Better Than Rocket Science

Last night an amazing thing happened. At a class I was attending we talked about Gideon having to remove the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole from his Dad's house before God would send him to deliver his people from the enemy. (Judges 6) The conversation turned from removing sin to accountability. Then people felt safe enough in that environment to start sharing some of the secret things that they might not have ever told another living soul. The power of sin lies in secrecy. But honestly, there is no secrecy. We are surrounded with a great cloud of witnesses. (Heb 12:1) Lots of people in the spiritual are looking on. If God sees every sparrow that falls to the ground, don't you think he sees the porn on your computer or the income you didn't file on your taxes.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Luke 12:2

Does that scare you? It should if you have something to hide. It does me because there is plenty in my life that I am not proud of. But fortunately, God has made a provision for us because we all are the same: trying to make it in a fallen world. One gentleman confessed something that I am pretty sure he never confessed to anyone else ever. Others were transparent and honest enough to talk about some of their struggles and victories. Well, what I mean is that they talked about their struggles. We seldom have a problem being transparent with our victories because we know that brings God glory. But the struggles...well, you know.

So here is the solution. It is a system that works every time. It is like the Pythagorean Theorem or some mathematical formula that is guaranteed to get the results you desire. Leave one of the steps out and you have a cake that has fallen because not all the ingredients are there. Apply them all: and presto! Instant relief. They work in tandem. It's a beautiful thing. Want to know what it is?

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

It's so simple. Confess your faults/sins/frustrations/desires/secrets to another living person. Pray for each other. Remember that Job's captivity was turned when he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10) Pray for the one confessing, or pray for the one you are confessing to. And then receive your healing. Bam!

One guy last night talked about how the shame and condemnation he was feeling since sinning lifted the minute he confessed and another man prayed for him. It's not rocket science. It works. Every time!

Do you have someone you can be completely honest with? Is there someone you can trust with your most embarrassing things? You know it's going to eventually come out. So why wait?