As we begin a time of prayer, we need to begin with a time of confession. The first section of my prayer book. I want to be reminded as I open my book that this is what I need to do. In your prayer journal, you need to have a section for confession. Do you have one?

I wrote here about 3 Things You Need to Include in Your Prayer Journal.

I want to share a bit about a confession section in your prayer journal.

Confession

It is important that as we begin our time of prayer that we take some time to confess our sins. We are entering the presence of a holy God and we need to pause. We need to look at our own lives, look within your heart.

The first page in this is some verses about the need to confess our sins. I want the foundation for my prayer book to be on the Word of God so for that reason I have included verses. I used some journaling stamps to get the lines The circle is not my favourite but I am going with it. I am tempted to wait until everything is perfect but I need to be using this. This is a working document. Don’t wait to finish it. Use it.

I then have a page where I wrote: “Be on guard. . .” This is where I list some sins that I have struggled with and continue to struggle this. This just helps me to ponder how I am doing. Honestly, without the list, I might be tempted to just quickly move on. This list also helps me to be specific.

Your list might look different than mine. That is because it is your list. Make it your list.

Then I am working on creating pages for some of the sins that I struggle with. I begin with just writing a confession about that specific sin. Then I want a Biblical example or verse of how I should be living. I also write some specifics about when or how I sinned in that area. This is not to beat myself up but rather to be a place where I can reflect on my sin and grow in being more like Christ.

Writing a confession

I don’t know if you attend a church that has a formal confession that as a congregation you say out loud. While some might think it is rote I have found a depth of meaning in reciting together a confession that has been carefully thought through.

Drawing on the meaning that comes from a confession that you write, I have written my own confession regarding specific areas of my life that I need to confess. When you write a confession, you need to pause and think about what you are saying.

Make it personal and make it specific. This is for you so make it something that you can use. Use “I” and then be specific. See what God says about that sin, confess it, ask him for help, and know the assurance that he forgives our sins.

Have you ever written a confession? Tell me about it in the comments.

If you have never written a confession, I challenge you to write one.