"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."
- Psalm 32:3-5 -

John the apostle provides us on this psalm (1 Jn 1:8-2:2); God’s gracious forgiveness of sinners is a great blessing, but so often a lack of confession deprives us of it. John depicts different layers of deceit, when we say that we have not sinned or deny that our actions constitute sin in the eyes of God. The psalmist knows the psychological damage that such a denial brings. Or it may be that we will not confess because we want to continue sinning.

The blessing confession brings is not only forgiveness, but the covering of our sins and their removal from God’s accounts (Rom 4:4–8). Why do we forfeit an open relationship with God by clinging to our sin? We are well likened to a horse or mule that needs the restraints of a bridle to walk in the right way and avoid catastrophe in our lives. When we have dealt with our sins, it breaks down the barriers, not only with God but also with our fellow believers. We stop pretending to be better than we are and cease regarding others as less or more righteous than ourselves, as we all come closer to God.

Prayer: Loving Father, I praise you for your forgiving grace. I ask for courage to take ownership of my sins, confess them, and embrace your forgiveness.

(Summary from Encounter with God)