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Duncan Campbell wrote, "Do not expect God to cover what you are not willing to uncover." God wants to forgive sinners. But He can only forgive confessed sins.

To confess my sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that He is right to declare that what I've done is sinful and that I am wrong to desire to do it. To confess is to affirm my intention of forsaking that sin in order to follow God more faithfully.

Psalm 32:1-6

1. In verses 3 and 4, David describes the misery of a violated conscience and a futile attempt to conceal a sin. Have you had a similar experience? What was it?
2. What does David call his refusal to confess his sin (vv. 5-6)?
3. What does David say broke his stubborn resistance to confessing his sin (v. 4)?
4. What emotion flooded David as soon as he confessed his sin (vv. 1-2)?
5. What actions by God provided the basis for David's sense of relief (vv. 1-2 & 5)?

Name any sins you are aware of to God so that in spite of His holiness He can forgive you on the basis of Jesus' sacrificial death, and restore your fellowship with Him.

1 Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.

4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me to stop kidding myself about what I'm really like. Thank You for loving me even though You know the worst.

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