The theme of Psalm 32 is sin, confession, repentance, and forgiveness. David began Psalm 32 by writing, "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (verses 1-2)" The only way we can have peace in life is when we have the right relationship with God. And our disobedience to God affects our relationship with Him. So, the only solution to our disobedience is God's forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all sins. The moment we confess our sins to God, God forgives our sins immediately. We do not need to punish our bodies because our Lord Jesus already died for our sins. When God forgives us of our sins, He chooses not to remember the sins that we have committed and never use them against us.
God does not act the way we treat each other when someone wrongs us. We tend to keep a list of wrong things that have been done against us even though we already said that we accept their apology and forgive them. When God forgives our sins, we are clean from our past sins. God has cleared our guilt and shame; as a result, we can now live in complete honesty. David had committed awful sins, including murder and adultery, yet God had forgiven him and never used those sins against him. So, no matter what we have done in the past when we sincerely ask God for forgiveness and repent from them, God will completely forgive us. And once we are forgiven, God sets us free from all the sins that we have committed.
We do not need to live in guilt and shame. We can immediately acknowledge and confess our sins to God, and He will forgive us. Satan is good at accusing us of our past sins, but we can remind ourselves of God's truth that we are forgiven of our past sins the moment we confess them to God. Let us rejoice in God and thank Him for His forgiveness. We are free from our past sins because Jesus died for our sins.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). How can I restore my relationship with God? What are the effects of sin in my life? What happens when God has forgiven my sins?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I confess my (mention your specific unconfessed sins). Please forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my sins, and please help me to overcome the temptations that easily entangle me. Thank you for dying for my sins on the cross, and thank you for forgiving me. Please help me now to live in honesty before you and others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.