Confession Makes Room for Healing - Your Nightly Prayer - March 5th

Amber Ginter

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Your Nightly Prayer

Confession Makes Room for Healing
Your Nightly Prayer
by Amber GInter

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" - James 5:16

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I struggled with an eating disorder and an addiction to exercise for seven years. For nearly a decade, I refused to confess my sins to myself, God, or those around me because of two things:

1. I was in denial.
2. I was ashamed.

By the time I was 21, I was exercising for 3 hours a day. I can't explain it, but it was my way to cope with the crumbling home around me. I'd never really cared about food or body image, but now it was all that consumed me. Until the day God broke my foot.

That night, I screamed at God from my bathroom floor. I yelled, "Why did you do this?" as tears streamed down my face. But deep down, I knew why:

God was saving me.

In James 5:16, we read that confession brings healing. The beauty of this verse isn't just in the confession part, but in what we receive as a result of doing so: being made healed and whole.

Confession isn't easy. It makes my hands sweat, my heart pound, and my head spin. By the time I do, however, I feel a sigh of relief. I feel like I don't have to hide anymore or pretend like I have everything together. Why? Because confessing to God and those who care breaks chains. It doesn't mean you can skip the hard work of recovery or that healing will come instantly, but Satan loses his power when we bring dark things to light. James 5:16 says it this way:

"So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen" (ERV).

Confession makes room for healing because honest surrender is the posture God wants all of us to have. Big sins or little sins, big struggles or little struggles, we can come to Him as we are. And when we do, when we confess all that we are and aren't, healing can begin to break through.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear God,
Confessing my sins and faults to you and others is petrifying. Satan tries to convince me that I'd be better off hiding and keeping things secret. But Lord, let your truth break through. Healing comes when I confess my sins openly and rest in the peace and grace you provide. Not only do you forgive me for my faults, but you give me new life. You bring healing that only you can, and I praise you for that. Today, help me to be bold and repent. Then, show me how healing can take place in my life. I love, praise, and thank you, Jesus.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Do you have something you need to confess to the Lord or someone else? Don't wait any longer. Ask God to give you bold courage and then express what's on your heart.

2. Do some research on the benefits of repentance. Then, praise God for His grace, love, and mercy.

3. If you struggle to confess things in your life, please know you're not alone. Try journaling your thoughts or talking to a trusted friend, counselor, or family member about these struggles. Memorize James 5:16 and recite it in times of need.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.