This post originally appeared in the Thrive Moms series called “In Every Season” – if you aren’t signed up to receive their emails, I would highly encourage you to do so!
At bedtime each night we read a short devotional to our daughter from one of the various kid-focused books we have on her bookshelf. Over the years the stories have gotten more complex, the topics more relevant to her current 5-year-old stage of life, and the application as relevant to her daily preschool routine as it is to my work-from-home job.
As I flipped to the reading for the night in our current book, Brave Girls 365 Devotional, I hesitated.“If we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins…He will make us clean from all the wrongs we have done.” (1 John 1:9). Sin. Confession. Repentance. Forgiveness. I wanted desperately to skip to the next page, to read an easier devotional about how to handle life when it’s not fair, or how to encourage your friends. I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk about sin with our little girl.
Maybe you do that too, when topics in faith feel uncomfortable. It’s easier to explain grace, encouragement, and loving our neighbors than it is to talk about sin. Because when we talk about sin, we have to admit that we’re all sinners who need a Savior – and that can be an uncomfortable confession. It means that we can’t do everything on our own, that we have weaknesses, and that we are in need of restoration.
In Psalm 51 David pens a prayer for restoration, a guide that shows us how to come before God with a heart ready to receive the full forgiveness that He promises. David begins by recounting the characteristics of God (faithful love; abundant compassion) and then confesses his sins. Before we can walk in the joy and gladness of God’s restoration, we must empty our hearts and hands of the sinful parts of our lives to make room for what God needs to do.
David goes on to ask God not only to cleanse him of his sins, but to “renew a steadfast spirit” and“sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.” (v 10, 12). What a beautiful reminder that God will give us everything we need to live fully in the abundance of His restoration if we are humble enough to confess our sins and ask for His help.
Answering questions about confession and repentance with my daughter meant being willing to share with her that her mommy is far from perfect. I’ve been quite present for every one of my sins – big and small. But it was also a beautiful moment to share that God does not expect perfection, but obedience. And that is something much easier for this mama to share.
REFLECTION
- How do you feel God inviting you to experience His abundance in this season of your life? What would you need to confess, or let go of, to make room for God to accomplish this?
- Take time to read through Psalm 51, following David’s example as you speak out loud who God is, what He has already been faithful to do, and spend time in prayer confessing anything God reveals to you.
A PRAYER FOR YOUR WEEK
Father, thank You that You desire for us to live in abundance, and we can experience this through confession. Though acknowledging our sin is painful, help us to boldly repent before You, that we might continually make room in our lives for Your joy and gladness. We praise You for being the God who restores.
I think it’s wonderful that you spend devotional time with your daughter. I have had the priviledge of sowing into many children’s lives, those seeds will grow. It’s good to face the hard stuff too early enough so they will remember as they get older.
Thanks for sharing this truth.
So good Crystal!! Sin isn’t something we talk openly about, especially with our little ones. I admit that confession is something I gloss over in prayer-not because I don’t sin but because I would much rather pray about other things. What a great reminder to keep it real with our families, but especially with God!