Healing the Soul (3)

John spoke about walking in the light of God who has no darkness in him. As we walk in the light, we have nothing to do with darkness. If we say we walk with God, while remaining in darkness, we are not being truthful. As we walk in the light, we have fellowship with each other and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sins. If we pretend that we have not sinned, then we are being untruthful. However, if we confess our sins, God will forgive us and make us clean from every evil work. If we pretend to be without sin, then we make even Christs word to be untrue and his word does not dwell in us.

James also taught about the need for confession for healing. He instructed the church that anyone who was ill, should call for the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil. The prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise him up. If the person had committed any sins, the Lord would also forgive them. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). James reminded us how Elijah was a man with a human nature like all of us. Yet Elijah prayed fervently that it would not rain, and it did not for over three years. After this he prayed again for it to rain and the Lord sent rain.

We are also encouraged to restore back to the faith, anyone who has wandered. The person who brings them back, will save their souls from death and cover their sins. In Psalm 119:26, David spoke of declaring his ways or his sins before God, and he heard him. Confession is good for the soul and it is a good way to unburden and offload from the weight of guilt, sin and shame. There is a reason why many people on their death beds regurgitate past wrongs and sometimes make life changing confessions. There seems to be something about secrets and wrongs committed that are heavy and burdensome and cause people to want to offload. Many people share dark secrets in the confines of a counselling setting for example, as the space is confidential.

There are some minor indiscretions that have eaten away at our minds and emotions for years and have even impacted our growth. Ignoring wrongs committed will not cause them to go away. We have to start with confessing to God. Come boldly and openly before him, confess, repent and ask for his forgiveness. There are some conditions where God will ask us to confess to others and make restitution where possible. It is better to confess, rather than to live with the weight and guilt of shame and condemnation. Satan loves it when you have secrets so that he can use it as a form of emotional blackmail. Come clean and be set free. “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalms 51:17).

A.P.-Y.