In Days 1 & 2, we studied the words of King David in Psalm 51 and Psalm 32 as he expressed the “heart” and the “how” of confession. David’s experience is a powerful example of how darkness can envelop hidden sin, but shining the light on it can bring freedom and healing. Confession is a vitally important spiritual discipline because resistance to confession can bring the rest of your spiritual life grinding to a halt!

We get hung up when we weigh the cost of confession and decide that the price is more than we want to pay. What we often fail to consider, though, is that hiding our sin carries a devastatingly higher cost than coming clean. After King David sinned against God in 2 Samuel 11, the price of his concealment would have been his life – but God spared him because he came clean (2 Samuel 12:13).

Concealment always costs more than confession.

Let’s read Ephesians 5:1-17 to see how a habit of confession helps us follow God’s will for us to live in the light, rather than in darkness.

Ephesians 5:1-17 ESV Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Unconfessed sin is one of the barriers that can inhibit other spiritual disciplines. If you feel “stuck” in your walk with God, confession may be just what is needed to jump-start your dead battery and reinvigorate your habits of Bible study and prayer.

We might also find ourselves tempted to partially confess, but this never leads to freedom. God already knows what we are hiding anyway (Psalm 69:5). We are only truly liberated from the bondage of concealed sin when we come totally clean. When we are disciplined to confess in this way – and not only to confess but to repent and turn our heart fully back to God – we taste and enjoy the redemptive forgiveness that is only found in Jesus Christ.

Complete confession always leads to complete forgiveness from God.

Have you ever found yourself reluctant to confess something to God? Were you worried about what confessing might cost you? Is there any unconfessed sin in your life right now that you need to expose to the light?

Take this challenge: Start your anchoring time with God each day this week with confession. Open yourself up to God’s Spirit and allow Him to cleanse you before trying to maintain your other spiritual habits. See if your hunger for God’s word increases!