We live in a world that is always trying to sell us on the supposed “perfection” around us. Advertisements tell us that our lives should look a particular way. Social media is a highlight reel displaying typically only the best of what is happening in everyone else’s life. Within all this seemingly utopic world, it can feel like there is no room for imperfection.

This is what makes a habit of confession, well…feel awkward at times. At least getting started it can be. It is uncomfortable to talk about the parts of our lives that are not picture perfect. We veil the brokenness. We hide it from others and ourselves. We put on these masks of performance and perfection that begin to shape our identity.

Titus 3:4-7 ESV But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

James 4:7-10 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

When we confess our sins, we finally get to take off the mask. We get to approach God in authenticity and humility and experience forgiveness. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Catch the order here. First, we draw near to God. Then, we clean up. So often we think that we must clean up before ever showing up. We think we must get our lives together before trying to be forgiven. We think we need to work for it. But God, in his love and grace, wants you to come just as you are.

Just show up, then let God help clean up.

Invite God into the pains, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. As we create a rhythm and habit of humbly confessing our sins, God gets the opportunity to speak truth and life into our hearts. We take off the mask and get to experience life with God as his sons and daughters.

What is one mask you can take off today to be real with God?

Confession.

As daunting as confession seems in advance, its God’s remedy for a broken heart.

Romans 10:9-13 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Matthew 16:15-18 ESV He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

While confessing your sins is critically important to humbly approaching the throne of God, there is perhaps a more important confession. Confessing “Jesus is Lord” is the foundation of the Christian faith. Scripture promises that the result of a genuine confession of the Lordship of Jesus is that, “you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). This is the same confession that Peter made, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

We are born with a longing for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Therefore, the assurance of salvation satisfies the deepest hunger of the human heart—Eternity with the Creator.

Many religions practice confession. What sets apart confession for the Christian is WHO our confession is directed to. Real value is found when confession is directed toward the only one who can save. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes through the Father except through him (John 14:6).

When we reach out to Jesus, we have assurance that we will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). The fear of shame scares many away from the Holiness of God. But God welcomes us into his presence with humble confession. Our brokenness is made perfect through his unconditional love. That’s the good news!

No matter what you have done, God is standing there with open arms. You are not too far gone. His grace has no limit. You do not need to earn your way back to God with good deeds. Confession is the cure.

Have you confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you live that confession out on a daily basis? Stop right now. Make this foundational confession: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and my Lord and Savior.” Now, take a deep breath, embrace the gift of God’s grace, and go live it like you mean it.

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!