The power of confession…
A few years ago I was talking with a friend that was going through a difficult time. His marriage was collapsing, he was having an affair and his business was hemorrhaging. Over lunch he asked me what it was that helped me “keep it together” during hard times. Seeing this as a GREAT opportunity to share Christ, I began to tell him about how Christ had changed my life and how there is life in Christ, etc.
Near the end of our talk I asked him what he thought about Jesus and he said, “I totally believe in Him!”. I then asked him if he believed in the death and resurrection, the total atonement of the Cross, the virgin birth, etc. To each question he enfacticly said, YES!
After all this I sat back and was left without words. I honestly didn’t know what to say. He had completely confessed Christ and admitted he believed every single part of Christian doctrine to be true! But there was this GAPING hole I was looking through, the hole of a life unchanged despite confession.
When you get busted doing something wrong and you confess to what you did there is something that makes that confession actually worth something….change. There has to be some sort of change or what the heck was the point of the confession? If you are sorry, I mean really sorry for jacking things, there will be a change.
My friend had the confession down solid but there was NO life change. To this day he is still living the same way, doing the same things and is still miserable.
If you have confessed Christ with your mouth but your heart is still sick with selfishness, pride and anger; there is some soul searching you need to be getting to QUICKLY.
How has the power of confession set you free?
How have you seen it manifested in the life of others?
48 responses to "The power of confession…"
Well written, sweetheart.
You know how the power of confession has been used in our lives. And i think there is nothing more powerful than a changed life.
I love you. Thanks for posting this.
=)
Excellent post.
I'm here from Sarah's place. Happy Birthday!
Good morning Chad,
Happy Birthday!
I am visiting from Sarah's place as well and she said to tell you hi for her.
I like the way that you made this simple. I use to wonder what does confession really do. How do you know the confession is sincere.
I guess I was looking for some big revelation. I'd been making it hard.
Thanks.
Blessings,
Larie
Another guest from Sarah's place wishing you happy birthday.
But more than that, let me say that I needed this today. Poignant and powerful reminder that it's more important to live it than to say it.
Happy Birthday..Sarah sent me. Enjoy your day!
Happy Birthday from another of Sarah's readers!
Simple, to the point post. We do try to make it hard, but that "big gaping hole" is the perfect description. Have a Happy Birthday.
Sarah sent me here and I think I'll follow along.
janelle
Great post Chad. The Lord needs to come alongside your friend, and with His tender hands, peel back the layers. He has used your conversation so far, and others as well. Jesus alone can convict, He alone can illuminate the sin, and He alone can cleanse. Keep praying for your friend.
Happy birthday my friend.
Brett
Confession is so freeing!
Happy Birthday…from another one of Sarah's readers. :~) You guys are awesome.
Yes, another visitor from Sarah's site! Happy (now belated) birthday.
Your post made me self-examine the areas I need to "live it" more than just "say it". Thank you.
Everything you said is so true! I believed; I said the "right" things; BUT, I didn't confess. For me, it was a matter of committing my life to Jesus – the actual act of submission that I didn't do until I was a grown mother. It made all the difference in the world!
By the way, happy birthday!
Very good post. Yes, we NEED to confess AND we NEED to turn away from the sin and repent as well. Something I still struggle with. Thanks for sharing!
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday. God bless.
Chad,
Happy Birthday! I, too, went through a life changing event a couple of years ago. It was a gift from God, in that it offered the chance to completely turn to Him, let go of those last "little things" I was holding onto, and experience true-unbelievable-exhilarating freedom in Jesus. Unfortunately, my former husband did not embrace the opportunity of transformation through confession and we got a divorce. It is so hard to know what he is missing out on. But! I am living the transformed life and loving it. So glad you are too.
Erin
Happy Birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Sarah and You are very inspiring
.
Another of Sarah's readers here.
Happy Birthday to you.
This is a great post.
Sharon Mac
Happy Birthday! Thanks for your words and I completely agree. I'm where your wife was years ago and actions do scream louder than words. And as Christ said, "Go and sin no more." Obviously only through His power. That's a life changed. Not saying the right things or going through the motions. A 180 with Christ living through your life.
You and Sarah are so real when you write about the daily struggles that we all have and it's healing to read your blogs. Happy Birthday to you Chad!! love you both.
Happy Birthday! You're just a kid!
Today is my birthday too and I'm 39. Glad to be sharing it with you!
Hi Chad…coming from Sarah's place too. Very well written!! Have a wonderful birthday and Blessed year to come!
