Part 2 of 3 – Confession is Good for the Soul

Yesterday we began a discussion of Rosh Hashannah, The Feast of Trumpets and the Days of Awe. Those are days to draw near to the Lord and praise His holy name.  Today we will address a most holy day on the Hebrew calendar, Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement.

This year the Day of Atonement begins at sundown on Sept. 25 until sundown Sept. 26th.  This is not a day of feasting but rather a day to humble oneself before God and to enter a day of fasting and confession.  Originally this was the day the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies.  Dear one, you and I may enter into this blessing as well.  We do not need a high priest.  As Dr. Heidler explains, “we were created to dwell with God.  The desire for His presence is built into us.  Without it, there is something missing.  Apart from God’s presence, there’s an emptiness inside that nothing else can satisfy.  Sin separated us from His presence.”  Sin still separates us from communion with our Lord.   I would encourage each one of us to prayerfully consider entering into the Day of Atonement, for God designated it as a lasting ordinance for all generations!!  It is good. 

Confessing sin is most certainly not fun but it is so freeing.  Those of us who have received Jesus as Lord are blessed by the gift of having the debt of our sin paid in full. It was a debt we could not pay.  Jesus took it upon Himself to pay our debt.  Have you made the choice to confess that you are a sinner and are in need of a savior?  You and I can be fully restored once we confess our sin, receive the gift of that atonement and make Jesus the Lord of our life.  As Hebrews 12:1b (NIV)  invites, we can “….. throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked for us.”  John 1:9 (NKJV) says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

Enter into the blessing of the Day of Atonement.  Don’t miss this rich blessing. 

Dr. Robert Heidler suggests the following:  “Set a day and time when you can be alone with God for at least one hour.  Bring along your Bible, a pen and paper.  Praise the Lord, give Him thanks for the quiet time and invite Him to speak with you.  Read Psalm 32 and Psalm 51.  Ask God to bring to mind any sin you need to confess.  Pray as David did ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me.’ (Ps. 139:23-24a NIV).  As God brings your sins to mind write them down.  When God stops bringing sins to mind ask Him, ‘Is there anything else?’  Write every sin, don’t be in a hurry, and don’t make excuses.  It’s just you and He, and He loves you just the way you are.  Once that is done, confess each and every sin.  Be mindful of 1 John 1:9 which promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We are forgiven and cleansed.  Now write over your paper 1 John 1:9 then tear it up, destroy it.  Don’t show it to anyone.  It is finished.”

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Material used in developing this devotional:
God’s Appointed Times by Barkney Kasdan
The Messianic Church Arising by Dr. Robert Heidler