Conviction vs. Condemnation
How many times do we say that we want X, Y and Z in God's will while completely doubting His ability to do the impossible? The problem with that is, by not fully trusting that God is all who He says He is, we not only put Him in our finite box of human ability but we also lie to ourselves that He is not who He says He is. We’re not actually opening our hands and giving Him our hearts to receive what God wants us to receive. If we’re closed off to His love, that's the road block for everything else to flow in and out. Instead, we stand idly waiting for some THING to happen or to come along that we could just grab. It's like a stand-off where we’re looking at the Lord in opposition saying, "You move first." While He's saying, "No sweet child. I am always moving. Step out into the storm, keep your eyes on me and you will walk on water." We have to remember that we are safer in the storm WITH Jesus than in the boat WITHOUT Him, amen?
So whenever we ask why things aren't going the way we think it should or when we don't move forward how we expected to, it's probably because we are looking at ourselves and not turning our eyes up. WE have to make the first step so before the 2nd foot steps down, HE WILL grab it and re-direct you. We have to trust FIRST.
These past few months, our good Father laid out a path of "lily pads" if you will, in how to skip hop into His will. First, how I cannot pursue Him without TRUE repentance from MY own understanding and my sin. As long as I look at myself, my sin, and my heart, I will remain in distrust and cynicism so it's not possible to truly repent. I have to TURN AWAY from myself and look undividely at the Lord surrendering ALL. One lily back from repentance is true forgiveness, which traces back to needing true confession.
SO... I'm beginning here with confession.
Confession
to me, immediately sounds like something I need to "do" to make me feel bad about something I said or did. Shame, condemnation, and inadequacy are trickling behind in the shadows and also the thought of needing to bow my head before some stuck up judge. Whether it was fair or unfair, just or unjust, my fault or someone else's- I have to CON-FESS. Why does God want me to confess anyway?
Well, my dope Pastor Jeremy Treat at Reality L.A. clarified that confession is not a form of punishment, but instead a path to✨ freedom.✨ It's not this idea of God dragging us through our sins, but actually it's his way of separating us FROM them. Confession is not for God-- it's His gift FOR us! When we bring sin into the light, we allow God to heal them, to set us apart, and to free us from them. Any sin that is NOT brought to light or confessed are what hold us in bondage and also what enslaves us. Those specific sins will feel like a prison that entrails you.
I used to NEVER confess because I was afraid. I thought that no one could possibly understand how "bad" the things I've done are. How could God forgive me after ALL the crap I've gotten into? I HATED this topic but it's because my view of who God is, was completely incorrect. God already knows everything and He wants to bring conviction into my heart. He is a forgiving, faithful, patient, gentle, unconditionally loving, understanding, compassionate, and empathetic Father. When I got to know Him and trust Him more, I RAN into the ways of His commands in confessing because He set my heart FREE. He wants to convict us of sin but the enemy wants to condemn us so we become enslaved to him. We can't let the enemy win.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness.”
Jeremy continued to share how we confess. First, acknowledge your sin. Don't be vague like, "Sorry, I did this. I ask you to forgive. Thanks, bye." But be specific. Name it and get to the heart of what's beneath the sin. For me, I said to Jesus, "I lied because I think I'm so desperate for man's approval that I was willing to compromise my integrity. The true story was good enough but I wanted to WOW them so I told a lie. Father, help me remain in the truth and not fear man."
THEN -- Don't stop there! He said, "If you go down on your knees, don't come up with your head still hanging down. Rejoice in Gods grace! Rejoice that you are forgiven and cleansed! Receive His grace and let it sink into your core that you are truly renewed. To be forgiven means a debt that you owe but you no longer need to pay. Praise Him for that grace!!
Lastly, Jeremy taught to not only confess to God, but also to one another. Listen to one another with compassion, declare forgiveness over one another, pray for one another, and then rejoice in God's grace. Don't minimize their sin by saying, "Oh, it's fine. I do that all the time." Acknowledge it for what it is, confess, forgive, then let it go. A mature Christian is not one who doesn't sin at all because that's impossible, but is one who deals with sin maturely.
Light and darkness literally cannot co-exist so by confessing, you walk INTO His marvelous light.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:5-10
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CHECK OUT 31:30 Beloved on YouTube AS WELL!
Photography by @Kaitness!!