Gina
Well said Chad. I know exactly what you are talking about. Thank you for posting this… Happy Birthday. =)
Jason
Happy Birthday Chad from over at Sarah's Blog! Great post and very timely for what our country (and the Church) is dealing with.
Happy Birthday!!!
Great to see you and know that there are couples out there who are living examples of God's grace and of CHANGE! It is really very clear. Sorry doesn't mean much unless there's change behind it. You two are an inspiration.
Chad, It sounds to me like your friend knows Of Jesus…but doesn't KNOW JESUS.
We know there is a huge gap between the two. The problem is that until someone Knows this, they just don't get it.
Let's stand in that gap and pray that Jesus invades his life big time. Let us be the bridge of prayer from the side of knowing of, to the side of knowing his and our Jesus intimately.
Happy Birthday Chad! Sarah says Hi!
The two of you have so touched my heart!
Well said Chad. Thank you for sharing a truth so easily ignored. Happy Birthday!! Blessings.
Sarah says hi and so do I. Happy Birthday to an imperfect but committed Christ follower. Thanks for the post.
Nice job, Chad.
I think there's a difference between nodding at truth, however vigorously, and embracing it. Right?
Nodding never saved anyone. The truth only sets us free when we've clung to Him (Jesus) with all our hearts.
Happy birthday man. You rock.
Well said. Visiting from Sarah's place. Happy Birthday. May you be abundantly blessed in the coming year!
(Another visitor from Sarah's blog)
Happy Birthday, Chad!
Your post rings true. Some people have made Jesus their Savior but not yet the Lord of their lives. It makes a difference.
brad has it right "the truth can only sets us free when we cling to him."
i have been both a head nodder and clinger.
well written.
i have a few friends i'd like to send your way so YOU can have THIS conversation with them
happy birthday. welcome to 35!
Yes… you heart MUST be in it, or it just isn't going to work! Great post! Hope you have a day full of blessings… Happy Birthday!!
Great post, Chad!
Isn't it amazing how powerful confession has in our lives? We would never had known if we hadn't experienced it ourselves.
Holla…
Jenni
I recently felt the power of confession. Not even over anything major, but a battle in mind. A battle I felt was rather silly to be going on in my head and yet felt helpless to overcome it…even through crying out to the Lord. My husband knew there was something and he loving drew it out of me. I feel as though a hugh weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel free!! And though I realize there may be days I stuggle, I feel that confession to another believer loosened the grip Satan had on my mind! Praise God!! I read your story of restoration on your wifes blog….and I rejoiced! Glory to God!
Lisa
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for the great blog.
Happy Birthday, Chad!! Loved the post. Enjoy your day at Disneyland.
i've read your wife's blog for a while now but this is the first time i've made it over to your blog…very powerful.
Happy Birthday!
i am visiting from sarah's blog.
Hope you had a great day!
Excellent post! Happy Birthday, from another of Sarah's readers.
Another one of Sarah's readers dropping in to say, "Happy birthday!"
I heard an analogy about life pain that goes something like this: A salesman was talking with a man while sitting on the man's porch. Periodically, the dog laying next to them would lift up his head and howl as if in pain. The salesman finally asked the man about it.
"He's lying on a nail that is sticking up from the wood."
Salesman: "Well, why doesn't he just get up and move."
Man: "It doesn't hurt enough yet."
We are birthday buddies. Mine is tomorrow
71 days til we get to become real life BFF's. Unless you and Sarah already have one?
Just checkin'.
Nice blog thoughts.
I am with you Chad, if you are truley sorry, than make a change. This is what I talk to Cole about when he says that he is sorry for something.
What is the point of confessing if you aren't sorry enough to make a change. The change comes from Christ, that Cole understands at his young age.
Christi
So true. I have found that confession without change feels trite, even fake. But when actual change follows, there is something monumentally powerful and freeing about it.
I guess that's how the Holy Spirit rolls. Good thing!
Wow! Excellent post!
I have run into the exact same issue many times; and people wonder why "Christians" have the same divorce and suicide rates
..happy belated birthday? haha I'm assuming from all of your other comments
Excellent reminder! I do a lot of confessing but have not repented, in the truest sense of the word.
Your wife is amazing, I read her blog and I frequently hear God speaking to me through her. Which is amazing & incredible to me, as it is a tangible way I feel God loving me.
You responded to a comment I made on Sarah's blog a few weeks ago and your words also spoke to my spiritual heart.
Thank you and Sarah for your prayers.
In His grace-Oly
Happy Birthday!i am visiting from sarah’s blog.Hope you had a great day!