Day 22 — Saying Sorry to God

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

— Psalm 51:1–2, 10 (BSB)

King David loved God. He wrote many of the psalms. But one time, David did something terribly wrong. He tried to hide it, and it led to even more wrong things. For a long time he acted like everything was fine.

Then God sent a prophet named Nathan to talk to David. Nathan helped David see what he had done. And David didn’t make excuses. He didn’t blame anyone else. He said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Then he wrote Psalm 51, a prayer of saying sorry to God.

This kind of prayer has a big name: confession. To confess means to agree with God about your sin. You stop hiding, stop pretending and tell God the truth: I did this, and it was wrong.

Why confess if God already knows? Because hiding sin is like having a splinter in your finger. If you leave it in, it gets red and sore. You have to take it out before it can heal. When we keep sin hidden, it hurts us on the inside and gets between us and God. When we bring it out into the open, God can heal it.

Look at the words David used. “Blot out.” “Wash me clean.” “Cleanse me.” David knew he couldn’t clean himself up. Only God could. And God did forgive him.

Then David asked for something more: “Create in me a clean heart.” He didn’t just want to be forgiven for the past. He wanted God to change him so he wouldn’t keep doing the same thing.

If you have trusted Jesus, you are already God’s forgiven child. Confession doesn’t make you His child again. It keeps your friendship with Him close and honest, like saying sorry to someone in your family.

Remember Day 15: when God forgives, He removes your sin as far as the east is from the west.

Think about it: Why do you think people try to hide their sin instead of confessing it?

Try this: Sit quietly for one minute and ask God, “Is there anything I need to say sorry for?” Then tell Him. If you hurt someone, say sorry to them too.

Dear God, have mercy on me. I’m sorry for [tell Him what you did]. Please wash me clean. Thank You that Jesus died so I could be forgiven. Create in me a clean heart, and help me not to do it again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.