November 7

Unconfessed sins give bitterness. It is written in the old psalm: “When I refused to confess my sin, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” — Ps 32:3-4

But the moment he made confession, back on the echo of his prayer of penitence came the assurance of pardon, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord“–and you forgave the guilt of my sin!” Psalm 32:5

That is always the way. God loves to forgive. The instant he hears the voice of penitence, he speaks the word of remission. So we learn the only way to get clear of our sins–we must put them out of our heart, by sincere and humble confession. Then they will trouble us no more forever.

Some people try to flee from their sins–but they can never get away from them. Their sins are a part of themselves. Some people try to hide from God when they have sinned–but this also is a vain effort. Adam and Eve tried this, hiding in the garden after their transgression, when they heard the footsteps of God approaching. The only safe flight from sin and from God–is to God. In his mercy there is secure and eternal refuge.