Gang, I was considering starting into a Bible study at this time but I think I want to save that study for our annual Summer Bible Study. Today, and perhaps for the next few weeks, I’m feeling led to walk through some confession.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. —James 5:16

I quote this verse often. In fact, I sign my prayer book with this inscription. I refer to the last half of this verse because I absolutely, wholly, believe it is truth. However, I want to reveal something that most of us miss. It’s in the confession to one another that we find healing.

Ugh!

We don’t want to confess. This world shouts that we are weak and stupid to admit our shortcomings, failings and outright sins. But, as I grow up in the Kingdom, confession to the Lord is absolutely paramount but confessing to one another is also critical to our spiritual health and our physical health. I can’t fully explain why this is true but through years of prayer, it unquestionably is truth.

So, let’s have some brave communication and receive our healing.

Here are my wife-ey confessions:

• I placed way too many expectations upon my husband to meet my emotional and spiritual needs.
• I got it wrong often when presenting Jesus to him.
• My insecurity about my personal faith in the early years, led to many arguments that just weren’t necessary.
• I am faaaaaaaaaaar from perfect as a wife. I’ve messed up things often in my relationship with my husband and my kids.
• I also confess that I have loved fully, with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, both the Lord and my family.
• I have loved with the full capacity of my heart and then some, only through the redemptive love of Christ.
• I’ve laughed at myself and surrendered many dreams.
• I’ve created a home. A place of lasting memories for me, my husband and my kids.
• I confess that I’m a goof, but my family loves me anyway.
• Pride has been a battle and insecurity as well.
• I love my dogs. I’ve raised chickens from eggs, gardened with my daughter, attended every high school play in the area for several years in a row, cooked mountains of taco meat and have smiled into the eyes of teenagers who were in pain and afraid.
• I’ve prayed.
• I’ve wept.
• I’ve busted out laughing so hard I tt’ed my pants.
• I’ve walked in lonely seasons and seasons of profound victory and grace.
• I’m blessed to have lived the human experience with Jesus, my family and my friends, my eternal brothers and sisters.

These are my confessions today. What are yours? With all my love, Lynn