1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Luke 12:8. — Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
I wrote, the other day, of four essential elements of prayer. I mean, in particular, the elements of a planned time of prayer. There are of course those other times of prayer — prayers of desperation, perhaps — when no such structure is possible. Over the next several days — interspersed with other devotions — I intend to comment on each element.

Confession is an interesting word. The English, Hebrew and Greek equivalent words all carry the double meaning implied by the two texts at the start of this piece. It can imply taking ownership of ones sin, or lining oneself up with another.

I said, in my earlier piece, that different people arrange the four aspects of prayer in different orders. For me, though, confession always comes first. It is the business of setting myself right with God, and once again trying to put myself in line with His will — whatever it may be. 

The words of the Anglican General Confession — based, it seems, on Romans 7, — expresses perfectly my need for repentance and forgiveness:
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done. We have done those things which we ought not to have done. And there is no health in us.
As to that other kind of confession — the best example of that is surely Peter’s confession of Christ:
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17)
I am not saying that I have a universal answer to the question “what is the right way to prepare for prayer?” All I can say is that this is what is right for me. The first two things I have to do in prayer are to acknowledge who God is and to admit who I am. He is God. Almighty, all-knowing, all-seeing, all good. He is my Lord, and I am bound to wish that His will be done. I am sinful me. Without His in dwelling Spirit, I am nothing. Now I am ready to go deeper in prayer.