It’s not quite the most attractive of the disciplines but it is just as

powerful. Confession is naming where we are and what we’ve done. It is

unguarded truth-telling. Its unguarded because we know who we’re confessing

to. When we know God to be eager and ready to forgive, we can approach him

with anything we may be carrying. In confession, we’re released from the

pressure to pose, to hide in shame, and we receive the forgiveness of

Jesus. His forgiveness is immediate; he takes our sins, hides it, and

forgets about it. The goal of all confession, whether it’s confession to

God or to one another, is healing. This kind of healing-nourishment results

in what Psalm 32 calls, true happiness. The more regular this practice

becomes in our journey, the more confident we are in Jesus’ loving and

transformative power.