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Confessing

How to confess, when you have never been taught how.

What to say, what not to bother saying, and what the Psalms show us about coming clean before God.

ConfessingForgivenessMaking things rightSpecific strugglesShame and guilt

  1. How to confess to God, plainly

    You do not need special words, a special place or a special mood. You need to tell God the truth about what you did, and then take him at his word. Here is how, step by step.

  2. Confessing the same sin again

    You have confessed it before and you have done it again. God has not run out of mercy, but a sin that keeps returning needs more than repeated words. What Scripture says, and what to change.

  3. Do I need to confess to a priest?

    Every church agrees that sin must be confessed to God. They differ on whether a priest should hear it. Here are the main views held by faithful Christians, set out fairly and without argument.

  4. Psalm 32 — the relief of confession

    Psalm 32 is David describing what silence did to him and what confession gave back. It opens with happiness, not guilt. A section-by-section reading, and what it means for you today.

  5. Psalm 51 — David's confession, line by line

    Psalm 51 is the prayer David made after his adultery and a murder were exposed. Read slowly, it shows how to confess, what to ask for, and what God will not refuse. A section-by-section reading.

  6. What to say when you don't know how to pray

    When the words will not come, you are not shut out. You can borrow words from Scripture, say one true sentence, or simply sit before God. The Spirit prays with you. Here is where to begin.

  7. A Prayer of Repentance: How to Confess Sin to God

    Learn how to pray a prayer of repentance and confession to God, with biblical examples and steps for true repentance.

  8. A Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins

    How to pray for forgiveness of sins: what Scripture promises, a short prayer you can pray, and the next honest steps after confession.

  9. Bible Verses About Repentance and Forgiveness

    Key Bible verses on repentance and forgiveness, what true repentance involves, and how to pray a prayer of repentance.

  10. Can a Non-Catholic Go to Confession?

    If you are not Catholic, can you still confess your sins to a priest? Here is what Scripture says about confession and where you can bring your sin.

  11. Catholic Confession: A Respectful Guide

    A gentle guide to confession in the Catholic Church, what Scripture says about confessing sin, and how Protestants and Catholics differ.

  12. Catholic Prayer of Confession: How to Confess to God

    Learn how to make a Catholic prayer of confession to God, including steps, Scripture, and the role of sacramental confession.

  13. Examination of Conscience for Catholic Confession

    A practical guide to examining your conscience before Catholic confession, with questions by the Ten Commandments and what Scripture says about confessing sin.

  14. First Confession: What to Expect in the Catholic Church

    What happens at a first Catholic confession, what you say, the seal of confession, and how it differs from confessing directly to God.

  15. How Often Should a Catholic Go to Confession?

    A gentle, biblical look at how often Catholics confess, what the Church asks, and how to form an honest habit of confession.

  16. How to Confess Your Sins to God

    A plain, biblical guide to confessing sin to God: what to say, where to start, and what Scripture promises when you come honestly.

  17. How to Do Catholic Confession: Steps and What to Expect

    A gentle, step-by-step guide to sacramental confession in the Catholic Church, what happens in the room, and where Scripture speaks of confession and forgiveness.

  18. How to Repent of Your Sins: A Simple Biblical Guide

    Repentance is more than feeling sorry. Here is what the Bible says about turning from sin to God, and how to pray it honestly.

  19. Prayer After Confession in the Catholic Church

    What to pray after sacramental confession, why penance matters, and how Catholics and Protestants understand confession.

  20. Prayer Before Confession: A Catholic Guide

    How to pray before Roman Catholic confession, what to say, and why the sacrament points to God's mercy in Christ. Gentle, practical help.

  21. Psalm 51:1 Explained: Have Mercy on Me, O God

    A plain explanation of Psalm 51:1 — David's plea for mercy after his sin with Bathsheba, and what it means for anyone who comes to God with a guilty conscience.

  22. Psalm 51:10 Meaning: Create in Me a Clean Heart

    What does 'create in me a clean heart' mean? A look at David's prayer in Psalm 51:10 and what God promises to those who confess.

  23. Psalm 51:15: Open My Lips, and My Mouth Will Declare Your Praise

    A look at Psalm 51:15 and the prayer of repentance: what David asks, why confession comes before praise, and how to pray it honestly.

  24. Psalm 51:11: Do Not Cast Me From Your Presence

    A look at David's plea in Psalm 51:11 — what it means to fear losing God's presence, and the mercy he asks for instead.

  25. Psalm 51:19: Acceptable Sacrifices to God

    Psalm 51:19 speaks of righteous sacrifices God delights in. Learn what makes worship acceptable and how a broken heart leads to true praise.

  26. Psalm 51:3: I Know My Transgressions

    What does it mean to know your transgressions? A look at Psalm 51:3, David's confession, and the honesty God does not despise.

  27. Psalm 51:17: A Broken and Contrite Heart

    Psalm 51:17 says God will not despise a broken and contrite heart. What that means, why it is good news, and how to come to God honestly.

  28. Psalm 51:5 Explained: What 'Born in Iniquity' Means

    David's words in Psalm 51:5 puzzle many readers. Here is what 'brought forth in iniquity' means, and why it leads to grace rather than despair.

  29. Psalm 51:7 Explained: Wash Me and I Shall Be Clean

    What David meant by "wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" — and how a guilty sinner can still ask God for cleansing.

  30. Psalm 51:8: Let Me Hear Joy and Gladness Again

    Psalm 51:8 is David's plea for joy after sin. What the verse means, why guilt crushes, and how forgiven people hear gladness again.

  31. Psalm 51 in the Catholic Tradition: Meaning and Prayer

    Discover how Psalm 51, the Miserere, is used in Catholic confession, prayer, and liturgy, and what it means for repentance today.

  32. Psalm 51 KJV: Text and Meaning of David's Confession

    Read Psalm 51 in the King James Version and explore its meaning: David's plea for mercy, a clean heart, and the joy of forgiveness.

  33. Psalm 51: Meaning and Verse-by-Verse Explanation

    A clear verse-by-verse explanation of Psalm 51, David's prayer for mercy after his sin with Bathsheba, and what it means for confession today.

  34. The Act of Contrition: A Catholic Confession Prayer

    What the Act of Contrition is, how Catholics pray it in confession, and what Scripture says about sorrow for sin and God's forgiveness.

  35. The Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church

    A gentle explanation of the Catholic sacrament of confession, the seal, and how it relates to Scripture and Protestant practice.

  36. What to Say at Catholic Confession: A Simple Guide

    A gentle, practical guide to what to say at Catholic confession, with a simple script, an example, and what happens if you freeze up.

  37. Who Wrote Psalm 51? David's Prayer of Repentance

    Psalm 51 is David's prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba. Learn the evidence for his authorship and what this psalm teaches about confession.

  38. Why Do Catholics Go to Confession?

    Catholics confess to a priest because of Jesus' words and the Church's history. Learn what Scripture says and how Protestants differ.

All guides