The General Confession

When you pray to God, it is good to first confess your sins to Him.  Confession and forgiveness draws you closer to God.  This cleanses you.  As we see in Romans 1:18, God hates sin.  Cleansing yourself is a logical first step before petitioning or conversing with Him.  When you confess your sins to Jesus, you are immediately forgiven.  This can be as short as, “Lord, please forgive my sin of ________.” 

Our liturgy contains the General Confession early in the service of Holy Communion and the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer.  This prayer is a systematic method of cleansing us of sin.  This prayer covers sins of the heart, sins against the Holy Laws, things we have done in thought, word, or deed, and things we have left undone.  It requests God’s mercy and grace to  “spare those who confess their faults” and “restore those who are penitent.”

The General Confession covers those sins that you have forgotten or generally fail to admit.  Confession, along with repentance and penitence, yield forgiveness and renew your closeness to God.