James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Genesis Chapter 3
10 - And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself (I heard Your voice calling me, I heard You speaking to me, but because I did not want to be exposed I hid myself, I was ashamed)
11 - And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (Who told you that you did wrong? I didn't say anything. How else would you have known that you were wrong unless you did that which I asked you not to do?)
12 - And the man said, the woman whom though gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 - And the Lord God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
One of the key elements to seeing change and salvation - be it someone that's trying to be saved or someone that’s already saved and has fallen, or someone that's just trying to stay saved - is that God wants honesty!!! from all of us.
The Lord searches for truth in the INWARD parts of man. You can't just tell Him what you THINK He wants to hear or give Him what little you want to expose of yourself. Give Him your ALL! Humble yourself and acknowledge your faults and shortcomings before the Lord and He will respond. He says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if My people which are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
God knows the secrets of your thoughts, He knows the desires of your heart, all He wants us to do is to be honest with Him.
The EYES of the Lord are in EVERY PLACE therefore He already knows what you've done, He in fact knew what you were going to do before you yourself made the decision to do it. And even in that, He extends His grace toward us.
We see that God's grace still covered Adam and Eve's sin. It is shown to us in v 21. that God clothed their nakedness...which tells us that He covered their shame, it is no longer seen, it is forgiven. And when He could've cut them off right at the point of sin, He instead granted them grace and privilege, allowing them to be used for a purpose. No, they did not get away with what was done, but God's grace was extended to them after they confessed. God says in Leviticus 26:40-42 (paraphrasing) if you would confess your iniquities and those of your fathers, acknowledge that you have strayed from me, and I from you, humble yourself and accept your punishment, then will I remember your land.
I looked up the word "land" in the dictionary, and attached to it is the word "estate". Attached to this word is the word "state" meaning your condition or circumstances. Therefore, God is telling us to humble ourselves and repent; no we're not going to get away with our past sins, but His grace will be extended to us even in His wrath.
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