THE PRAYER PERSPECTIVE: CONFESSION PRAYERS

Hello, my name is Pernell Hill, and welcome to, The Prayer Perspective, a biblical viewpoint on the principles and practices of prayer. Each perspective will have Prayer Take-Aways, these are steps you can use to maximize your prayer discipline.

Nehemiah 1:6 says let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open, that thou may hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. Mark 1:5says And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Let’s admit it, confession is not just something only Catholics should do, you’ve seen where they go into confession and tell of their sins, and asking for blessings and forgiveness. Outside of Catholicism, confession as a component of prayer is not spoke about much, and I wonder how much of it is encouraged? Nevertheless, it is a biblical principle that when use can be beneficial for the pray-er and even for the intercessor.

Nehemiah 1:6 comes on the heels of some grave news Nehemiah received about his native homeland Jerusalem; conditions had worsened and he felt compelled to pray and to go back home to help. Nehemiah said he wept and mourned, for certain days, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. In his prayer he confesses the sins of the children of Israel, and he includes himself, by saying “we.” The word confess in this context means to admit or state wrongdoing.

When it is determined that your condition is a result of wrong doing, then your prayer should admit that. It should also be considered as something that is done out of practice. In Psalm 51 David says that a broken and contrite heart the Lord will not despise. A sincere confession, the Lord is open to receive. I believe the old adage is right “confession is good for the soul.” Nehemiah felt it was a must, a necessary approach as he sought the Lord. Confession put you in a posture of submission; you can’t be prideful and under submission at the same time.

I mention pride because it’s one of those attitudes that can prevent a person from confessing. We must not see it as some ritual, or an outdated practice to ignore. What confession does, it brings forth truth, and when truth is expressed it brings forth liberty. Have you ever confessed to something, and after doing so you felt no longer bound by the situation. An individual who is using confession in his or her prayers is also starting the process of correction.

Mark 1:5 says And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. The “him” in this text is John the Baptist. They went out to him, they took the approach of going to God, to be baptized, and along with that confessing their sins. They didn’t see this practice of confessing as something to be ignored; but it was something their forefathers did, this made it important for them to do as well. Let me encourage you, to add confession to your prayer discipline, you will discover that it really is good for your soul.

Prayer Take-Aways

1. Confession is good for the soul.

2. Confession prayers can involve others, but one must not forget to include himself or herself.

3. Confession praying is not a way out, but it’s a way in.

4. A sincere confession, the Lord’s open to receive.

5. Confession is as relevant today as it was in Nehemiah’s time, even in John The Baptist’s time.

6. An individual who is using confession in his or her prayers is also starting the process of correction.