Day 5 - What do I need to confess to God?

This is part of a 40 day series of questions for Lent 2020 

At the beginning of all of the services we hold, or at some other point in the service we confess to God those things that we have done - This is not simply for the sake of it, or to say something.

In talking about confession with parishioners so often people have some sort of issue with it due to structures of confessional or whatever -  but I would go back to the Bible and think on passages such as the prodigal son - and the love sick father - he wants his child to return - gives him the inheritance, the freedom but eventually the child comes to his senses.

In the Churches we usually something like this:

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things that we ought to have done; and we have done those things that we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life, to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.

To me this bit in the middle is really important

We have followed too much the devices and desiresof our own hearts. 

 so often the desires of our own hearts have a warped sense of what would make us happy - which is why we do need to take care of our heart. and Identify those things within us that could lead us into the sin which so easily entangles us.

We have offended against your holy laws.

In Scripture there a clearly things which are wrong - eg looking simply at the 10 commandments ... there's loads of things there that we would do well to live our lives by but there are others too.

We have left undone those thingsthat we ought to have done;

Sins of omission - those things we haven't done which we should have done

and we have done those thingsthat we ought not to have done; 

Sins of commission - those things we have done - that we really shouldn't have done.


The great news - the greatest news is that by faith, through the cross of Christ - sin can be dealt with - yes there might be effects which need to be worked on but


In form one of Morning & Evening Prayer  the priest prays this prayer

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins: He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Basically there is an assurance of sins forgiven and then a looking forward.

Today's question is simple but profound

what do I need to confess - are there things you need to sort out with God - what attitudes or actions or inactions do you need to confess - to repent of and to turn away from?

and as a result what do you need to do, to get rid of ...

Know that he is a kind and loving God who will forgive who will give you grace to do just that.