Power of a Praying Woman 10/17/06 9:02 AM Page 37
Lord, Cleanse Me…
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truth about myself, my life, and my circumstances. Expose me to myself, Lord. I can take it. Enable me to correct the error of my ways. Help me to replace lies with truth and make changes that last.” It takes courage to pray a prayer like that. Perhaps more courage than many of us have at the moment. If you are hesitant to let the Lord expose your heart because of what He might reveal, then ask Him to give you the courage you need. In order to see positive changes happen in your life, you have to be open to the cleansing and stretching work of the Holy Spirit. You have to allow Him to expose your heart so you won’t be deceived about yourself and your life. You have to invite Him to create a clean heart within you. Then be willing to do these two things: 1. Confess to God any sins of thought or action that He shows you. 2. Repent of the things you have just confessed.
True Confession
Don’t think just because you are not a serial killer or have never robbed a bank that you don’t have any sin to confess. Don’t think because you have walked with the Lord for a number of years and go to church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night, and to all prayer meetings in between, that you have nothing for which you need to repent. Sin doesn’t have to be glaring and obvious in order for it to be sin. For example, have you ever doubted that God can do what He promises in His Word? Doubt is a sin. Have you ever said anything about a person to someone else that isn’t exactly ?attering? Gossip is a sin. Have you ever avoided someone because you thought they might ask something of you that you didn’t want to give? Sel?shness is