Q: I know we’re supposed to confess our sins when we pray and ask for God’s forgiveness, but I’m a very moral person, and to be honest I usually can’t think of anything to confess. What am I missing? — Mrs. K.S.

A: I’m thankful for your honesty, as well as your willingness to admit you may be missing something — which you are. The Bible says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

What is it about sin that you don’t understand? Let me suggest two things. First, you don’t understand sin’s depth. Sin is like a deadly disease that touches everything we do and everything we are. Yes, you may be a good and moral person whose life isn’t marred by obvious sins. But what about your inner thoughts and motives? What about your pride? What about the things you should be doing but fail to do — the people you ought to help, the person who needs a kind word, the person you ought to be praying for but don’t?

But second, you don’t understand sin’s cost. Sin is so serious that it cost God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, His very life. If God takes sin that seriously, shouldn’t we as well? The Bible says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).

Have you ever invited Jesus Christ to come into your life, to forgive you and cleanse you and change you from within? Commit your life to Him today. Then thank Him for His love for you, and ask Him to cleanse you from sin and make you into the person He wants you to be.

Billy Graham