The Fever of Guilt
Psalm 32 Guilt is the fever of the soul. Like a warning light on a dashboard, our guilt alerts us to the fact that we have sinned against God, ourselves and maybe even against others. When this happens, many of us descend into deep depression, chiding ourselves and imagining various ways that God will punish us, including abandoning us. Wallowing in guilt feelings leaves us discouraged and spiritually drained.

David understood the fever of guilt, but he also knew the recovery that could come with forgiveness. Both of these experiences are described in Psalm 32. It is very possible that David wrote this psalm around the same time as Psalm 51, which pertains to his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband, Uriah. He did not confess his sins until he was confronted by Nathan the prophet, and Psalm 32 shows how his guilt generated painful physical and spiritual symptoms. These resolved only through confession and receiving forgiveness from God.

Guilt itself cannot atone for our sin, as if we could not make up for our sin by suffering from our accusing conscience. As with a fever, we rid ourselves of guilt by dealing with the cause. Once we have treated the root cause, the fever, or guilt, takes care of itself. In this way, guilt can draw us into the arms of our loving Father, where we can confess our sins and find forgiveness and restoration. Hiding our sins only gives them increasing power over us. Instead, let us break sin's power over us by confessing it to God and to those whom we have sinned against.

Putting It into Practice
What are some of the sins you are hiding from God? How has this affected your spiritual vitality? What holds you back from confessing these sins? Ask God to help you confess them, both to Him and to those you have hurt, so that you may receive God's gracious forgiveness.

For more on repentance and confession, read Psalm 51.


Confessing to One Another
James 5:16 Sin likes to hide in the darkness. In the darkness and silence it gathers energy and continues its work. Confession brings sin into the open where its power is broken. James, the half brother of Jesus and a leader in the early church, knew this, so he exhorted his readers to practice this discipline.
But what is it exactly that we are to confess? We are to confess to one another when we have sinned against each other. Unconfessed sin erects barriers in relationships. Confession and forgiveness, however, break down these walls and allow God's love and power to flow freely among us.

There are also times when we confess to one another sins that we are struggling to break free from so we may experience God's forgiveness. This should not be confused of course, with making confession to one another as a condition for forgiveness. We are forgiven solely by the grace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. But others can provide the support, accountability, assurance and perspective that can help us move forward. Opening our hearts to a pastor, counselor, or wise spiritual friend can be a step toward experiencing the freedom of forgiveness.

Putting It into Practice
Are you harboring any sins that need to be confessed to someone? Are there areas of sin that could be overcome by having someone know your struggle and support you? As you choose a person, carefully consider his or her own spiritual maturity and commitment to you. Ask if the person understands the goals of such a process and get an agreement to confidentiality and support before you share your heart.

For more on repentance and confession, read 1 John 1.