# 2.10 What to do About Your Sin!

Key Verse: "wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong" (Isaiah 1:6)
You messed up, you got caught up in the moment, you blew it, you strayed from God. You sinned and by sinning, you dishonored God disappointed yourself and maybe even hurt others. You did something that you are ashamed of and you feel really bad about it. After all, you are a Christian.
What do you do about it? Do you continue to feel bad and wallow in your sin? Do you turn away from the faith, saying it's too hard? Do you continue to walk in guilt and self condemnation? No to all of the above! Today's scripture gives us a solution: "

16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,

17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:16-17)

In other words agree with God about your sins. Confess your sins to him and ask him to forgive you! I John 1:9 says that if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.

Once you confess, take concrete steps to turn away from your sins so that you will not continue to repeat them. Repentance means to "turn away". That's why verse 16 says "stop doing wrong" Then start doing what is right! Do what you know pleases God. Verse 17 says "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless...So now you have moved from doing wrong to repenting to stopping your wrong doing and actively doing what is right. Now that is true repentance!

You ask, what do I do with my guilt? Once you genuinely confess your sins and receive God's forgiveness, you are clean before God! God no longer counts you as guilty of this matter. Receive God's cleansing of your sins. You may have to say verbally to God something like: " Lord I confess to you that I have committed this sin . Lord Forgive me for (name the sin). I receive your forgiveness according to I John 1:9. which says "if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. Now Lord, I receive your forgiveness for my sin. I also receive your cleansing of all unrighteousness. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and cleansing. In Jesus Name Amen!"

Verses 18-19 expresses God's heart of love for his children.
18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;

Closing Prayer: " Lord thank you that your love for me is unconditional. Even when I sin, you are actively seeking ways to draw me back into fellowship with you! Help me to keep short accounts with you and to quickly ask forgiveness. Help me to always walk in humility,realizing that pride and self righteousness as well as anger will keep be from seeing myself and repenting of my sins. Lord, my heart's desire is to be willing and obedient and to reap the good things that come from righteousness. In Jesus Name, Amen!