Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Proverbs 28 and Psalm 32

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

As the year 2022 creeps towards its end, the next three daily devotions will offer what I hope will be helpful ways to journey towards 2023 with Jesus.

Proverbs 28:13 highlights the importance of deliberate self-examination for the purposes of confession and repentance. Even in the Genesis account of the Garden of Eden, we discover the human tendency to cover our sins. Our conscience helps us to recognise that we have sinned, but our pride leads us to try to hide that sin from others and from God. We do not want to ‘lose face’, and so we cover up and pretend that we are perfect. Sadly this cover-up operation leads only to more shame as it means that we cannot receive God’s forgiveness and restoration. Ultimately, it damages our ability to relate to God as our loving Father. In the words of v.13, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper.“

On the other hand, the cure for this condition is honest confession and repentance. In the words of Proverbs 28:13, “The one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” FB Meyer writes: “Confession is to take God’s side against sin. It is the lifting out of one thing after another from heart and life, and holding them for a moment before God, with the acknowledgment that it is our fault, our grievous fault.” When we will engage in this hard work of confession, with a heartfelt determination to change our ways and to turn away from the sins we discover, the way is opened for God’s merciful forgiveness and His healing grace to flow in our lives.

So, as 2022 drifts to a close, let us take time to deliberately search our lives for the sins we need to leave behind us. In invite you to ask the Holy Spirit to help you and then think back over the year and allow Him to highlight any sinful and/or harmful practices, habits, behaviours, thought patterns, speech patterns, etc. which he wants you to leave behind. Avoid the danger of making excuses or justifying yourself. Instead bring what you discover to God in honest confession, take responsibility, ask for His forgiveness, and then make the firm decision to allow the Holy Spirit to set you free from them.

Lord, I long to acknowledge my sins before You so that I may be healed. Please guide me in this self-examination by the help of Your Holy Spirit. Open my eyes to my sin, soften my heart to confess it, and empower me to turn away from it for good. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.