This is Felicia Ferguson with Christian Mix 106, helping you build faith for the journey.
The apostle James wrote, Confess your sins one to another so that you might be healed. So what is confession as a spiritual discipline? St. Alphonsus Liguori said there are three things needed for good confession: examination of conscious, sorrow, determination not to sin again.
As we examine our conscious, we open ourselves to the full and complete gaze of God. Not that he hasn’t seen everything we have ever or will ever do, but we are acknowledging his lordship in our lives and partner with him to reveal our sins fully to ourselves and to him. For good confession, we must allow ourselves to feel sorrow. This sorrow isn’t an emotion as such and may not lead to tears, but it will allow us to regret our past actions and how they wounded our loving Father. Finally, our determination not to sin again rounds out our confession. During this part of confession, we ask God for a longing to do only that which is holy and to leave behind our inclination towards a sinful life.
As we complete this spiritual discipline, it’s important not to fall into the trap of self-condemnation. Richard Foster describes the spiritual discipline of confession this way: Confession begins in sorrow, but ends in joy. So we are to find freedom as we confess our sins, not bury ourselves under the weight of regret.
The spiritual discipline of confession isn’t a solo act, but it also doesn’t require a Catholic priest and confessional booth. Finding a trusted confidante who will keep your confession private is paramount. This person may be a pastor, but close friends, family members, or prayer partners are great options. And you might be surprised to find that your confession not only frees you, but it also leads the listener to their own freedom as they gain courage to confess for themselves.
You might argue, I’m not Catholic, so why do I need confession? Confession is an integral part of our walk as Christians. It goes hand in hand with forgiveness, because without confession, acknowledging our sins and wrongs, there can be no true forgiveness. Confession transforms and heals our battered and wounded spirits and souls.
There’s an old Scottish proverb that says, confession is good for the soul and yes. Yes, it is.
This is Felicia Ferguson, thanks for listening to Christian Mix 106.
