Meditate: Acts 2:38

Remember the story of Ebenezer Scrooge?  The part where Scrooge has just been visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past (the first of the three)?  He’s clearly shaken.  But when he wakes up he says it wasn’t real.  He writes it off to indigestion, “There is more gravy about you than the grave.”

In God’s mercy, the Holy Spirit shows me the truth about myself.  He may use the Bible, a sermon, another person, or my own conscience; He may even convict me directly.  

And I’ll really be shaken.  Scared of facing God at the Judgment.  Maybe even nervous about where I’ll spend eternity.  

But what happens next?  Do I confess and repent?  Do I face the truth and know forgiveness?  

Or do I hide and deny and wait for it to all just go away?  Do I excuse myself, justify myself, do I ignore God?

Remember, confession isn’t a chance for me to tell the all-knowing God what I’ve done - it’s to make sure that I know what I’ve done (think about that for a minute).  

Confess means agree with.  Confession is me agreeing with God about my sins.  That way I’ll see my sins for what they are and truly reject them.  

Only when my repentance is real can I genuinely know forgiveness.

• What do I do when I’m convicted of sin?
• Where have I been ignoring the Holy Spirit?
• Do I have any unconfessed sin?
• Is there anything where I haven’t experienced God’s forgiveness?

Pray
Praise: You are the all-knowing God.  Nothing is hidden from You.  Your Name endures forever.  You are my Help and my Hope.  If You were not on my side, I could never stand.

Confess: Too often I ignore what You’re trying to show me.  I turn away and rationalize away the Spirit’s conviction.  I ignore You.

Thank: You are merciful.  Your patience with me is amazing. You have continued to guide, to call, to draw me to You.

Ask: Take not Your Spirit from me-please don’t stop speaking to me; don’t stop showing me my sins; don’t stop showing me the truth about myself.  Make me fit for Your kingdom.

Digging Deeper: Psalm 38