Convicted and Freed - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2024

Bible in a Year : Psalms 91-93, Romans 15:1-13

I acknowledged my sin to you.
Psalm 32:5

Today's Scripture & Insight : Psalm 32:1-7

“I didn’t do it!” It was a lie, and I almost got away with it, until God stopped me. When I was in middle school, I was part of a group shooting spitballs in the back of our band during a performance. Our director was an ex-marine and famous for discipline, and I was terrified of him. So when my partners in crime implicated me, I lied to him about it. Then I lied to my father also.

But God wouldn’t allow the lie to go on. He gave me a very guilty conscience about it. After resisting for weeks, I relented. I asked God and my dad for forgiveness. A while later, I went to my director’s house and tearfully confessed. Thankfully, he was kind and forgiving.

I’ll never forget how good it felt to have that burden lifted. I was free from the weight of guilt and happy for the first time in weeks. David describes a time of conviction and confession in his life too. He tells God, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away . . . . For day and night your hand was heavy on me.” He continues, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you” (Psalm 32:3-5).

Authenticity matters to God. He wants us to confess our sins to Him and also to ask forgiveness of those we’ve wronged. “You forgave the guilt of my sin,” David proclaims (v. 5). How good it is to know the freedom of God’s forgiveness!

By: James Banks

Reflect & Pray
How has being authentic with God helped you? How has Jesus’ forgiveness lightened your load and changed your life?

Thank You for forgiving my sins when I confess them to You, loving Father. Please help me to always be authentic with You.