Confession Opens Up A Second Chance!

January 2

Confession Opens Up A Second Chance!

With the flip of the calendar, our focus shifts to New Year’s resolutions, renewed commitments to self, and dedication to making our lives better. 

As the new year starts, many of us often focus on improving our job skills or clarifying our sense of purpose in retirement.  Others will focus on losing weight, getting in shape, or preparing for a 5K run.  Still others will decide to focus on getting some therapy to work through a loss, finding a church to work on their spiritual life, or restoring a broken relationship.

For most of us, the beginning of the new year provides a season of second chances.  During the month of January, I would like to offer a few things that will provide a word of encouragement as well as offer some practical steps for lasting change through the season of your second chance.

Let me begin by sharing a bias; most, if not all, of the life-transforming changes we need to make have to do with our relationships with our self, with other people, and with God.  The first step towards lasting change is confession.

Confession opens up a second chance!

Confession sounds awfully religious.  Many imagine a small booth divided into two chambers.  While you sit on one side sharing all your sins, a clergy person sits on the other listening, caring, and eventually directing you to a better life.

Certainly, that is one experience of confession.  But, what if confession is about being honest…REALLY honest.  This form of confession begins with being honest with yourself. 

Confession opens up a second chance!

The reason many of us will not make it to February with the implementation of our New Year’s Resolutions is because we are unwilling to be brutally honest with our self.  We begin to tell ourselves little lies, we begin to focus on little things that distract us, we begin to make excuses or we make unrealistic promises to ourselves that cause us to avoid responsibility.

Confession opens up a second chance!

The challenge is that it is difficult to be so honest with our self that our confession leads to life-change.  It is difficult to be honest with ourself, with other people who have hurt us or whom we have hurt, and with Jesus. 

The difficulty of confession is why there are so many references in the Bible regarding both the need for confession and the benefits of confession.  In I John 1:9 the apostle writes; “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession leads to forgiveness and forgiveness leads us to a changed life.  When I am honest with myself, with other people, and with Jesus, the possibility of forgiveness becomes real.  But, there is something more.  John says when we confess, Jesus will “…cleanse us from all unrighteousness…”

Confession opens up a second chance!

Unrighteousness is all the things that cause separation and suffering as well as shame and regret in our relationships with self, with others, and with Jesus.  When we confess, the Apostle John tells us that all of those things will be washed away.  In other words, we will be given another chance at a life that is filled with peace and joy and love as well as the presence of Jesus.

It’s time to confess some things.  Start with yourself.  If you need some accountability, confess to another person.  If you desire soul-deep cleansing, confess to Jesus.

Confession opens up a second chance!

My prayer for you is the month of January will become all about second chances; second chances with regard to your physical health, second chances with regard to your career, second chances with regard to your relationship with Jesus, second chances with regard to the brokenness in your heart or in an important relationship.

When you get REALLY honest…confession…heart-ache might be revealed, disappointment might be discovered, or emptiness might be exposed.  However, with your confession comes the promise that God will forgive you and will cleanse everything in you that has caused pain to you or others. 

When that forgiveness and cleansing begins to happen in your heart, mind, and soul this month, you will find yourself taking more and more delight in the Lord for the changes He is making in you.  

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug