What are we willing to admit to each other, and to God? What are we willing to admit to ourselves? When we confess we are acknowleding, presenting what we recognize to be true, what we know, to whomever we are confessing. Confession is the second part of the ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication). Confession is often something we avoid, rather than put at the center of our relationship with God.

Throughout scriptures, confession is not limited to acknowleding our sins or iniquities before God (Ezekiel 12:16, :Psalm 38:18, 1 John 1:9, among many others), but to declare to God and the world the mystery of Christ (1 Timothy 3:16), that Christ is our only lord and savior (Isaiah 48: 1, Romans 10:9, 1 John 4:3). Indeed, confession is something Christ himself will do before the Father on our behalf, testifying that we are his (Revelation 3:5)

 Each day should see us beginning with a confession of who God is, of the wonderful, astonishing gift of grace and entrance to God's kingdom Christ is for us. We are limited in our understanding of its full meaning, because each day reveals more ways that we are citizens of his kingdom through the grace of Christ. They are there if we listen to the Holy Spirit. Confession is central to moving into a deeper relationship with Christ. Without our willingness to bare who we are, to speak of who we know Christ to be, we keep Christ at a distance from us, and there is little opportunity for the intimacy he wants and we desperately need. 

 In Matthew 6 Jesus refers to the eye being healthy and thus providing the whole body to be filled with light. How do we ensure that our eyes are on Christ alone, and not on ourselves, and our limitations, and our inability to overcome our problems. It is the light that came into the world that provides us with sustenance.

Below are some of the scripture references.

• Ezra 10:11 

• Now then make confession to the LORD the God of your fathers, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives."
   

• Nehemiah 9:3 

  And they stood up in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; for another fourth of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.
   

• Daniel 9:4 

  I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and terrible God, who keepest covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
   
• Hebrews 3:1 
• Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.
   

• Hebrews 4:14 

  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
   

• Hebrews 10:23 

  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful;

 Leviticus 16:21 

• and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
   

• Psalm 32:5 

• I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. [Selah]
   
• Isaiah 48:1 
• Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came forth from the loins of Judah; who swear by the name of the LORD, and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.
   

• Ezekiel 12:16

  But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they mayconfess all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the LORD."
   

• John 9:22 

  His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.
   

• John 12:42

  Nevertheless many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
   

• Philippians 2:11 

• and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
   

• 1 Timothy 3:16 

  Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
   
• Revelation 3:5 RSV
• He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.