Reconnecting with God: The Importance of Confession and Repentance

There have been times in my life when I have drifted from God and led astray by temptations, by my feelings, by doubt or complacency. I’m sure you’ve found yourself in those places too.

The thing about these places is we find ourselves wanting to come back to God but feel ashamed that we let ourselves end up in that place. It’s a horrible feeling but we can’t let it hold us back from what we need to do which is reconnect with God.

Side note

I find when I’ve let myself fall into complacency it’s nearly harder to come back to God than when I’ve sinned. I think it’s because I usually don’t feel like I’ve done anything wrong. Just me? Or do you feel like that too? Let me know.

So how do we reconnect with God?

It begins with confession.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9

Confession is when we bow the knee in humility (not necessarily physically) before God and tell him about the sins we have done. It is about us seeking forgiveness and taking responsibility for our actions.

It is an important aspect of our relationship with God, if we don’t confess our sins He has no reason to forgive us plus any good relationship is based on truth. If we choose to omit the truth or lie God will not be pleased for He hates liars, but He loves those who speak the truth and Proverbs 12:19 says that those who speak the truth will endure.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.”
James 5:16

It is also good to confess to others because it helps ease the burden of sin and reduces its power over us. It’s healing to confess.

“The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”
Proverbs 28:18

The next step to reconnecting with God is to repent.

Repentance and confession often go hand in hand but to repent means to intentionally turn away from sin. It is a change of heart and mind which causes our behaviour to change also.

Repentance is what allows us to break free from sin’s control and makes room for spiritual growth and renewal. Repentance leads us to align our actions with God’s will.

In Psalm 51 we read an example of both confession and repentance. The context of this psalm is that David is feeling ashamed of his actions after committing adultery with Bathsheba and for sending her husband to die on the front line.

David demonstrates confession by admitting he has sinned. He shows repentance by asking to be cleansed of the guilt so he can move forward. He asks to be purified, to be renewed. He seeks restoration from God so that their relationship may return to the good relationship it was before he had sinned so grievously.

“Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against you – you alone – I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn your face away from sins and blot out all my guilt.

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways and sinners will return to you.

Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God – God of my salvation – and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.

In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.”
Psalm 51

Like David, we need to repent and confess our sins. Like David, we must ask God to cleanse us of all sin and shame.

Confession and repentance ought to be a daily habit in our lives, without them any relationship with God will fail. It is only as we practice them consistently that we truly see change. The more we repent and confess the better and stronger our relationship with God will be as we better understand our need for Him and recognise that life without Him isn’t much of one at all.

You may be wondering if confession and repentance is all we need to do to reconnect with God. They are certainly the important aspects of reconnecting with Him but there are a few other things we can do.

Gratitude

One of those things is gratitude. Gratitude is powerful, it can reframe our negative mindsets into positive ones but most importantly it gives God the glory because without Him we would have nothing to be grateful for. Did you feel the warm rays of the sun on your skin today? You can thank God for that. Was it raining? You can thank Him for providing the plants with much-needed water. Been convicted of something that you then repented of? You can thank Him for convicting you and redirecting you.

There is always something we can be grateful for even if it is just the breath in our lungs.

Spend time in nature

Another way to reconnect with God is simply to spend time in nature. Listen to the birdsong and the sound of the river coursing its way to the sea. Feel the breeze flowing around you and the dripping of the rain from the trees. Observe and reflect on the tiniest of bugs to the tallest of hills knowing that the God who created all this created you too with love and purpose. Know that to God you are more valuable than all of it.

“Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?”
Matthew 6:26

Read the Bible

Have you opened your bible lately? It is one of the simplest ways to reconnect with God for His Word is living and active. From the relatable psalms of David to the warnings of the end to come it is so easy to spend time with God this way. If something doesn’t make sense there are so many commentaries that can help us dig deeper into the Word and better understand it. (I use the Enduring Word commentary personally, it’s free to use.)

The more time we spend reading and studying God’s Word the better we will know Him and the stronger our relationship will be. Isn’t this what we should be aiming for? It is good for us to dedicate a portion of each day to reading His Word, there are many devotionals out there that can help us do this too. The YouVersion bible app has hundreds of bible plans that can help you connect with God and understand His Word – you can also use the website.

Worship

The final way of reconnecting with God I will speak of is worship. Worship comes in different forms, it can be gratitude, it can be writing or speaking words of praise, it can be singing. The method in which we worship is not important but the heart of it, the intention does. Be assured that God appreciates every effort as long as it comes from the heart. I find that singing worship songs is the easiest method but you might find another way that works best for you.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”
Romans 12:1

I hope this post has been helpful to you in where to begin reconnecting with God. Let me know if it has, and as always if you have any questions or simply need to talk I’m here for you. Share this post with someone who needs it today.