Have you ever done something wrong and didn’t want to tell anyone about it? Maybe it was when you were a child and you were terrified of your parents finding out what mistake you had made. You thought they might even kick you out! 

Then when you finally told them or they found out they didn’t react at all how you expected them to. Instead, they forgave you and gave you a big hug to reassure you that they love you. 

Are we like this with God? 

When we mess up do we try to run and hide like Adam and Eve in the garden? Do we fear what the Lord is going to do to us as if He is sitting up in heaven contemplating our destruction? Maybe we even think about Him banishing us from heaven? 

That may seem silly but many people view God this way and ultimately choose to hide rather than to repent. 

The truth is, when we mess up God wants us to run as fast as we can to Him to make it right. He welcomes us with open arms because He never wants any distance in our relationship. We can’t hide from God because He is all-knowing, we may as well repent as quickly as possible so we aren’t overloaded with guilt and shame like the devil wants us to be. 

Our heavenly Father is love, He is generous, and He wants us to live an abundant life. That’s why He didn’t just kill Adam and Eve in the garden and start over with creation. We so often try to hide and cover up our own mistakes like they did but that’s not what God wants. 

Just like as a parent you want your kids to be honest and tell you when they’ve messed up, so does God. Why? So He can rightfully punish us? No. So He can forgive us and rid us of our shame and be in loving fellowship with us. 

If you have anything that you would like to confess before God then I encourage you to pray this prayer, “Dear God, I am coming to you now to repent of my sins. I want to be rid of all guilt and shame and be in intimate fellowship with you. Thank you that when I repent you are always faithful to forgive me and cleanse me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NKJV