There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess them to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. -Psalm 32:3-5
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9
I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. -Hebrews 8:12
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. -Romans 8:1
Ponder these verses. Meditate on what the Holy Spirit speaks to you… Who can travel this path without sin? Is there anyone on this rock that can honestly say they sin no more? But wait, didn’t Jesus say: “Go and sin no more”? God knows we are at war with ourselves in this realm. Self control and discipline are important steps to freedom from sin but a few things I am observing is that God does give a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13) and even more importantly is that nothing we can or will ever do will atone for sin. We are forgiven because of what Christ did and sometimes I think we forget that and allow the deceiver to whisper how worthless we are until one day we wake up buried by our own guilt.
I don’t believe God wants us to place pebbles in our shoes and walk in pain but instead He wants us to be accountable, confess and repent. There is no room for guilt when the Grace of the LORD washes you as pure as snow, that is why we need Jesus in the first place after all.
So, when you do stumble, don’t push away the hand that reaches down to pick you up, embrace it, confess and turn away from that sin. The LORD will renew you, you are wonderfully and fearfully made -Psalm 139:14