Wednesday November 15, 2023

Today is Wednesday, November 15 and we are studying what the Bible says about confession.

As a new day dawns, I come to a quiet place and seek the God who knows me, sees me and loves me. I pause and center my heart, I breathe and focus my soul, I relax and still my mind.

Pause and Pray

Blessed and holy Lord, I have come here to receive a word of life from you. Open my ears. Speak to my heart and give me understanding. Reveal my sin and expose my transgressions so I can make a good confession. Amen.

God is a God of love and mercy. In my sin I cry out to him with the words of Psalm 51.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Psalm 51:1-3

Pause and Pray

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. The disciples were together when suddenly they heard the sound of a strong wind that blew through the house. Tongues of fire came to rest on each disciple and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Many people were visiting Jerusalem for the Festival of Pentecost. They traveled from many different countries and spoke different languages. They crowded around the disciples and were astonished to hear them speaking languages they had never learned and understanding tongues that were not their own. Peter stood up and began to speak to the crowd about the truth of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:36-39

God’s Son Jesus was crucified on a cross, rose from the grave and is both Lord and Messiah. The truth of the Gospel cuts to my heart. Alongside the crowd I ask Peter and the other disciples, “What should I do?” Turn to God, repent of my sins, acknowledge and reaffirm my Baptism. I count on Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins and wait to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is God’s promise. God’s promise is for me, my children and my children’s children. God’s promise is for those who are far away, in different countries and future generations.

Ask: What sins do I need to confess? How can I receive God’s forgiveness and the empowering gift of the Holy Spirit?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, let me hear the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed again. I have confidence that Jesus is your Son, the crucified and Risen Lord and long awaited Messiah. Cut me to the heart and bring me to repentance for any sin remaining in me. Forgive my transgressions and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I claim your blessings and promises for myself, my family and all who need your love. I read the words from Acts again and listen for the message you have for me.

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:36-39

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

This week I am exploring the necessity and power of confession in the life of faith. How might God want to use the words of scripture to convict me of remaining sin in my life? Perhaps God wants to reveal the places where I continue to fall short in my discipleship. Maybe God wants to show me blindspots to my behavior. Perhaps God wants to shine a light on my deep-seated motivations or hidden intentions. I will make a rigorous daily examination of my faults and confess them to God, asking for the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome my failures and correct my flaws.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me. Reveal the sin that lingers in me and the wrongful ways that cling like barnacles to my soul. Remind me that your precious blood was shed for my sin and through confession and repentance I am set free. I trust in your mercy and grace and thank you for the opportunity to unburden my heart of regret at the foot of your cross. Amen.

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2

I leave this time of prayer forgiven by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. I go to love and serve others in the name of Jesus.

Amen