respond to His suggestions. If He suggests that you get
outside help—see a pastoral counselor or join a small
accountability group for a specific problem—don’t hesitate to
do what He says. Quick, humbling resolve and restitution is
much less painful than ongoing public humiliation.
Of course, not every day will include an enormous
confession of sin. But on those occasions when you have truly
erred— hurting God, yourself, and/or others—and you’re
struggling to find your way back to a clean heart and right
spirit, please, don’t leave this section without hearing God talk
to you. Allow Him to restore your soul. (This is another reason
for hour-long appointments with God—you feel less rushed
and more willing to stay with Him if you’ve already set aside
ample time to talk with Him each day.)
Restoration is an emotional, physical, and spiritual
experience with God. The more transparent you are with Him
and the more often you sincerely admit your sins to Him, the
more quickly you will recognize His releasing you from guilt
and shame (1 John 1:9). You’ll almost feel something lift off and
move away from you. Stay with God—don’t leave Him—until it
lifts.
Honestly, there will be many more days during your
confession session when you are merely continuing a
discussion with God regarding a recurring area in which you
are tempted to slip back into an old habit, but have not yet
done so. Acknowledge this tension, don’t minimize it. Get
comfortable with the balance between proactively fending off
temptation and immediately admitting to God any known sin in
your life. The more often you do this, the easier it becomes.
And on those rare days when you’re fortunate enough not