Confession: The Heart of The Habit

From Creatures of Habit on You version

I was in a store with my mom, and I knew there was no way she was going to buy me that toy car I wanted. So, I slipped the car right into my pocket. And as we walked aisle by aisle, the guilt started to come over me like waves. The longer we were there, the more guilty I felt. When we finally checked out and got to the parking lot, my mom asked me a simple question, “What’s in your pocket?” I couldn’t take it anymore. I yelled, “ITS A CAR, A TOY CAR, I STOLE A CAR!!” As the confession rolled out of my mouth, I was flooded with relief. We went back inside, and I apologized to the store manager, and of course, returned the car. I was caught, but I was so glad it was over. This is a simple and possibly silly story, but it’s true no matter your season or the severity of your confession.

Confession leads to forgiveness and forgiveness leads to freedom.

Psalm 51:1-15 ESV
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Psalm 51:1-15 is a prayer from David after he was caught in adultery and murder. Talk about severe. In verse one, David prays, “Have mercy on me, O God!” This is the prayer of a heavy heart, a heart burdened by sin, a heart who knows mercy is its only hope. David had committed great offenses against Bathsheba and Uriah, but David knew who he had ultimately sinned against. In verse four, David proclaims to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned.” In other words, David knew the severity of his sin. His sin was ultimately against God, his Creator. 

It’s worth restating, confession leads to forgiveness, and forgiveness leads to freedom. This is the heart of the habit. Our Creator loves us too much to let us live in the guilt of our sin. It is a weight we cannot bear. So like David, we would be wise to cry out, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

What do you need to confess today?
In what areas of your life do you need forgiveness and freedom?