Confession

I've been writing a lot on here about suffering due to the fact that I'm learning it right now. I wanted to share something with you today. Because today I made for me that one painful decision, confessing my sin to a friend. Then when I got back to my room I opened up my Bible and there was 1 John - there I read "But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son purifies us from all sin. - We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands." Isn't it great comfort to know that no matter how we feel inside, that our sins are forgiven through repentance and confession. I think the main thing that stops us from the confession part is the but what will my friends think of me part, how will they respond? I know for me that was my biggest fear, but it was silly because I know my friends would welcome me to talk with open and loving arms, just as I would do for them, and you know what my friend did. She didn't condemn me make fun of me or call me names. She listened in love. It is a lot easier for me to tell other of how God forgives and loves and gives grace, than to receive it. Because His love is so unfathomable, yet it is.

The next passage I read was verses 12-14 which says,

"¹²I write to you, dear children,
      because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
 ¹³I write to you, fathers,
      because you have known him who is from the beginning.
   I write to you, young men,
      because you have overcome the evil one.
   I write to you, dear children,
      because you have known the Father.
 ¹⁴I write to you, fathers,
      because you have known him who is from the beginning.
   I write to you, young men,
      because you are strong,
      and the word of God lives in you,
      and you have overcome the evil one."

and lastly I read,

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

Reflect on how beautiful those words are and then read this,

"I write to you, (Insert your name), because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name."

Although today was a crucial step in my walk with God I'm not out of the woods yet. In fact, this part may be the hardest, the part of resisting temptation and standing firm.

Therefore, today I encourage you to just do it! Go and suffer for God, make that difficult decision because - "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal." - Job 5:17-18