tell my parents but I have a lot of shame. I don't know if I can do it. Since then I have had a strong career where punctuality has been a BIG deal for me – I am now turning this over to God, I will no longer keep silent. That means I will have to tell my parents – it is the right thing to do. It was a mistake and HE has forgiven me. Staying silent has held me almost 4 years later.
I just wanted to get that off my chest. Thank you so much ladies for being an outlet for me.
Praying for you Ashley. I have kept deceptions like this before and they eat away at me. God has taught me than confessing to him and being forgiven is the first step…covered by the blood of Christ and yet He also wants me to get things as right with others as it is within my power to do without harming anyone else. Your parents love you and may not even be as surprised as you expect.
Oh Ashley, bless your heart, you are forgiven that is true! The Lord loves you and will bless you for what you are going to do! I agree with Carolyn, your parents will admire you so much for making things right and it will be the biggest load lifted. If you feel you need to do that then God will be with you and then it is forever forgotten. Be blessed dear friend!
I'm really enjoying reading everyone's posts, as they are taking the words right out of my mouth.
I have scribbles and notes all through my Bible and in the back/front pages and wanted to share something written about this passage that was written awhile ago. In my NIV Bible, I see the word "Selah" 3 times throughout Psalm 32. I was taught years ago that Selah means "stop, pause, listen, take time to think about it." Look at where Selah is written in this passage: (1) v.3-4 where we see silence causing bones to waste away, our strength is sapped and the Lord's hand is heavy on us. Raechel's Step 1 in confession and repentance "Don't be silent." Selah. (2) v.5 we acknowledge and confess our sins to the Lord and He forgives (not only the sin but the guilt of the sin, as Allison pointed out above). SRT Step 2 in confession and repentance "Get honest and acknowledge your sin". Selah. (3) v.7 the Lord is our hiding place, where we are protected from trouble and surrounded with songs of deliverance. SRT Step 3 in confession and repentance "you are a hiding place for me.. Remind yourself that you’re covered in the blood of Jesus and praise Him for letting you be there. Walk forward in the knowledge that you are justified and hidden in the covenantal love of your Redeemer." Selah.
We are being guided through God's word not only on 3 "how-to" steps for confessing and repenting, but God is wanting us to stop/pause/listen/think about each step. Not only are the acts of not being silent and acknowledging our sins pleasing to God and creating opportunities for growth, but maybe the act of Selah provides an even greater opportunity for an even deeper growth?? I love these reminders through scripture. I read somewhere online (so it's obviously true, right?! :) ) that Selah is written 74 times in the Bible, 71 of which are in Psalms. I can't speak to the truth of this, but know that I've read it a lot in Psalms (I'm not sure what other books it is written). We've spent a lot of time in Psalms recently and we can all attest to the incredibly powerful scripture written there. So with God's reminder to stop, clearly there is something really good happening! When I see this word, I think to myself "God is making a point to say Stop, Pause, and Listen for me." I think I need to insert Selah into other parts of scripture so that I make a better habit of pausing and listening.
As I'm writing this, I'm thinking… "Hmmm.. 'listening for God'.. this coming from the same girl who, yesterday, was asking how to 'wait on God." :)
All of you, sisters, are truly a blessing. May God bless each of you today.
Looked it up. Three times in Habakkuk. I love the instruction to pause.
oh, this is so good and you are so right! Selah – take time, pause, be silent!! Very reflective!
That was just terrific, Lauren! I learned a lot today and will never look at Selah the same again!! Thank you!
@junebug, Your words resonated with me when you said, “God’s not afraid of my feelings. I am. So I come…with fear, or anxiety, or anger, or depression, etc. And God exchanges whatever feelings I have about my sin for His grace, freedom and confidence…that I am His.” I am afraid of my feelings but God already knows them. He still loves me warts and all. He wants me to come into His all-embracing hug to comfort me. I do love and cherish His hugs. I need to do it more often. Thank you for the reminder.
Wow, Haylee! Sometimes, we don’t feel forgiven! I needed that today! Oing I am feeling short with everyone right now and continually confessing it to God and yet I am not feeling the forgiveness! Thnk you!
You’re not required to remember all the things that you’ve done or describe your transgressions in depth to be pardoned. Wow! I’ve always thought, for some reason, you had to try and remember each and every sin and confess them one by one. Then, I’d get upset with myself because I’d draw a blank. This was so freeing for me today!
I also wanted to tell you all that I have started the boo “1”000 Gifts” recommended by many of you, and it has been life-changing. Every chapter is so full of nuggets! I read the chapter about time today and one thing I had to confess was I got so in a hurry I snapped at my husband this morning like I do all too often when he was trying to talk to me. Ouch!
Candacejo, I LOVE this quote!
"The devil IS a liar, the father of lies, the Bible says. John 8:44. He wants to bring up our past but it is HIDDEN, under the blood, God has forgiven us so we must forgive ourselves."
How right you are! It reminds me of that song (I believe it is by Casting Crowns, but don't quote me on that!) "Lord, can you show me just how far the East is from the West? And He said 'From one scarred hand to the other'." Gives me chills.
Father, thank you that you are good when there is nothing good in me! You are true even in my wandering. You are light when the darkness closes in. You are good, you have covered all my sin. And oh, I'm running to Your arms, the richness of Your love will always be enough!
I was thinking of the same song! It is Casting Crowns and gives me chills also.
I almost posted that song :) so here it is, LIVE just in case you want to listen to it again! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWMebzGZGZc
I also love what you posted Lindsay! You are good, you are good, when there's nothing good in me!! I love that song!!
Carolynmimi that is so true! I recently took a class on the Holy Spirit at my church, and I found out exactly what you’ve said. Conviction from sin does come from the Holy Spirit, and when we recognize that we are convicted, God gives us the power in that moment to repent of that sin & be reconciled immediately.
Conviction draws us closer to God, while shame over sin causes us to hide from Him and others.
I love that God let’s us come to him ‘dirty’. He doesn’t require us to clean up our lives or become perfect Christians before He accepts us. He wants us to come, just as we are, messes and all. Praise the Lord for His grace & mercy!