Tag Archives: confession

Unknown Faults

14 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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None of us know our faults. Forgive me when I sin without knowing it (Psalm 19:12, CEV).

M Taylor Plum blossoms

Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — Photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.

I can’t see the back of my head. I was reminded of this yesterday when I was getting my haircut. After the hairdresser finished, she held up a mirror so that I could see the back of my head. To my dismay I realized I’m balding back there. The evidence of hair loss was plain to see, but until that moment I was not fully aware.

In the same way we are often blind to our own faults. We are quick to spot the faults in others, but our own character flaws and moral shortcomings go undetected. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this.

None of us know our faults. Forgive me when I sin without knowing it (Psalm 19:12, CEV).

Even when we discover our faults or sins, we are usually quick to excuse ourselves. The truth is we don’t need excuses; they usually don’t hold water. We need forgiveness—God’s forgiveness. Honest confession to God and forgiveness from God liberates the soul.

Response: LORD God, help me to see my faults—not so I’ll be weighed down by guilt—but so I will be set free by your forgiveness through Jesus your Son. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been blind to your faults? What do you do when you become aware of them?

Are you troubled by sin?

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Psalm 38, Psalms

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Reading:                                  Psalm 38

(Verses 17-22)

For I am about to fall,     

and my pain is ever with me.

I confess my iniquity;     

I am troubled by my sin.

Many have become my enemies without cause;     

those who hate me without reason are numerous.

Those who repay my good with evil     

lodge accusations against me,     

though I seek only to do what is good.

LORD, do not forsake me;     

do not be far from me, my God.

Come quickly to help me,     

my Lord and my Savior. (NIV)

Reflection

Today’s reading is the concluding portion of Psalm 38. As noted previously, this entire psalm is a lament over sin, and the trouble and affliction it has brought into David’s life. Rather than blaming others or blaming God, David takes responsibility for his self-inflicted difficulties. In anguish of spirit he cries out, “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.”

Bilberry Creek -- David Kitz

Bilberry Creek — David Kitz

Are you troubled by your sin, or do you revel in it? Have the consequences of sin started to bite. The writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us that Moses “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25). There are pleasures in sin for a season, but the long term consequences are pain and death. It would appear from a full reading of this psalm that David is suffering some of the consequences of his misguided sin.

But David has the correct response. He confesses his sin and throws himself upon the mercies of God. Hear his humble plea, “LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.”

God’s ears are always open to that kind of prayer. We may believe that we have fallen too far –that our sin is too great –that we have sunk too low. But God hears our cry and His grace is sufficient. His mercy knows no bounds. The blood of Christ flows to the lowest valley. He can cleanse the vilest heart.

Repentance is a wonderful gift, perhaps the greatest gift of all. At various times in his life David fell into the grip of sin. But David knew how to repent and as a result he found favour in the eyes of God. Discover the gift of repentance today. It’s more than feeling sorry for yourself. It’s a 180-degree turn from pursuing sin to pursuing God.

Response: LORD God, grant me the gift of repentance. I am thankful that Jesus died on the cross to wash me clean. Hallelujah! I want to pursue you, Lord. You are my help and my righteousness. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you troubled by sin? Have you found a remedy?

The LORD Sees and Hears

17 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in Psalm 38, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 38

(Verses 9-16)

All my longings lie open before you, LORD;     

my sighing is not hidden from you.

My heart pounds, my strength fails me;     

even the light has gone from my eyes.

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;     

my neighbors stay far away.

Those who want to kill me set their traps,     

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;     

all day long they scheme and lie.

I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,     

like the mute, who cannot speak;

I have become like one who does not hear,     

whose mouth can offer no reply.

LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, LORD my God.

For I said, “Do not let them gloat     

or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.” (NIV)

Reflection

Here in Psalm 38, David has brought all his troubles before the LORD. He laments over his sin and the downcast state in which he finds himself. Hear his confession: All my longings lie open before you, LORD; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

New York Skyline, David Kitz

New York Skyline, David Kitz

In humble prayer David has come before a God who always hears and sees. God hears and sees even when we wish He could not. He sees our triumphs and our failures, our victories over temptation and our slide into defeat. He hears every idle word and understands every crass and selfish thought. The LORD sees and hears. He saw Adam’s sin in the Garden before He met with him in the cool of the evening. God sees our sins long before we bow in repentance.

God sees and hears all we say and do. This should bring comfort to the soul in distress and a healthy fear to the soul tempted to sin. All my longings lie open before you, LORD: the wholesome longings and those that spring from impure motives. The LORD sees my needs and my wants, my hopes and my dreams, but more than that, God understands my motives. David brought all of this before the LORD and so should we.

Though we may not see the pain of those around us, God sees our suffering. Though we may be deaf to the needs of others, God is not deaf to our plea for help. Though we may stand mute when others need defence or encouragement, our God speaks. He does not remain silent. His Spirit speaks even to you—even to me.

Response: LORD God, speak to me when I am downcast. Lift me when I am in need. Forgive me when I fail. LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, LORD my God. Amen.

Your Turn: How has the all-hearing, all-seeing God helped you?

Breaking the Dam

28 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.

(Verses 1-5)

Blessed is the one     

whose transgressions are forgiven,     

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the one     

whose sin the LORD does not count against them     

and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent,     

my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy on me;

my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you     

and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”

And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (NIV)

Reflection

A right relationship with God is like a flowing stream. In such a relationship there is a natural giving to God that includes prayer, worship, time spent in His word, and periods of quiet communion. In turn, God by the Holy Spirit pours His peace, love and joy into our lives. And just as trees naturally line a river bank, there is a verdant fruitfulness that comes to the believer as that refreshing current is allowed to flow.

Sin acts like a boulder hindering the flow of God’s Spirit in our lives. As more and more un-repented sin piles up, a dam is formed. Suddenly prayer stops. Worship and thanksgiving that once cascaded so freely from our lips comes to a halt. The word of God becomes boring, and we find other interests. Times of quiet communion with our Maker are replaced by a search for other things like constant entertainment.

This is the state of David’s soul at the start of this psalm. The flow has stopped. Where was the overflowing cup experience of Psalm twenty-three? At this point David’s cup—his soul—is sitting stagnant. And in the natural realm any liquid left unstirredbecomes foul as time goes by. David’s spiritual life was turning into a swamp because of unconfessed sin.

But there was a turning point for David: Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”

Confession breaks the dam. David verbally brought his sin out in the open before God. He acknowledged what God knew all along. You see David’s sin and my sin are never hidden from God. Our sin is always in plain sight of the LORD. But praise God! He forgives the guilt of our sin when we break the spiritual dam through confession. Repentance restores the flow.

Response: LORD God, have mercy on me. I acknowledge my sin to you and do not cover up my iniquity. I need your forgiveness. I put my trust in the redeeming sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Has unconfessed sin dammed up the flow of prayer and worship in your life?