Confession

 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16).

The other night I was laying on my bed feeling spiritually hurt. My heart was heavy from the condition of our dear friend and sister in Christ, Connie. Also, I was not mobile enough to leave the property, or walk on the beach, or go to church for two weeks and I was weighed down. As I began to pray and read James chapter five, the Lord made verse 16 jump off the page. The "healing" spoke of here by James is a spiritual healing, the Amplified version puts it this way.

"Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]."

At the prompting of the Holy Spirit I hobbled outside and read the verse to Brandon and asked if he would join me in a time of confession and prayer before our Lord. As he responded saying, "t

That is a good idea" I could see the burdens he was carrying, as shame covered his face. I made it clear, as it was made clear to me, that we were to confess the things we want nobody to know, and even deny in ourselves. We prayed for the Lord to reveal our hearts and give us the boldness to confess these things. As we confessed these things to each other before the Lord, a freedom came over both of us and we began to praise Jesus in all humility, for who we are and what He has done for us. To say the least, we were both shocked and grateful for what was confessed that night. We spent much time praying for each other and praising God in song as our Spirits were "restored". I don't know why I get amazed when God's living Word does exactly what it says it will do, confess to one another and pray for each other and be spiritually restored. Brandon and I are now accountability partners, we meet every evening to confess, encourage, counsel and pray.