The Prayer Filled Life – Day 87 – Psalm 66-16-20 – Had Not Confessed Sin – Growing As Disciples
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalm 66:16-20 (NLT)
Confess
How will you make that a regularly part of your prayer life with me? How will I make what a significant part of my prayer life with you? When will you confess your sins to me? Why is it important for you confess your sins to me? What will happen to your prayers if you fail to confess your sins to me? I will confess my sins to you as I begin my prayers to you. I will not hide my sin. I will not deny my sin. I will regularly ask you to forgive my sins and cleanse my unrighteousness. Do you mean that you will generally confess that you are a sinner and that you will ask for my general forgiveness? No, that is not what I mean, not at all. You and I will review my day. I know that you will help me to see my sin when I come to you. I will make it my daily practice to confess my specific sins to you. Then as I confess them to you, I know that you have forgiven my sin and cleansed my unrighteousness. Yes, I will. As I confess my sins to you, I know that nothing will stand between us. I will be able to live in an intimate relationship with you. Nothing will prevent you from being able to hear and answer my prayers. Yes, that is true.
Why is it important that you confess your specific sins to me? It is important for me to identity and turn from my sin. It is important for me to ask you to help overcome specific sins in my life. It is important for me to know that you have forgiven my specific sins. It would be of little help and encouragement for me to have a vague and general idea that I have been forgiven of my sins. Then I would only be vaguely encouraged or vaguely grateful or vaguely joyful. What power would there be in vaguely knowing that I have been forgiven. What clarity would there be in my testimony if I could only tell others about what you had vaguely done for me? How joyous would my praise to be if I only had a vague idea of what you had done for me? No, just as in all my prayers, you want to hear specifics. It is only in specific prayers, that I can know without a doubt, that you have heard and answered me. That’s true. That’s it exactly.
Lord, thank you for your kindness, mercy, and love. Thank you for forgiving my sins as I confess them to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers. It is my joy to tell others about all you have done for me. Your praise will continually be on my lips. Amen
Key Question… How has confessing your sins to God becoming a starting point in your prayers to Him?
Living It Out… Make confessing your sins to God a significant part of your life of prayer with Him.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will hear and answer your prayers as you confess your sins to Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how confessing your sins is part of your life of prayer with God.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you confess your sins so that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
The Prayer Filled Life – Day 87 – Psalm 66-16-20 – Had Not Confessed Sin – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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