Confession

When you sin, hurt someone, live for a purpose outside of God, or fail to do what God calls you to do, what is your typical response? Sometimes, people hide it or blame it away. Sometimes, people rot in shame or continue in stubborn pride.

Nehemiah, as a man who was walking in God’s ways, took a different route. Confronted with a sin that was his own, alongside his people, he went to God in confession.

Nehemiah 1:6b-7
…confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.

Nehemiah owns the sin personally, sources the rebellion as ultimately directed at God himself, and lists the ways they had trespassed against God’s ways. Perhaps we could sum it up this way: accept responsibility, understand to whom you are accountable, and admit the full reality.

Mercifully, for the believer, we have the promise that “if you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) It’s also helpful to understand that, at its heart, repentance like this means to agree with God about not only what you did wrong, but what you get to do that is right.

Spend some time in prayer now, asking God to reveal any areas where you might confess and repent. Consider starting like this:

I know that if I say I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me; but you have said that if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9(ESV)

And I am accountable to God; Romans 3:19(ESV)
the Scripture has imprisoned me under sin; Galatians 3:22(ESV)
and therefore, you might justly be angry with me until you consumed me, so that I should neither be of your remnant, nor able to escape. Ezra 9:14(ESV)

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared; Psalm 130:3-4(ESV)
with you there is steadfast love; yes, with my God there is plentiful redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130:7-8(ESV)

O the riches of the patience and forbearance of God! Romans 2:4(ESV)
How patient he is toward me, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9(ESV)

You have not dealt with me according to my sins, nor repaid me according to my iniquities, Psalm 103:10(ESV)
but you wait to be gracious to me. Isaiah 30:18(ESV)
Sentence against my evil deeds has not been executed speedily, Ecclesiastes 8:11(ESV)
but you have given me time to repent and make my peace with you. Revelation 2:21(ESV)

Surely the patience of my Lord is counted as salvation; 2 Peter 3:15(ESV)
and if the LORD had meant to kill me, he would not now have shown me such things as these. Judges 13:23(ESV)

You have said it and have confirmed it with an oath, that you have no pleasure in the death of sinners like me, but rather desire that I should turn and live. Ezekiel 33:11(ESV) Therefore, will I rend my heart, and return to the LORD my God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Joel 2:13- 14(ESV)

Prayer Points

Consider praying along the prompts in the “Self-Reflection” section of the prayer points found here.