It all starts with confession and repentance

Developing an understanding of confession.
How should we confess our sin?

Psalm 51:1
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

A right view of sin carries with it the understanding that sin deserves judgment. That is why David pleads for mercy rather than justice. He realizes that God hates sin.

Psalm 51:2
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Not only does sin deserve judgment, but also it demands cleansing. Before revival can come, there first must be removal. Many times, we seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit when, in reality, what we need is to be emptied of our sin. So, this is where I begin to confess my sin to the Lord. I become transparent with the sin I am aware of and ask Him to reveal and wash me thoroughly from all my sins.

Psalm 51:3–5
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

David took responsibility for his sin. “Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned,” he said. Sin declares guilt

“What about Uriah and Bathsheba?” “Didn’t David sin against them?”

They were innocent victims perhaps but sinners nonetheless. We rush to place blame, thinking there must be someone wrong and someone innocent. But that’s not scriptural, for we’re all guilty (Romans 3:23). We’re all in need of salvation.

Psalm 51:6
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.


The Holy Spirit is faithful to extract the deepest of sin and failure. There are sins that I am unaware of. I desire that the Lord will root out everything and will give me wisdom to understand my error and to walk in truth.

Psalm 51:14–17
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

I need to be holy, not only for the for the sake of the sinner, but for God’s sake. The sacrifice God desires is a humble sacrifice—not mixed with pride of my spirituality or satisfaction with my own righteousness, but with an acute awareness of my own need for mercy.

I pray this prayer daily now. It is how I began to receive and accept forgiveness, correction, and develop a dependency on the Lord.



    I am a broken man. I can fix nothing! I limp through life while others think I should have it together. Lord, You have brought me here so that I might lean on you, depend on you, and trust in you. I pray that the life I lead would not be one that demonstrates spiritual prowess, theological correctness or even Christian notoriety but that it may be one that blesses others because of my total dependency on you. I will meditate on you, cry out to you and wait patiently for you. This is the key to my success. I will take my hands off and allow you to do your work for you are my defense, my rock and my salvation and I will not move from there because my expectation is in you. It is you who changes me, you increase my faith, and you deal with the hidden things. You extract those things, which do not belong, and you revive me with you Spirit.  Faith is living without scheming and only trusting in you. No manipulation, or maneuvers, no polishing or pushing, just trust and pouring out my heart to you at all times. All power and mercy belong to you so I will set my heart on you only.  When I am thirsty and dry I will bless you and be satisfied by you as I rejoice in you because you have kept me.

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