CONVICTION, CONFESSION, & FORGIVENESS Psalm 32
In Psalm 32 we see David celebrating the forgiveness that he has found in his walk with God. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” – Psalm 32:1. How did David find himself there, and how can we find ourselves in the same place? As we read the psalm, David describes his journey of finding God’s forgiveness. It began with conviction, moved to confession, and which led to him finding forgiveness. This serves as a helpful reminder of our own journey with the Lord.
Conviction is more than a feeling
When it comes to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, most of us long for the manifestation of spiritual gifts – longing to be used by the Lord. However, what most of us don’t long for is the ministry of The Holy Spirit’s conviction in our lives. Many of us aren’t comfortable with that kind of blessing. It is however something that we should expect the Holy Spirit to do. Jesus tells us in John 16:8 that when the Spirit comes, that He would convict the world in regards to sin, righteousness, and judgement. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, “The Gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction.”
The physical effects of conviction
Following on in Psalm 32, David describes the conviction of the Spirit in verses This is a fascinating effect that conviction had on him. It caused him great anguish and distress. It seems to have tormented him for long periods of time. He was unable to shake off God’s heavy hand on his life. It drained his strength. And that is what conviction does, it has a physical effect on us. It literally makes us feel sick. The danger, however, is to make the assumption that every time we feel bad, that it is the Lord convicting us. Feelings can be misleading.
