“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar.” (1 John 1:9-10)

I didn’t eat the cake!” The little boy’s words proclaimed he had not disobeyed, but the chocolate ring around his mouth said otherwise.

God says we are all sinners: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all need His forgiveness.

Just as parents want their children to confess their sin and turn from it, so God wants His children to pray confessional prayers. He already knows we have sinned, but He wants us to acknowledge our sinfulness and turn from it.

When we wrong people, we tend to avoid them. That doesn’t solve the problem, however. When we have disobeyed God, we must confess our wrong so our relationship with Him doesn’t suffer. Sin stops God from hearing our prayers, but confession removes the sin. “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:18-20)