20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 18:20 King James Version (KJV)
Do you know James 5:16? I’ve known it but never experienced the outcome of putting it into practice. Well until recently, when I decided to trust and stepped out in faith. I decided to not just walk up to the river but stand in the water and watch God work on my life (Joshua 3:8).
Have you ever shared your story and confessed your sins with someone you have just met? I’m not talking about your cleaned up, pretty story, along with the omission of your worst sins. I am talking about confessing dark and ugly sins; the kind of sins that break you even more as you confess them.
Of course, I have shared my heart and mistakes with best friends and loved ones, but I have never, until recently, decided to open up my life and my heart to anyone that is new to my life (literally just days of knowing them). I am so glad that the opportunity presented itself and I stepped out and confessed my sins to three Sisters in Christ. I was tired of lying to them and pretending that there was not this huge storm going on in my life. As I told my story, I expected and prepared to receive rejection and criticism. Instead, what I received from three young women were love and acceptance. The whole experience was quite beautiful and full of grace. Each woman took a turn and shared some of their stories after I had sobbed and told them what has taken place in my life the past several months. As I began to speak such negative opinions about myself, they immediately stopped me and said all that was straight from Satan. All three spoke such sweet words over me and into me as I cried harder still. Each also called me out on the things that I wasn’t letting go of and trusting God to handle. I had never experienced such grace and love after exposing such awful things about myself (well aside from God, my boys and my daughter in law – but they have to love me lol). No, but really, I wish that I could put into words how I felt as the love of these women encompassed my broken heart.
We are told to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. I always interpreted that more in the way of letting someone know that I need to draw closer to God but never giving any specifics. Now, I am not saying run straight out and have your confession conversation at the lunch table with co-workers. But I am saying that if you feel led and you know the person/persons are Christians, then step out and make your confession of sins. Let someone love you and show you God’s grace through loving you, accepting you, building you up and praying for you.
Since the day my circle of Sisters experience occurred, I feel their prayers. It is also comforting to know that these people know some of the worst things that have happened to me and awful decisions I have made, sins I have chosen while knowing better. Yet all three women accept me as I am.
I had a breakthrough a couple of weeks ago but I am still in my valley, working through the mess and trying my best to trust God and to make the decisions He would have me make. It isn’t easy, as a matter of fact, it is VERY hard. I felt chains of bondage break some that day. I felt a shift inside of me, one that is allowing me to lean heavier on God. I am not there fully but I have confidence that it is around the corner. There is such a feeling of peace because now there are three women praying very specific prayers so that I can find my way through this time in my life.
I hope that if you have not experienced this for yourself that you allow it to happen in your near future. It is a beautiful experience.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 New International Version (NIV)
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 New International Version (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7 New International Version (NIV)
“Because the Lord loves you … the Lord has brought you out [of Egypt] with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage”
Deuteronomy 7:8, NKJV
Just Shae It 