Freedom from Sin, Guilt, Shame

And one of the best prayers of confession I've ever come across

When I first came across the idea of confession, it seemed like the whole point was to pile on guilt and shame by dredging up how bad I’ve been.

Only later did I realize that the whole point was to free us from guilt and shame, not pile on guilt and shame.

And still later: the practice of confession is part of what breaks the power of sin over us, not just helping us with the resulting oogy feelings.

This month’s Greenhouse Retreat has a confession exercise.

Take five minutes today over your lunch break or before bed and give this a try—especially if confession is not a part of your normal practices.

1. John the Baptist declares that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) In what ways is it good news that before you confess anything, Jesus has already forgiven your sin?
   

2. Take a minute to pray a prayer of confession before the Lamb who has already taken away your sins.
   
   To borrow from my liturgical friends, where have you sinned against God in thought, word, or deed, in what you have done or what you have left undone?
   
   Acknowledge those sins before the Lord in a few short words. If you need help, see the great little prayer of confession below.
   

3. And now hear the good news (again) from John the Baptist: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”
   
   Jesus stood ready from the moment you woke up today to receive your confession, forgive you your sins, and deliver you from sin’s power and all the consequences of sin, including guilt or shame.
   
   There is no sin that you’ve committed that is new, unique, shocking or surprising to the one who has already taken away all the sins of the whole world, for all time.
   
   There is no sin you’ve committed with more power than the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus is Lord and has all authority in heaven and earth. Your sins are forgiven by his blood.
   
   Spend a few minutes rejoicing in Jesus’s sacrificial gift of forgiveness and ask him to set you free from sin, not only forgive it.  

This is just one of the exercises in this month’s free Greenhouse Retreat devotional material. There is lots more where that came from!

Click here for October’s guide “What Do You Want?”

Greenhouse Retreats: helping you create conditions ideal for long-term fruitfulness.

Happy flourishing y’all,

Alex

P.S. Here’s that great prayer of confession, borrowed from a pastor friend of mine who does not know it’s original source:

Jesus, forgive my sins.

Forgive the sins that I remember,

and the sins I have forgotten.

Forgive my many failures in the face of temptation,

and those times when I have been stubborn in the face of correction.

Forgive the times I have been proud of my own achievements

and those when I have failed to boast in Your works.

Forgive the harsh judgments I have made of others,

And the leniency I have shown myself.

Forgive the lies I have told to others,

and the truths I have avoided.

Forgive me the pain I have caused others

and the indulgence I have shown myself.

Jesus, have mercy on me and make me whole.

Amen.