Regarding Secrets Sins…

You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all. (Psalm 90:8, NLT)

We all have secrets. Some secrets are so dark we feel we would die of shame if anyone ever discovered them. Some are not as dark, but still, we are embarrassed and would never bring them out in the open. Sometimes we work hard to keep others from learning them; sometimes we have become consumed with fear that they will be discovered; doing everything we can to keep them hidden.

Keeping secret sins secret can be exhausting and consuming. They can keep us up at night, in a state of nervousness, anxiety, resulting in sickness, even mental unwellness. They can be the reason we turn to substances or adopt unhealthy practices and behaviors. Trying to keep secrets hidden can cause us to be distant from others, family, even God.      

But guess what? Even when others have no idea or hint of our deep, dark secrets, God knows. There is nothing we can keep hidden from him.

Realizing that God knows our secrets is not meant to scare us or keep us from going to him. God does not want to destroy us. He does not judge or condemn us. He does not seek to embarrass or shame us, but he does want to set us free; he wants to lift our heavy burden.

Even today, right now, we can take our secret thoughts, past sins, wrongdoings and pain to God. He will receive us, hear us, forgive us, heal us, relieve and release us from heavy burdens of guilt, sorrow, and shame we have been carrying around and have weighed us down in our soul and spirit.

Let’s pray,

Father, I bring my secrets to you. I cannot keep them hidden without great cost to myself and my future peace with you. Thank you for hearing my confession and for the forgiveness you offer even before I say “Amen.”

Reflective Questions for Self and Soul-Tending:

Do you have secrets you have been carrying around? If you have not gone to God with them, he is waiting for you and if you have already gone to God with them, then you should not be carrying them!

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of self and soul-care?