1st Presbyterian Church Coeur d'Alene ID
  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021 >
          • Blog Archive 2020
    • Our Mission
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams >
      • Christmas Families
      • Annual Clothing Givewaway
    • History >
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Children & Families
    • Youth
    • Missions
    • Serve >
      • Choir
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
    • Connect >
      • Dinners at 6-ish
      • Flying Solo
  • Sundays
    • Classic Worship
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
  • Calendar

Personal Confession

7/17/2023

4 Comments

 
​This is an example of Presbyterian prayers of confession. “Almighty God, we acknowledge, and confess that we have sinned against you, in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done and the good we have left undone. We ask you to forgive all our sin, not on the basis of our good works, but by what Jesus has already done for us on 
Picture
Heather Cederblom Bell
​the cross. In your mercy forgive us, heal us, and make us whole. Set us free from our sin and restore us to your joy.”

​
Personal confession makes me nervous. I think we are all pretty clear on the deadly sins. It’s a humbling search into my thoughts and my heart that convicts me. To God, all hearts are open, all desires are known, and there are no hidden secrets. He knows all about me and my flaws. Thankfully, he loves me just as I am and only wants what is best in my life.
 
It is impossible to pray powerful prayers when there is unconfessed sin between me and God. How often do my prayers have less power because I fail to practice meaningful confession on a daily basis? Psalm 66:18 warns that God will not hear me when I harbor sin in my heart.
 
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we are told to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. When I search my heart, I come up with these thoughts and behaviors that are sinful: being consumed with earthly pursuits, bitterness, fear, and doubt. Attitudes of comparison, prejudice, pride, and feeling lukewarm towards God. My critical, unkind, or unloving words; exaggerating my stories; speaking about others when they are not present. And how about this one: speaking, when I should be quiet?
 
When I am honest with God, He will reveal areas in my heart that he wants to refine. I must not be afraid to own up to my sins. God‘s grace is sufficient. 1 John 1:9 says when we confess our sins he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all of righteousness.
 
Our God is so wonderfully patient and gracious. He will meet us right where we are and lovingly guide us to deeper levels of prayer after our confessions.

​In His Name, Heather
4 Comments
Kevin Kaplan link
7/18/2023 04:31:37 pm

I appreciate your openess and clarity on the subjectivity regarding honesty with God. Thank you, Kevin

Reply
Marcy
7/18/2023 09:04:35 pm

I have admired your thoughtfulness…and now your transparency and faithfulness to God. You’re a treasure to me and our church family.

Reply
Carolyn Keefer
7/19/2023 07:47:48 am

What a thoughtful message! I appreciate your openness and the scripture you shared in this beautiful message.
Thank you, also, for the love your share with our children in the nursery. You are a blessing to our church family!

Reply
Yvette
7/19/2023 08:14:05 am

Heather, thank you for the reminder that I am called to consider, lament and lay at the feet of Christ my sins (those graceless actions and thoughts) that overshadow the light and power of prayers. While I would like to claim this is a part of my prayer practice already, in keeping with your meditation thought, I confess this is not. So today is a good day to start. With gratitude, Yvette

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    What's Up

    Our staff is voluntold each week and with grace they share their thoughts.

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

Home
Calendar
Connect With Us
Giving
Giving
Staff
Worship Schedule
 First Presbyterian Church | 521 E Lakeside Ave | Coeur d'Alene | ID  83814
​Copyright © 2023
​
  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021 >
          • Blog Archive 2020
    • Our Mission
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams >
      • Christmas Families
      • Annual Clothing Givewaway
    • History >
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Children & Families
    • Youth
    • Missions
    • Serve >
      • Choir
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
    • Connect >
      • Dinners at 6-ish
      • Flying Solo
  • Sundays
    • Classic Worship
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
  • Calendar