“If as believers we think we no longer have any sins to confess, we’re fooling ourselves and not living in the truth and reality. But if we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (pp 1Jn.1:8-9).
Heavenly Father, for your steadfast love, we bless you. For your patience and kindness, we praise you. For your daily mercies, we trust you. Hallelujah! … You’ve already declared us righteous in Christ and now you’re at work to make us as beautiful as Christ.
There’s no condemnation for sin left for us, but there remains plenty of conviction for the ways we still fall short of your glory and perfect Christlikeness. Here are some things we bring to your throne of grace today, appropriating the forgiveness you’ve already given us. Remind us of other things as well, Father.
- We confess thinking of ourselves too often and marveling at Jesus too little.
-
We confess over-believing our fears and regrets and under-resting in the Gospel.
-
We confess scheduling ourselves into bad attitudes, strained relationships, and diminishing health.
- We confess indulging a critical spirit more than we seek your Spirit’s filling.
- We confess being more upset by world news than at peace through the Good News.
- We confess being more offended by other people’s sins than we grieve our own
- We confess wanting you to “rubber stamp” our plans rather than surrender our wishes to your Fatherly heart and sovereign hand.
Father, grant us grace to repent quicker than we blame shift, minimize, and make excuses. Humble us. Gentle us. Heal us. Free us. Transform us. Thank you for “booking” the Day we’ll never sin again, and we will forever be as loving as Jesus. Hasten that Day, Abba. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.
