Little Lesson 9: Confession is good for the soul.

SCRIPTURE:  Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 NIV

THOUGHT: It’s not really popular in a lot of churches – let alone culture – to  talk about sin, confession, and the need for a sacrifice. Even for me, 20 years into recovery from childhood sexual abuse and it’s subsequent fallout including poor decisions, betrayals, divorce, brokenness in every area of life; even for me, a “modern” woman, seminary educated, deeply clinging to the Triune God, it’s hard to write about blood, or sing about blood, or think about blood. It feels rather backward, somehow, to believe that someone’s shed blood from 2000 years ago could make me whole. But there it is. A fact of our faith. And not just a small one. The unselfish sacrifice of a perfect Jesus pacified the deserved wrath of God against the sin of all time. Mine and yours included. We have a peace treaty. We are hidden behind that waterfall of mercy, love, and grace, so to speak. No more blood ever has to be shed. I wish the world believed that, don’t you?

There is a “but,” of course, and it’s this: we have to own the truth of our own sin. That’s called confession, and it is so good for the soul, and the spirit too. I laid down my weapons of self-protection: pride, contempt, demands, my self-made life, and knelt to one who is greater, with a greater plan for my life and his world. There, I receive the greatest gifts that could be offered: forgiveness, cleanness, renewal, a fresh start, restoration, mercy, peace with God. I had to accept them by faith and move on, or the good gifts would have been wasted. And some things are just too costly to waste.

Hidden in the blood of Christ, may I be found, with a
Seal upon this heart of mine, no longer my own
No longer my own, oh
Wash over me, wash over me
Pour redemption out like a healing stream
Wash over me, just like a waterfall
Sweep my doubt away in the music of your call

Wrecked by sin, forgiven, and restored by your grace
Haunted still by my free will, I cry out for faith
I cry out for faith, oh
Wash over me, wash over me
Pour conviction’s power like a healing stream
Wash over me, just like a waterfall
Sweep my doubt away in the music of your call

I bring my confession, God
You bring your redemption song
It fills the space between us with forgiveness, so
I bring my confession, God
You bring your redemption song, it
Draws me ever closer to your heart, oh
Wash over me, wash over me
Pour forgiveness down like a healing stream
Wash over me, just like a waterfall
Sweep my doubt away in the music of your call

This world is like a desert, scorching in the mid-day sun, but
Your water’s like a well of life to this thirsty ground
To this thirsty ground, oh
Wash over me, wash over me
Pour your Spirit out like a healing stream
Wash over me, just like a waterfall
Sweep my doubt away in the music of your call

Amy Clemens “Confession” 2/20/2017

PRAYER: Oh God, confession has been so good for my soul. As I’ve seen the wreckage of my own strategies to find life apart from you, I’ve come to see peace with you as the most important thing in my life. Thank you, Jesus, for making a way to be covered by the waterfall of grace.