2022 Lent Devotional – Day 18

Confession & Repentance

 “Sincerity and truth are what you require; fill my mind with your wisdom.” Psalms 51:6

What is it that God requires of us? Merely, to sincerely accept and confess our transgressions with humility and in all truthfulness, repent for our sins. He has already forgiven us, and the proof is His son, Jesus who died on the cross for us. But remember, that the one who denies to accept and ignore one’s sin, will be justly punished. 

However, on our part, is it really that hard to confess and repent? Does ego play that big a role even in front of our God? Why? Who are we? 

David proves to be a role model when it comes to confession and repentance. The acknowledgement of our sins is crucial and the foremost step, followed by fearfully praying to God, just as David.  Once the penitent has accepted and confessed the sins, God in His great mercy, forgives and fills our hearts and minds with His wisdom.  The wisdom will ensure that we do not forget our sins and it will enable us to refrain from committing it yet again. However, the humans that we are, we are still weak and prone to fall prey to sin.  Therefore, there is a dire need that we keep coming back to the Lord in prayer, to seek His strength from saving us from falling prey to sin.  

Repentance is not a one-time gesture, it is a continuous process.  We commit sin, we repent with sincerity to make amends in our life.  The onus is on us to accept our mistakes and so we need to take responsibility and recognize that we have done wrong. Once we recognise that the mistake has been committed, we need to regret with true remorse for doing wrong. Regret follows with resolve to commit never to repeat the act regardless of the temptations or situation.

When a mighty and powerful David could fall prey to sin, who merely are we? And when the mighty and powerful David could ask for forgiveness and repent for what he had done, why can’t we?

Let us, in all truthfulness and with a remorseful heart, look up to the Lord and accept our sins and seek forgiveness. And He, in all His mercy and love, will forgive us. 

Mrs. Sonia Daniel