John Bunyan once said, “Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will make a man cease from prayer.” Some of the hardest words in the English language to say are, “I have sinned”. None of us like to admit it. It is easier to blame someone else or to just pretend it never happened. That is exactly the setting in Psalm 51. David has committed terrible sin and will not admit it for almost nine months. Finally, David prays and confesses his sin to God.

“Have mercy on me, oh God, according to Your loving kindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Against You, and You only, I have sinned.” Ps.51:1, 4

There is a consistent problem in churches across the land. There is little joy on people’s faces! One man described it like this; “They sit, they soak, they sour”. We sit in our same spot each Sunday with arms folded, Bible closed, and look like we just drank a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar! What is the problem? Hidden sin.

It is pretty easy to hide sin from people. I would even say it is natural to try to hide our shortcomings. One time, as a young boy, I was babysitting my little brothers. We were playing pretty rough in the house and we broke a very nice vase of my moms. We had just watched the Brady Bunch and the same thing had happened to them and they were able to glue theirs back together. So ... that is exactly what we did! It actually worked for a few days! Then one afternoon as my mom was vacuuming, it fell apart right in front of her. (We gave my brothers a nice funeral. Haha!!)

Hiding sin is nothing new. It actually started way back in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve tried to hide sin from God. Then Adam blamed his wife and God! Nice try.

Then Eve blamed the serpent. Hiding their sin cost them everything. They lost Paradise, and fellowship with God.

So how in the world did David not lose everything, including his life? Proverbs 28:13 says, “The one who conceals his sin shall not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” What a wonderful promise!

Did you notice who wrote that? It was David’s son, born from a woman that David had sinned with. Coincidence?

I think not! David received God’s mercy because of his response. He called it sin. He didn’t blame anyone else or make excuses for it.

If you would take the time to study this out some more, Psalms 32 gives us some insight into David’s heart. He was ready to repent. He knew it was time to confess and forsake his sin ... but it can be so hard to do.

Here is the amazing love our God has for us ... when He forgives our sin, He takes away the guilt of sin too. What a wonderful Savior we serve!

So can I ask you a question? How is your prayer life? We are living in some pretty crazy times. Because of that, it is probably a good idea to have a close relationship with God!

The thought of having God’s hand of blessing and protection is very comforting when things are so uncertain in our country.

Are you trying to hide some sin in your life? Do you really think God doesn’t see it?

Have you lost your joy and peace that only comes from our heavenly Father? Then decide today to make some changes! Seek the Lord’s forgiveness. Call the sin for what it is and bask in the glorious love that only Jesus can give you.

Let me encourage you with this final portion of scripture. “Therefore repent and turn back, that your sons may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19