9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness – 1 John 1:9
The habit of asking for forgiveness is cleansing to the soul. There is something freeing in accepting who we are and declaring it with no caveat. Such things fester in the shadows. When we shine light upon them, how warm the glow. Recently I have tried, sometimes successfully, to apologize more openly. It is interesting how accepting and almost taken by surprise people are when you do so. Perhaps the human condition makes us all aware of the shortcomings in us all.
And this is spiritual. It is a reminder of why Christ came, why He suffered, and why He died. But it also is a reminder of His deep love. His affection for us flows past our deeds and misdeeds, and our humble “sorry”‘s make the path clear for this. Unlike human transgressions, we are guaranteed an acceptance with God every time. How freeing it is to know you are accepted.
What if we repented daily. With no restraint or regard, what if we asked for God to supplant our character and insert His own? Let us not fear the words “I am sorry”, for they are conduits of grace.
Matt simon blog 