Inventory and confession

Most recovery programs involve some type of process where a person writes down and/or discusses a person’s past history including the details of past transgressions. The process of writing down and discussing your past mistakes and sins is really just the Biblical concept of Confession. The Bible discusses this in many places such as in James 5:16; “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

I really took this healing process to heart and actually wrote an auto-biography that I have shared with a few people I am close to. While I have nothing to hide or be ashamed for (Perhaps Jim Carey in Liar Liar is my inspiration) at least for the time being I have decided to not publicly discuss those details as I work through the process of examining my past and putting behind me guilt, fear, regret, and other issues that have plagued me the past 20 years. 

One of the steps in most recovery programs is “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves” which is exactly what I did with my book and exactly what God calls us to do.

I was a little overwhelmed with this process but came to learn that this is a process that will take some time and will balance the negatives with the positive attributes I have exhibited. The truth is that the details of my past no longer bother me, at least not much, as I know none of us are free of sin. I also came to a point in my life where I was no longer concerned what others thought and just wanted to be open and honest about my past. Taking the time to write about and discuss all of the details, many I have nearly forgotten, was very freeing and helped me forgive both myself and others. It was freeing and in many ways has lifted a great weight off my shoulders. I feel there is much to gain in going through this process and feel it is the key to spiritual growth and in mending relationships.