The Blessing of Confessing

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – (1 John 1:9, NIV)

But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done. – (1 John 1:9, ERV)

But if we freely admit our sins when His light uncovers them, He will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and He will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – (1 John 1:9, TPT)

Confessing our sins is meant to be freeing and cleansing. Too often, we get caught up in presenting our laundry list of requests before God, and perhaps praising Him for who He is, but neglect the part of pausing to reflect on places where our thoughts, words or deeds were not pleasing to the Lord. This is not meant to be a space of shame, but rather of recognition of our wrongs and an active, intentional awareness of how we can do and be better, not in our own strength, but with the forgiveness and freedom that our Heavenly Father brings as we ask.  Incredibly, as we ask, He answers. God is faithful to forgive each time we ask, but it is our responsibility to request that He show us where we have fallen short. We all do, as we are all a work in progress. I am so thankful that though there is a long way to go, I am closer than I was before. May we ever come before Christ and confess our sins, for it is in this space that we are set free from the shame and guilt, and turned back to the One who leads us in the ways that He intended.     

O Lord, unto You,

We bring You our shame;

Ugly shortcomings,

Our spaces of blame.

In love, You shine light,

That removes the dark;

Turning hearts around,

Repentant trademark.

As we choose confess,

In love, we’re set free;

Propelled to better,

Intentionally.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You will show us our sin so that we may confess and be cleansed. Thank You that You receive us, cleanse us, and point us on the path that follows after You. Please forgive us for every word, thought and deed that has not represented Your heart well. Teach us to keep short accounts with You so that we may do and be better. Show us how to love with mercy and grace, granting glimpses of Your heart to all who come our way. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we confess our sin before You and follow Your leading to love as we were created to do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24

Faithful Reign

Be glad people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains as before. – (Joel 2:23, NIV) 

So be happy people of Zion. Be joyful in the Lord your God. He is good and will give you rain. He will send the early rains and the late rains as before. – (Joel 2:23, ERV) 

People of Zion, shout with joy and happiness in the Eternal, your God; The drought is over; He has sent the early autumn rain as a sign of His faithfulness. He has poured down heavy rain, autumn and spring, as before. – (Joel 2:23, VOICE) 

Friday afternoon, I imagine many of us could relate to this verse in Joel, as the skies opened up and poured down a deluge of refreshing, cleansing rain. Though it was not to save our crops as it was back then, it was a tremendous aid in cleansing the smoke-filled air, all over our area. By yesterday afternoon, we were celebrating His goodness as we could again see blue sky and defined clouds, rather than a smokey haze all around us. The air quality went from unsafe to normal overnight. There is joy in Him, as He is the One who sends the rain and shows us His faithfulness, again and again. May we ever seek Him and praise Him to provide all that we need; for He is faithful forever. 

O Lord, send Your rain, 

For You know our need; 

You cover and bless, 

As You’re sought, You meet. 

Please reign in our lives, 

So love and light show; 

Cleanse us and lead us, 

Let Your heart be known. 

For goodness and grace, 

We ever give praise; 

Trusting in You Lord, 

Throughout all our days. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You give us tangible reminders of how You cleanse and bless and provide. Thank You that You reign, regardless of what we see around us. Forgive us for our lack of faith or trust in spaces that seem beyond our understanding. Teach us to trust and rely on You more. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make Your goodness and provision known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank You and praise You for Your faithful reign in our lives. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. – Psalm 97:1

To Find Forgiveness

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – (1 John 1:9, NIV)

But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done. – (1 John 1:9, ERV)

But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. – (1 John 1:9, VOICE)

 

God has amazing grace for all who recognize their need for Him and His forgiveness, and are willing to admit it to He who already knows. Not one of us is void of sin, and none of us are without need of forgiveness and grace. As we come to Christ and seek His goodness and grace, He forgives us from every word, thought and deed that did not reflect the light of His love. The cleansing He provides, picks us up, dusts us off, and grants us courage to press forward in faith; to go forth and love as we are loved by Him. Though we will fall short in our broken humanity, He is ever-present to forgive and fuel our faith. May we confess our sins to He who is without sin, so that we may find forgiveness and grace that grants us the strength and courage to continue to walk in His way and seek to do His will.

