CONFESS ANY SIN OF THOUGHT OR ACTION | 10 Minutes TO POWERFUL PRAYER by STORMIE OMARTIAN

Prayer Focus 5

CONFESS ANY SIN OF THOUGHT OR ACTION

No one is perfect. None of us does everything right all the time. We all do things we regret. Each one of us has said words that hurt people—even if we had no intention of ever doing that. We all, at one time or another, have had private thoughts that are not right and need to be exposed to the light of the Lord so they can be burned out of us. We all have sinned in some way and have need of the Lord’s cleansing.

We don’t have to have murdered someone or robbed a bank in order to need to confess our sins. In the Bible, such things as having doubt or jealousy, or being selfish, or gossiping, or telling “white lies,” are all clearly revealed to be sin. Confession is the only way to be completely free of the uneasy feelings of guilt we often have but don’t fully recognize as such because we don’t think we have done anything wrong. When we confess any wrong thought, word, or action, we can be cleansed of all the destructive effects of sin and be completely free of guilt.

One of the main reasons to confess our sins is because sin

separates us from God. “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). With that Scripture I rest my case for confession. Above all else, we do not want to be separated from God.

The Bible says that if we allow iniquity to stay in our hearts, God won’t listen to our prayers (Psalm 66:18). We definitely want God to hear our prayers! We must do whatever He requires so that the lines are kept open between us and Him. We must often ask God to help us recognize anything we have done wrong and admit it. We must also ask Him to enable us to walk away from it and never do it again.

Twenty Good Reasons Why I Should Confess to God

to be free of all sin

to be completely honest with the Lord to get right with God

to enjoy all the blessings God has for me to avoid the consequences of sin

to not allow sin to separate me from God to know God will hear my prayers

to get free of the heavy burden of sin to enjoy wholeness of mind and soul to avoid the death that sin brings

to keep from violating God’s laws

to find the only path to true repentance to receive God’s forgiveness to please God and glorify Him

to have a clear conscience and sleep well at night to avoid destruction in my life

to have nothing holding me back to move into all God has for me to be able to flourish and prosper to enjoy the presence of God

God gives you a way out of all guilt through confession and repentance. If you feel convicted about something you’ve done, it will draw you closer to the Lord as you confess it and ask Him to help you make things right. However, if you feel condemned about something you’ve done, you can trust that this comes from the enemy of your soul, who delights in tormenting you because you have not confessed or repented of the sin. And sin will build a wall of separation between you and God, because you feel too guilty to come before Him. The enemy wants you to feel condemned because this will keep you from enjoying a close relationship with the Lord.

If the enemy can get you so full of condemnation that you don’t pray because of it, then he has succeeded in his plan. Don’t let that happen. Don’t let any failure or mistake you make separate you from God. Confess and repent of it

immediately. Refuse to allow it to grow into something the enemy can use against you.

The last thing you need to carry around in your life is guilt. If you have disobeyed God’s laws in any way, confess that to Him and receive His forgiveness and cleansing. If you are feeling bad about something, bring it to Him in prayer. If you feel guilty because you have not chosen God’s best for your life, ask Him to help you make better choices. If you can’t think of anything to confess, ask God to show you whatever you might not be seeing. Below is a list that can help you examine your heart and actions.

Some Things I May Need to Confess

thoughts that are not glorifying to God wrong words I have spoken doubt I have had

secret attitudes that do not please the Lord

dishonesty

lack of integrity

lies I have led others to believe

critical thoughts or words

rudeness

lovelessness

taking something that is not mine

jealousy

prideful attitude

arrogance

fear due to doubting God insensitivity to the needs of others lack of generosity impatience

discontentment with my life

lack of faith in the Lord

Ask God every day to show you the truth about yourself. It’s easy to overlook certain things. He will bring to mind what you need to see, and when He does, confess what He reveals to you. Even something that seems little to you can be big enough to affect your intimacy with the Lord. Don’t let that happen to you. Make confession a part of your prayers every day. It may well be that you have nothing to confess, but at least you have inquired of the Lord about it. And that will give you confidence and assurance before Him.

PRAYER POWER

Lord, help me to be free of all sin and its consequences. Reveal to me anything in my heart and mind that should not be there. Show me any place where I am missing the mark You have for me. Help me to see the truth about myself. Reveal to me where I am doing things wrong and help me to see that clearly so I can confess it to You. Enable me to make corrections where they need to be

made. You, Lord, know the secrets of my heart (Psalm 44:21). Reveal to me anything that is in my heart today that is not right. Cleanse me of my secret faults (Psalm 19:12).

Lord, I know that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Specifically, I confess to You

_______________________________________ I repent of

this and ask You to forgive me. Help me to not do this anymore. Help me to stay free of the death that is the consequence of sin (Romans 6:23). I know that sin is a burden that is too heavy for me to carry (Psalm 38:3-5).

Lord, I know that if my heart does not condemn me, I can have confidence in Your presence, and whatever I ask of You I will receive because I am doing what is pleasing to You (1 John 3:21-22). More than anything I want to have a heart that is completely free of guilt and condemnation. Cleanse me and set me free of all sin so that I can please You and You will answer my prayers.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

WORD POWER

He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

PROVERBS 28:13

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. ACTS 3:19

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. PSALM 32:1

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. PSALM 51:10-12

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. PSALM 66:18

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 JOHN 1:8-9

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we

have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 JOHN 3:21-22

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. PSALM 139:23-24