Penitence, the result of fully facing your own sin, leading to true repentance, is an integral spiritual discipline of Lent. The gift of repentance only comes to the penitent heart, providing the courage of confession.
Yet instead of coming to God in sorrow and humility, we come bearing an armload of excuses for our sin, finding true confession and subsequent forgiveness difficult.
This Lenten season, I feel drawn to a new level of transparency with God, especially regarding my sin before and against Him.
Rather than engaging in the self-righteous practice of comparison games of numbering the countless sins of others, while minimizing my own, I choose to sit with my own sin transparently before God.
Facing sin with courage
Continuing my journey through selected psalms this Lenten season, Psalm 6 leads me to the courage of confession, by willingly facing the consequences of my sin.
The first of seven psalms of penitence, David leads us through the humility of honest confession before God.
Psalm 6
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
Though not given the circumstances for this psalm, David clearly issues an agonized plea amid physical and spiritual distress. Realizing his suffering relates to the consequence of his own sin, he courageously cries out to God for mercy, though he knows God is justified in His wrath.
the confidence of confession
Psalm 6 vividly portrays the physical consequences of sin through imagery of deep agony within his very bones, coupled with excessive weeping. The literal physical pain issues forth as groanings and even sleep becomes illusive.
But David’s sin is not only seen in his physical agony, but the agony of his spirit’s anguish at the separation from God he feels soul deep.
Yet, even in this place of physical and spiritual torment, David lifts his eyes to the only place of help: God’s unfailing love and mercy to all who fear Him.
Allowing to us once again see the transition from a place of hopelessness to a place of confident Hope in God’s infinite love and forgiveness.
The Courage of Confession
David’s confident confession makes no excuses. His humility within his penitence shuns the typical expression of sorrow followed by “but…” listing all the reasons someone else bears responsibility for his sin.
This particular aspect of David’s confession rests heavily upon my heart. Too often my engagement over my sin is others focused, rather than God focused.
Meaning, either I seek to justify my actions by blame-shifting and excuses, or I hide in fear of God’s wrath, rather than confidently resting in His unfailing love.
Embrace a Penitent Heart
Embracing a penitent heart during Lent involves honesty, humility, and Hope.
Determinedly seek a transparent posture before God regarding your own sin. Then rest before Him as His beloved child, confident of His unfailing love while confessing your sin with:
- Honesty. Willingly view the physical and spiritual consequences of your sin. Notice how deceived thoughts have affected you physically, emotionally and spiritually.
- Humility. Openly bring your sin before God without any justification, excuses, or minimizing. Ask for eyes to see it as He does.
- Hope. Remember God hears the cries of a contrite heart, and only brings conviction for the express purpose of setting you free through forgiveness and reconciliation.
the healing of confession
Anchored in confidence of God’s unfailing love and forgiveness, David freely, honestly, and humbly poured his heart out before God in the face of his sin.
Though the consequences of my own sin hold me in terror and distress, because of God’s unfailing love and mercy, I will not remain there.
When, with a penitent heart I courageously confess my brokenness and sinfulness before God, I experience abundant mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation, healing the ravages of sin within my body, soul, and spirit, while restoring blessed communion.
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Confession definitely requires courage, I agree. And it sometimes takes us a bit of time to work up that courage. But what sweet relief it offers us when we slide it off our shoulders.
Lisa, I’m learning to work up that courage sooner, because what joy it is to allow God to cleanse me from all unrighteousness restoring beautiful fellowship again!
Donna, I’m so grateful that God’s unfailing love and mercy enable us to confess our sins and know that He will forgive. As I pray about a current struggle, I find it oddly comforting that He already knows what I’m going to say before I say it … He knows what I need to confess and welcomes my honestly. Wonderful post, dear friend.
Lois, meditating on God’s unfailing love and mercy, helps me to cling to Him when I fail, knowing, as you mentioned, He already knows what I’m going to say! Rather than coming to Him in a spirit of fear, I can rest in His presence as my loving Father.
Donna, this is so beautiful and encouraging. I love how David was so anchored in confidence about God’s unfailing love and forgiveness that he was able to humbly pour his heart out before God. Beautiful post sweet sister! I love how we grow more and more in His Grace everyday!
Thank you, Donna for stopping by! Yes, I was touched by David’s confidence even in the face of his own failures to seek God fully. Amen, His grace is amazing!
