If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
The third step in guarding your heart is to confess any sins that you are aware of. 1 John 1:9 is a marvelous promise, but we must take its condition seriously: “If we confess our sins…” In other words, if we see the red light, bring it to God in confession, and trust in the blood of Christ to cover it.
A. W. Pink says: “Many talk about salvation, but few experience the joy of it. There is much of the form of godliness but little of the power of it. Oh, how rare it is to find any who know anything experimentally of the power that separates from the world, delivers from self, defends from Satan, makes sin to be hated, Christ to be loved, truth to be prized, and error and evil to be departed from.”
What’s missing? The reality of keeping our heart—watching, knowing, and confessing. Confession must always be first to God, but it will help you if you are able to talk honestly with someone who knows you and cares about you.
A recently retired man in his seventies was talking about his new season of life. He recognized that he was moving away from some responsibilities that he had before, and he said, “I can see the path to becoming a grumpy old man from here and I don’t want to go down it.”
Do you see what he is doing? He’s watching his heart. He sees what is coming, and he is saying, “If I allow this to take root in my soul, I will dishonor Christ in my older years. I must guard my heart with all vigilance!”
What is the last sin you confessed?
