“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 (NKJV)
There was a turning point in my walk with God when I was still a very young man. As zealous as I was for God, I realised that the enemy would hold unconfessed sin against me - especially from before I was saved. I’m sure that many of you can relate, but it feels as if satan holds your sins against you, in an attempt to hold you back from progressing in your walk with God. When I fully grasped the revelation of confession, the power of the enemy who desired to hold me to my past was broken! Suddenly, even the deep memories of my past from before I was saved was taken away.
The healing that I experienced was completely different from the feeling of salvation and forgiveness, because this was something completely separate. It’s crucial to repent and get saved. This is first and foremost. But in order to break the chains to your past, and to walk in utter freedom, you need to receive healing. This is when cycles are broken!
You confess your sins with a righteous man - ideally someone who you can look up to in your church - for the second half of this verse says that the earnest prayer of a righteous man produces results. So once you have confessed your sins, they pray for you and all condemnation and bondage is replaced with healing and freedom.
Prophetic Declaration
Devil - no longer will you hold me captive to my failures. As I confess my sins one to another, I command all bondage to go right now. Today, I receive my healing in Jesus Name. There’s no turning back, for who the Son sets free is free indeed!