Today’s Devotional: “Confession is Good for the Soul”

The saying, “Confession is good for the soul,” generally means that admitting our errors is good for us, easing the burden of guilt, if nothing else. And while it isn’t a quote from Proverbs, the idea is clearly expressed.

The act of confessing one’s sins alleviates the stress and guilt that builds up, producing both physical and emotional consequences.

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

King David understood this truth in his life. He said, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.” (Psalm 32:1-4)

And then he offered what many believe is at the heart of our saying. “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)

As King David notes, confession is our gateway to freedom and forgiveness.

The Apostle John said, “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)

Therefore, next time we mess up, we should resist the temptation to cover it up or ignore it. As David attested, sweeping our sins under the rug only makes matters worse. Instead, let’s pour out our hearts to God. As we confess our sins to God, He will heal our souls.

Confession is therefore good for our soul because it helps align us with God and with His purposes for our lives.