Ephesians 5:8-14
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Sins want secrecy, so to overcome them we must expose them. This is why Paul commands us to "take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (verse 11). This can be painful, as we don't people to know about our "works of darkness". As verse 12 says, "For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret". There can be a lot of shame tied to our sin, which is part of what keeps us trapped, as we therefore try to keep things hidden. To break this cycle, we need to be honest, admit our problems, and bring them into God's healing light (verse 14). This is painful and embarrassing, but it ultimately brings the healing and freedom that we long for.
Heavenly Father, I do feel shame about my sin, and I don't really want anyone to know about it. I would rather pretend it just doesn't exist. But it does exist, and I do want to be healed, so give me the courage to confess my dark sins, that I might be healed.
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Sins want secrecy, so to overcome them we must expose them. This is why Paul commands us to "take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (verse 11). This can be painful, as we don't people to know about our "works of darkness". As verse 12 says, "For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret". There can be a lot of shame tied to our sin, which is part of what keeps us trapped, as we therefore try to keep things hidden. To break this cycle, we need to be honest, admit our problems, and bring them into God's healing light (verse 14). This is painful and embarrassing, but it ultimately brings the healing and freedom that we long for.
Heavenly Father, I do feel shame about my sin, and I don't really want anyone to know about it. I would rather pretend it just doesn't exist. But it does exist, and I do want to be healed, so give me the courage to confess my dark sins, that I might be healed.