I Confess

James 5:16 NKJV
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I thank God for the privilege of prayer. In times of trouble, comfort, or despair, I am thankful that God is always available for us to commune with Him through prayer. While there is much activity in the earth right now prompting us to pray for solutions to the COVID-19 related problems we are facing, my encouragement is for believers to remember to pray responsibly rather than just responsively. Of course we want to address through prayer any concerns that humanity is facing. Sure, we want to pray life and healing for those personally experiencing the virus on any level. Indeed we want to pray that God will cover our households with health and satisfy us with long life, protecting us from exposure to the virus or its impact. But, as we approach God with these responsive prayer concerns, let us do so in the manner that God prefers so that our prayers will be received with affection, and they will be effective.

My heart today is set on sharing the power of confession for effective prayer. God is so awesome. He is so merciful, loving, and kind. His word in John 4:23-24 says that we must worship Him in spirit and in truth. In our one on one intimacy with God, we must know Him and commune with Him in spirit and in truth. As born again Christians, we have access to the Holy Spirit who helps us to receive, understand, and live in the truth of God's word. 
John 14:16 AMP
14 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.
I believe that reciprocity is essential to intimacy in any relationship. What God so lovingly and liberally avails to us, we should feel compelled and honored to avail to Him. When we approach God in prayer, let us do so in the character of His Spirit, and on the premise of truth. 

When we humbly confess our sins to God in prayer we are coming to Him in truth. God already knows the truth of our lives (1 John3:18-19). But, by us coming to Him in a humble posture of prayer acknowledging where we are falling short of His glory we offer our hearts for healing (Romans 3:23). When we allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and we confess our wrongs to each other we make room for forgiveness and God heals our wounds.
Matthew 6:14-15 AMP
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

​When we come to God with hearts that are broken for Him, it draws us closer to Him.
Psalm 34:18 AMP 
The Lord is near to the heartbroken and He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).

I encourage you today to love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Pour into your personal relationship with God by worshiping Him in spirit and in truth through your confession of sin.  While the world may condemn you, God's character and earnest desire is to love and heal you (John 3:17, Psalm 37:33, Proverbs 17:15, Isaiah 50:9). I am praying for us all to cry out to God today confessing our sins to Him in prayer (Luke 15:21).

Be Blessed!
​~Nina
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Declaration: Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.