Donna, this line penetrated my heart today– “Too often my engagement over my sin is others focused, rather than God focused.” Lord, help me focus on my own shortcomings and sins first.
Thank you for the encouragement.
Blessings,
Tammy
Oh Tammy, I hear you, I struggle too with being quick to notice sin in others. I am praying to be more keenly aware of my own sin first!
Donna, thank you for words of courage here. I ask God to search my heart for my sin and confess knowing He loves me and forgives me. oh what a blessed Father,
Deborah, I was raised Catholic, and confession always seemed fearful and condemning. How wonderful to find it a place a rest, healing and true reconciliation!
Yes, we need more humility, honesty & we have the greatest hope in Jesus. Thank you Donna!
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer, true humility definitely leads to honesty with God, allowing us to grasp the Hope we have in Christ for complete restoration!
Oh my! This sure speaks to the heart of the matter. It’s easy to point out other’s sins and judge, isn’t it? One of the things I love about my growing relationship with God is that I’m more able to catch myself if I think judgemental thoughts them ask God to help me turn my thoughts around so that I can reflect him. Another thing is that I’m also better at being transparent with God. This>”But David’s sin is not only seen in his physical agony, but the agony of his spirit’s anguish at the separation from God he feels soul deep.” It really does feel like soul-deep anguish sometimes doesn’t it. Our love story is His love story.
Thank you for hosting dear friend.
Paula, for years my judgmental attitude towards others kept me from confessing my own sins as I should! Getting that right has freed me to be transparent with God without fear. I love that you are growing in your relationship with our good Father, so that your confession comes from a place of relationship, not performance. We so delight Him when we seek forgiveness and cleansing!
It’s good to examine ourselves and see if we are coming to Him in humility and godly sorrow or ‘with an armful of excuses’ for our wandering heart and mind.
Lisa, great point, confession is a serious business which requires a true heart attitude of humility before God.
Thank God for His unfailing love! It’s the worst feeling in the world when you realize you must admit, once again, you’ve sinned. But how marvelous to know if I truly repent, He will forgive. It means everything, knowing that!
Jerralea, it’s His unfailing love and mercy that compels us to flee to Him for true confession and restoration!
Donna, yes, this …. ‘seek a transparent posture before God regarding your own sin’
what a compelling invitation, these freeing, life-giving decisions to humbly yet boldly come before the ‘throne of grace’ and receive His mercy and forgiveness in our time of need. what a wonderful Savior.
Linda, I never realized how freeing transparency before God truly was until I stepped into a fuller understanding of confession!
Donna, this is such a powerful reflection on the beauty and abundance we receive from the Lord when we come before Him in humble confession. The enemy would have us believe we will receive judgment and punishment. Yet the Lord in His grace, mercy, and love gives to us restoration and redemption and relationship. May I come before Him every day with courage.
Joanne, it took me years to find the true gift of confession, and how it actually strengthens my relationship with God. He is not put off by my sin in the way I used to fear, but as a kind and loving Father wants to offer restoration.
Such good points, Donna. I used to fear coming to confess my sin to God. But facing up to them, being honest with Him, and receiving His cleansing is so refreshing.
I have heard that confessing sin means saying the same thing God does about them—not minimizing them or providing excuses, but calling sin what it is. As you so well said, that’s the only way to handle our sin and relieve our soul’s distress. It’s painful, but so worth it in the end. God is so gracious to bring us to that place.
Barbara, I so identify with the feelings you mention having formerly about confessing your sin. Coming from a performance-based mindset and people pleasing, I feared telling God I failed…again. Yet growing in my relationship as His child I realized it’s not about performance, but relationship, and we actually delight Him by confession and receiving His forgiveness and cleansing!
I realized that holy moly,
I really made my soul a mess,
and the path back home is solely
the willingness to kneel, confess
all the crap I’ve done and thought,
all the hubris put on show
that in the end did come to naught;
I made excuse, but there you go
down that road of good intentions
that I paved so well, with care.
A prize for that, no honoured mentions;
and the stink I put into the air
makes God’s eyes go all a-glisten
with puke-up tears, but He’ll still listen.
Andrew, love this no holds barred view of sin and confession. I think too often I coddle my sin, making excuses, and acting like it is not all “that bad”. You hit me right between the eyes brother, and I love it! Thank you!