Continually asking God for forgiveness

[Presbygirl]

While we do not need to obsess about asking for forgiveness for every little infraction, I do think it is important to be confessional. We were made for relationships. God as our heavenly Father is delighted when we come to Him, whether it be for worship, praise, confession or prayer. Asking for forgiveness absolutely does keep us from "mentally glossing" over our sin like Discovering Life said. Great reminder!!

[Tony Mel]

(07-17-2011 07:46 PM)Discovering Life Wrote:  Confession is good for us, as others have stated more eloquently. Personally I find it helpful because it forces me to stop, think, and be specific. I'm very good at mentally glossing over and even deliberately ignoring sin in my life, a sort of "if I don't name it specifically it wasn't really sin" jedi mind trick. Confession helps keep me honest with myself and with God. It's not so much about forgiveness, I know I have that already, as it is confronting pride and acknowledging that I am a sinner who cannot "fix" herself apart from God.

Wouldn't this intense and strict scrutiny make us focus on our sin rather than on the God to whom we're confessing our sin?

[Discovering Life]

(07-17-2011 08:01 PM)Tony Mel Wrote:  Wouldn't this intense and strict scrutiny make us focus on our sin rather than on the God to whom we're confessing our sin?

Well I suppose if it where actual intense and strict it might The way I explained does sound really fundy, the whole "examine yourself" idea. Let me try again, as an ex-fundy I slowly came to realize I was still trying to live a "spiritual" life all on my own, that I had this idea that I had to reach some imaginary level of "good enough" to have God work in my life, and I was very focused on outer behavior, so long as the actions looked right to others who cared what the real motivation was. So now I am trying to be more aware, to stop periodically to purposefully refocus on God, to simply be more aware that as a believer God is already working in me, and in that increased awareness not to fight the changes (and note the specific way I'm resisting) or rely on my own will power (pride). Also, at bedtime I sometimes try to simply review the day, to look for ways God was working that I may or may not have seen at the time, ask forgiveness and for a greater awareness of Him and His work for the next day.

[elfdream]

Looking at our own sins to the extreme is a form of pride. Never looking at them at all can lead to license which is something that we have seen first hand with some of the uber fundies who fall into all kinds of scandal.

[Tony Mel]

(07-18-2011 07:39 AM)elfdream Wrote:  Looking at our own sins to the extreme is a form of pride. Never looking at them at all can lead to license which is something that we have seen first hand with some of the uber fundies who fall into all kinds of scandal.

Completely agree.

[myotch]

The recovering alcoholic Christian knows the *sin* he's saved from - even if it is all sin, or just sin nature. The focal point of his introspection is his weakness in certain areas.

I, too, am weak in certain areas. My sin is not unlike that of alcoholics drinking - there's "triggers", there's relapse, there's response to stress. Confession keeps me accountable for my sins, instead of blaming stress or outside triggers. Faith in Christ has given me control in these areas of my life, but I do not always exercise control.

1 John 1, particularly verses 8 and 9, should provide the proper perspective on Christians confession.