 

We all fall to sin,

In word, thought or deed;

Reminders of truth,

That we are in need.

In need of the Lord,

Forgiveness and grace;

Cleansing from our sin,

‘til we see His face.

For we all fall short,

Need confess our past;

Turn away from sin,

Receive love that lasts.

The Lord is faithful,

To forgive, grant grace;

As we come to Him,

Throughout all our days.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we come to You and confess our sins, You forgive us and love us to life, so that we may continue to do the things to which we are called. Forgive us for staying stuck in our sin, instead of coming to You to set things right. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would keep short accounts before You, allowing Your love to cleanse us and flow through us to all whom surround us. Show us how to love those who You have placed in our path, so that they too, may come to know the fullness of Your forgiveness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to confess our sins and trust You to equip us with all that we need to go forth in love. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You. – Psalm 130:4

 

 

Love Makes No Distinction

He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts through faith. – (Acts 15:9, NLT)

God does not discriminate nor give preferential treatment when it comes to receiving people into His kingdom. All have fallen short, and all must earnestly seek Him to be saved. It is only by His grace that we are saved when we come before Him in faith, trusting that He is who He says He is. In the same way, we must not discount anyone, nor assume that they are too hard to receive the love and grace that God has set in place for us to extend toward them. It is not up to us to determine how it is received, but rather to be obedient to extend His loving kindness to all whom we meet. God will be God, and He will do immeasurably more than we could ever hope or imagine if we do our part and then get out of the way. Let love and faithfulness be our motivation, as we love well and allow God to reign.

To say, “God so loved”,

where grace was begun;

when God sent for us,

the gift of His Son.

Because Jesus came,

each can become clean;

by faith, seeking God,

trusting the unseen.

This gift is for all,

all people of earth;

cleansing, renewing,

blessed second birth.

Please open our hearts,

help reach out our hands;

so we may love well,

just as You have planned.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not make a distinction between us, as You receive ALL who call on Your Name in faith. Thank You that when we trust in You and give our hearts to You, You purify all that is sinful within us, and call us clean before You. Forgive us for thinking ourselves or anyone else is too far gone to be reached by Your grace. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would walk in obedience and allow You to be God, as You move in ways that only You can move. Lead us to love all those around us, even if they seem unloveable. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the wondrous ways that You move in our midst, despite our doubts based on what we see. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. – Hebrews 4:16

A Pleasing Sacrifice

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His Name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. – (Hebrews 13:15-16)

 

The word sacrifice took on new meaning when Christ went to the cross. No longer was it a way of offering something in exchange for a temporary cleansing from one’s unrighteousness, but rather Jesus exchanged His life for ours, so that no more would such offerings be required. To sacrifice now, means to willingly give of oneself; to surrender all that we are, for who we are called to become. When we offer praise and extend kindness to others, especially those who deserve it not, we are offering a sacrifice of self unto the Lord. This is the very sort of sacrifice that is pleasing before God. Both actions, actively demonstrate love for God and love for others, which is exactly what He calls us to do. May we seek the Lord anew each day, with a sweet sacrifice of praise on our lips and hands that are ready to serve and share with others, all that He has given us to offer.

 

Let us each awake,

and offer God praise;

for all that He is,

both now and always.

Let our lips confess,

the truth of His Name;

as we go in faith,

and in love proclaim.

May we choose to share,

all that we’re given;

for without the Lord,

there’d be no living.

With hands set to serve,

feet ready to go;

wherever He calls,

may His love be shown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are able to come before You, continually, offering our sacrifice of praise. Thank You that as we choose to worship You and to love others, our giving of ourselves is an acceptable and pleasing sacrifice before You. Forgive us for neglecting the needs of those around us, or for not giving You proper praise for Who You are and all that You do. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will recognize quickly, Your hand and heart in all things, and that we would see others through Your eyes. Lead us to love others as You so generously love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we continually offer a sacrifice of praise to You, and do good and share with others. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. – Job 8:21