Confession is made unto salvation...

I wrote this on Facebook April 1, 2022

I woke up this morning with God whispering in my ear and speaking to my heart. I am amazed at the wonders of His Word. I have to tell you what He said. I think it might help you, too.
Last night, after judging One Act Plays, I got in my car and had a message from a dear friend. I have not heard from this lady in 25 years. It was a simple message, "I am in a very dark place, and I need help. Spiritual help. I don't know who else to contact. If you have time, will you please call me." So I called her on my drive home.

This dear friend was filled with self-hatred, anger, guilt, shame, worthlessness, suicide, darkness. She had been abused most of her adult life, and the trauma of that came out in every part of her body. Physically she was a wreck. Then she had lost dear friends. Tragic deaths. The sorrow and the pain of her life had smothered her till she couldn't breathe. She prayed every night for God to take her. He didn't do that. Instead, He came to rescue her.

So I took her to Jesus. I had her face Jesus with her heart wide open. Naked. Without excuse. I had her confess each of these lies as a sin. I coached her to say, "I am guilty of allowing anger into my heart. Please forgive me." " I am guilty of hating myself and condemning myself. LORD, please forgive me." "I am guilty of feeling worthless. Forgive me." "I am guilty of holding onto the guilt and shame of the past. Please forgive me." Then the hardest of all was the pain and the sorrow of losing her friends. It had been choking her. So she prayed, "God, I am guilty of holding onto the pain and sorrow of the past. Please, LORD, I need for it to go away. I can't do this anymore. I need Your help." The LORD showed up and did some very kind things for my friend. But I know that the battle is not over.

So in the forty-five minute drive, I tried to coach her into how to fight all the forces of hell and win. Face Jesus. Always keep your eyes on Him. Don't look at yourself. Don't look at others. Don't look at circumstances. Open your heart wide. Let Him into every part of who you are. Let the accuser point his finger at you, girl. If you did it, confess it as a sin. If you didn't do it, confess it as allowing a lie into your heart. Then I told her that according to God's word, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. FORGIVEN! Then I said, "The enemy knows how to press your buttons. If anger or self-hatred or any other spirit enters your heart again, face Jesus and say, 'I am guilty again. Please forgive me.'" And He will. Then I coached her to ask for the HOLY SPIRITS to come. Love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and gentleness and faithfulness and self-control. Light and truth. Mercy and grace. Wisdom and understanding.

It is a battle. She said, "I know. I need to do better." I said, "Girl, if you think you can do this, you are already defeated. You can't. You have to let Jesus do it for you." Then I said this, "It has to come out of your mouth to come out of your heart." YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION.

So I woke up this morning with this scripture in my mind. Confession is made unto salvation. What are we confessing? What are we believing? I do pretty good in some areas. I know and confess that all things work together for good. I know and confess that God has good plans for us, plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give hope and a future. I know and confess that no weapon formed against me will prosper, and every tongue that rises against me will fall, for that is my vindication. But, I am also confessing that I have no memory and that I am getting old. But what does God say?

He says that I have the mind of Christ. He also said that the Holy Spirit lives inside of me, and He will bring all things to my remembrance. He said that I can do all things through Christ. He also said that my leaves will stay green even into old age. He said that if I wait upon Him, He will renew my strength, and I will rise up with wings as eagles. I will run and not be weary. I will walk and not faint.

CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION. What are we confessing? Sickness? Disease? Disaster? Hopelessness? I don't know. LORD, give us eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to understand what we are saying. Let our words line up with Your words so that our confessions will bring salvation. Only You can do what I am asking you to do. LORD, come. Save us. Deliver us. Heal us. I am asking this in Jesus' precious name. AMEN

Love you guys!
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Terri