We read in James 5:16 Living Bible: Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. Let’s face it. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. The fact that you are capable of making mistakes should not adversely affect you. What will eat you up is when you try to keep your mistakes out of sight of others. I know people who specialize in covering their tracks. Their lives are like homes, infested with termites. They are great to look at, but falling apart inside. Every time someone comes close they cover their flaw with another layer of paint. Isn’t it funny how good we feel when others feel good about us, when we know how bad they would feel in seeing the flaws in us.

This verse says something powerful. Did you know that you open your life to sickness when you cover up your mistakes? Did I just hear you sigh? Don’t worry, it knocked me off my feet too! Admitting your faults to another, then covering it in prayer will actually bring healing to your body! Listen to what David said: When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long . . . my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. (Psalm 32:3-4) Carrying the heavy burden of unsettled issues around in your life takes a huge toll. David became sick as a result of trying to conceal his sin. I do not have time to go into detail here, but it is evident that his concealed actions affected his physical body.

Now listen to what happened when he confessed his sin: I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - then You instantly forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. For this forgiveness let everyone who is godly pray. (Verse5)

The first step in being healthy is certainly to admit your faults. Stop beating up on yourself and get forgiveness for what you have done. Confess your transgressions so your guilt may be taken away. It is not hard to pray for forgiveness at all. Some people just find it hard, because they still try to conceal their mistakes. Friend, God saw what you did the moment you did it. Your sin is not concealed at all. Always remember this when you pray. It will help you to know that what you are about to share with the Lord will not shock Him and besides it will help you reveal all your sin and not just the “not so bad ones”. I am not saying that sickness is always a direct result of sin, but it sure is a good place to start your combat against disease.