For What It’s Worth… Prayer of Confession

      from PASTOR SCOTT

This morning I woke up with a start. The drone of a big vehicle engine and sharp screech of rhythmic brakes in my hazy morning mind brought into focus today wasgarbage day. The garbage in my house this morning was nestled neatly by the garage, with the exception of the kitchen trash that I frequently forget to escort to its next storage location. Speaking of forgetting, that is what I was now painfully aware of as it registered in my mind that a brief window was now open as the approaching garbage truck neared my house. I was required to make the call, should I jump out of bed and rush my garbage out of my kitchen into the outdoor can and then to the street or ignore this early morning intrusion into my life? Garbage normally is not much of a priority in my life, but one thing is for sure, if the garbage is not taken to the street… the smell will multiply until it reaches the very top of my priority list! Knowing the downside, I jump out of bed…and… Yes, I made it in time.

In our weekly worship gatherings we regularly include a prayer of confession in our Sunday services where we each are invited to “take out the garbage” in our life. Sin is like garbage. It can sit around in the garage of our life and gather an ever increasing smell and prominence if one chooses not to take it to the street. Sin happens, We are all impacted by it. Sin, ignoring Gods heart/will/desire for us, is part and parcel with life here on earth. True, we are called to follow the ways of God and called to serve God in all aspects of our life, but it is also true that we will have both successes and failures in this endeavor. And…the fact that we hold a weekly prayer of confession as we worship together should tell us a couple of very important things: 1) Everyone wrestles with sin. You are not alone in your personal struggles. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). 2) Confessing our sins is an important part of our ongoing relationship with God. We shouldn’t leave unconfessed sin in the homes of our lives. God has asked us to bring that stuff out to the street. 3) Forgiveness is a promise from God. God has promised and sealed forgiveness for our sin through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

Forgiveness is a promise from a God who loves us. Do you have sin in your life? Bring it to God and find His forgiveness and healing. Are you just waking up right now to this important cleansing opportunity? Well, I recommend you get up early on Sunday and take advantage of this regularly scheduled time to divest of the garbage that inevitably accumulates through the course of a week.

Scott <><