Confess Your Sins to Another

”Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.“ ‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭‬

I think we often just want to confess our sins to God, receive forgiveness and move on. I see so many people who need healing to their mental health, because they need the confession of their perpetrator to take responsibility for their actions, to confess them their sins, and to pray together for forgiveness and healing. We can’t change the past, but the confession of sin to each other can validate the persons feelings and allow them to move forward in healing. As a Christian, this is part of our responsibility, we want to help bring healing to those that we have hurt in our past.

”“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.“. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭‬‬

Jesus reminds us that, if somebody has something against us, we are responsible as a Christian to go and make right with them. We can’t just sweep things under the rug saying Christ forgave me, it is the past. We are called to confess, we seek forgiveness and then we move forward. We don’t have to keep reliving it, because it is the past, but these two scriptures show us it is not enough just to confess to God. If our actions hurt others, we as Christians have a responsibility to confess and ask the other person for forgiveness.

”If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”“ ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭23‬ ‭‬‬

This is another verse about the importance of forgiveness of others. We want forgiveness that comes from God and from others. These are Jesus’s words not man’s. If we have to forgive others for them to be forgiven, the same is true, that others must forgive us in order for us to be forgiven.

Lord, I pray that if there are any who hold unforgiveness towards me that you would reveal it to me, that I may take responsibility for my actions and ask for forgiveness. I feel as though you have brought people to me that I have been quick to apologize. Please continue to reveal Past sins to me because I don’t want anyone to need healing because of me.