‘Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in though, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In Your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.’ - Book of Common Prayer
In many contexts confession sits more comfortably within courtrooms than it does the gathered body of Christ. But when you look at Scripture, the life of the Christ follower is to be marked by confession. Confessions of faith (Matt 16:17, Rom 10:9), confession of sin - both individual and corporate (1 Jn 1:9, Ps 51:4, Ezra 10), confession to God, and to one another (Ps 32:5, James 5:19).
So where do we begin when it comes to confession? The prayers of the Psalmist are ever helpful: ’Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’ (Ps 139:23-24). And as the Spirit reveals areas needing to be conformed more closely to the image of Christ - confess, rather than constrict.
Confessing,
AB