James 5:16 says, “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.”

Hosea 7:1 says, “When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.”

The power of confession is one of the greatest assets to any Christian in their spiritual walk with God, as well as strengthening accountability among brothers and sisters in the LORD. So many times with in the church people are ashamed of their sins, and failures, and they try to hide, or cover up, those mistakes so everyone else is unaware of them. When someone tries to deny things they have done in the past, it can bring emotional scars that forever plague their life, but that is when confession comes into play. Confession is what brings healing, freeing a person from that guilt, shame and sin. It gives them a reality check so that they do not walk around in self righteous arrogance with a judgmental attitude. It allows them to see not only their personal struggles, but the struggles that everyone else faces, permitting them to be able to relate to other people in what they experience, as well as help them. We should not try to hide our sins, especially from God, but we should go to Jesus Christ and let His blood cleanse us from all iniquity.

When it comes to confession, you must be careful in whom you confide in. There should be a circle of accountability that exists so that everyone within the group can help keep each other “in line.” But when it comes to that circle, refuse to allow someone in that group who you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that is not trustworthy. If they are slanderers, talebearers or “gossip queens,” do not put your trust in them to pour out your heart to them. If they gossip about other people’s failures and problems, then they will sure gossip about yours! They are liars and deceitful, seeking to bring you down to build themselves up. What you need is someone who is always willing to pray for and counsel you, just as much as they are simply available to listen to you. That is how you form a line of communication between you and that partner of accountability, but when the tables turn and they pour their heart out to you, do not condemn them, but encourage them. What they need is a friend, not a judge!

In Hosea 7:1, the scripture teaches us that God was more than ready to heal Israel of its backsliding, restoring that great nation to be back in a marital covenant with Him, but there was one problem. Israel did not hold Ephraim accountable. They were not keeping a check on their brother. They could care less concerning the magnitude of sin in which Ephraim had engaged in. They were only concerned about themselves, but their selfishness robbed them of their chance for a complete healing! We are not just in this for ourselves, but we to help each other by holding each other accountable in the faith. By confession and accountability, we can receive the healing that we need spiritually, emotionally and even physically!