“Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.”

Ps 106:6

Revival begins with confession. The psalmist confesses his sins along with the nation’s, repenting, not to seek his glory, but the Lord’s glory. 

Repentance is not easy, it is humbling, but if we want to accomplish our purpose in life, which is to glorify God, we must be willing to admit our sin.

Richard Lovelace in his book Dynamics of Spiritual Life says,

Luther was right: the root behind all other manifestations of sin is compulsive unbelief—our voluntary darkness concerning God, ourselves, his relationship to the fallen world and his redemptive purpose. For this reason the entrance and growth of new spiritual life involves the shattering of our sphere of darkness by repentant faith in redemptive truth. If the Fall occurred through the embracing of lies, the recovery process of salvation must center on faith in truth, reversing this condition.

Lovelace, Richard F., Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal, Expanded Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1979), p. 90

Those who are willing to humble themselves in repentance will not be forsaken by the Lord. The psalmist, in today’s Psalm, makes it clear that the Lord is not out to get us. Instead, His steadfast love endures forever.

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Ps 106:1

John also makes it clear that those who repent will experience healing when he says,

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

1 Jn 1:8–10

Because of the gospel, we can turn to the Lord. We can admit our sin. That is exactly what we must do if we want to experience revival. We must turn to the Lord in repentance.

When we turn to the Lord in repentance, we are seeking His glory over our own. We accomplish our purpose in life when we seek God’s glory because we were created to glorify God. When we seek to align ourselves with His will by humbly admitting our failures, our sin, and turning from sin towards God, we glorify Him.

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and experience His steadfast love today!