Confession and Forgiveness

Throughout the season of Lent, we'll be publishing various reflections on different Psalms. Each Psalm will be the subject of the following week's worship, and each week's blog posts are designed to help you reflect on the upcoming Scripture. This week the Children's Ministry Council will be focusing on the blessings of confession and forgiveness, as described in Psalm 32...

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

³ When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

What is it that you need to confess to the Lord today? Don't let it weigh on your heart or sap your strength "as in the heat of summer" (verse 4). Confess your sins to God, and let God's Spirit wash the weight of your sin away.

A few weeks ago, we asked the students in M&M Club to write prayers of confession, and words that assure us of our forgiveness. One group described the way we feel after experiencing God's forgiveness by saying:

we are as good as new

our bad feelings disappear

our life with God unpauses, or resumes

we are relieved

we feel like a sunny day and the tornado is gone

we are excited

What do you feel like when the burden of sin is taken away from you? Offer up your prayers of confession to God this week, and let God show you the healing power of forgiveness.