When You're Tempted to Duck, Dodge & Divert, Let Your Backbone Be Truth So That You Can Stand Upright

Psalm 32:3-5 & Psalm 51:6

Soul Food

“When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” 

– Psalm 32:3-5

“But you (God) desire honesty (truth) from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.” 

– Psalm 51:6

Soul Search

• "Is there a time when you made a poor decision that was exposed and you stood strong and upright and were truthful about it and accepted responsibility? 
  Do you feel free to share that?"

• "On the flip side, is there a time when you caved in to the fear of ridicule or embarrassment or scorn you might take if people knew you made a bad decision and you worked to cover it up? 
  Is that something you might still need to confess and make right?"

• Have you ever had to live with the turmoil that hiding from a bad decision caused?

• Are you still living with the turmoil and stress of an unconfessed sin that continues to eat away at you? Might it be time to finally confess it and be free?

Soul Moves

• Identify those things in your life that were poor choices and that resulted in bad decisions that you’ve never confessed and dealt with. If there are things that still bother you and take up time in your thoughts because of the guilt you might feel, it probably means that the completed work of healing and redemption has not been accomplished.

• Decide to ‘come clean’ because you don’t want the weight of those things you feel guilty about to affect your spiritual and emotional posture.
  Those things weigh you down and never allow you to stand straight up in strength and confidence.

• Ask God to show you if confession to Him in prayer and possibly to another human who you trust is enough. 
  God might show you that you need to confess to someone who was hurt by your sin and that somehow restitution might need to be made. 
  Whatever God shows you to do, then do it – no matter how much it costs you in many ways. It will well be worth your investment to come clean. 
  Nothing can take the place of a good night’s sleep.