Different denominations of Christians have different processes for confession, whether that is personally to a pastor or priest, or during the service as a group, or on one’s own. The important thing is that we confess our sins to God, ask for forgiveness, and relief from the temptations that pull us toward those sins. The more specific we can be when we confess, the better. Confessing to God is so much different than confessing our mistakes to other people. When we confess our sins to God, we can expect the weight of the guilt to be lifted, and to receive the peace of being forgiven.

The Living Bible says in 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins”

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

Dear Lord, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Help us remember for our own good to confess our sins to you, and carry-on with renewed peace to avoid them in the future. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Three of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke write about Jesus telling us that we must have faith like a child.

In Matthew 18:4-6 Jesus says, “So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

In Matthew’s account of the story there is one interesting addition. In verse 10 Jesus says, “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”

“Their angels” it says. As one of the Bible verses supporting the belief that people have guardian angels, this verse gives an awesome and comforting vision that there are angels standing in God’s presence responsible for helping individual believers.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance provided in this passage that you care for us, and assign your angels to look out for us. Help this give us strength, confidence, and comfort in our lives each day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In John chapter 21, Jesus appears to several of the disciples including Peter. It is the third time the Bible records Jesus appearing to them after the resurrection. This appearance was several weeks after the resurrection and unlike the other appearances, was not near Jerusalem.

In verses 15-19, Jesus asks Peter three separate times, “do you love me.” When Peter says that he does, Jesus says first, “Feed my Lambs,” then “tend my sheep”, then “feed my sheep.”

I have read this text many times, and overlooked a message that seems significant and very clear now.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples this time, they were fishing. Essentially, they had spent the last three years following Jesus, listening and learning and coming to believe he was the Messiah. They saw him crucified, and then saw him alive after being resurrected. After all that, what did Peter do?

He went back to work as a fisherman.

What I think Jesus is telling him in this story, is, “You cannot go back to being a fisherman, you have the message of Salvation. Go and share it with everyone.”

The story also describes how after fishing all night long and catching nothing, Jesus tells them to put the net on the other side of the boat, and they immediately catch many fish; showing that he will provide what they need.

Dear Lord, We can all learn from this story that the important thing in our lives is you. We need to share your love and feed your sheep. You will provide for us when we keep your priorities our priorities. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

18 years ago today, September 11 2001, the USA was attacked by by people influenced by evil.

On many occasions in the Old Testament, the people of Israel were attacked by surrounding enemies, and some of those occasions were predicted by prophets God sent to try to steer the people back to Him.

We don’t know why God allowed the events of September 11 to occur, but we do know how he would have us respond.

Psalm 50:15 says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Dear Lord, Help us come to you for help when these tragedies and evil occur. You are have power over all things. Be with those who mourn the loss of loved ones during this event and the subsequent conflicts, and help us take these things as lessons to put our hope, trust, and reverence on You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The day is 24 hours long because that is how long it takes for the earth to rotate once, and a year is one revolution around the sun, but why does the whole world operate on a seven day week?

There is no astrological, or physical reason for the significance of seven days.

The true reason for a seven day week is that God created the universe in seven days. God created the seven day week. This is recorded in the oldest history book, the Bible.

Genesis 2:1-3 writes, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Many people try to remove God and Christianity from our culture and try to prevent people from being exposed to anything to do with God, but we need to resist this and keep God’s message available for people to see.

The next time you hear someone dispute God’s existence, ask them why the world operates on a seven day week. It may get them to open up their heart and mind to God’s influence.

Dear Lord, There are many who are influenced by the devil and the world to reject the belief in you, and want others to reject it as well. Help us have the wisdom and courage to counter their attempts to cover the light of your Good News. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.