2 Samuel 12: 9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

God is all about full disclosure. The forgiveness of sin which occurs when one confesses his need for Christ as Savior and submits to the rule of God in his life is a one-time event which ignites a relationship with Almighty God as Father. However in living out this new life a child of God is likely to commit sins. There is a war that goes on constantly. “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Galatians 5:17).

So what to do when you succumb to temptation and commit sins? We see a supreme example in the life of David. When he was still a young lad, the Lord had sent the prophet Samuel to anoint him as King over Israel. From that day the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power (1 Samuel 16:13). Later, after he came to the throne, II Samuel chapters 11 and 12 record the full drama of how David’s willful, conniving, covetous, and lustful desires got the better of him. The account is scary in its detail.

The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to confront David. When David’s own conscience convicted him of the enormity of the evil he had done – conspiracy in the murder of one of his faithful commanders and then committing adultery with the man’s wife – he broke down and admitted he had sinned against God.  His prayer of confession and repentance is recorded in Psalm 51. Nathan assured him that the Lord had taken away his sin and would spare his life “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (II Samuel 12:14). There would also be other consequences in his household later on.

Every so often we will have to come to a point of full disclosure before God because he is holy and we are not. Find words to express what you have done and ask for his forgiveness so you can be restored. At the same time make amends where possible to those you have injured by your indiscretion. The Lord knows the real you and your job as his child is to come into agreement with his purpose.