I don't fully understand how, but confession actually enables me to be a better person.

Multiple times in the past month, I have confessed some sinful thought or behavior to other people with at least two all but immediate results. First, I was strengthened in my struggle with the attitudes I confessed. Second, I did not feel as weighed down by those sinful attitudes.

At one point I was talking about certain fears I had of the future, of its uncertainty, etc... Someone responded with a few simple words--words that I had thought many times before!--and those words brought a great peace.

It was amazing because I had thought these words before, he said nothing new, but it was only when someone outside of my head spoke truth into my life that it had it's effect. I had even read similar sentiments in a book, but again, it did not have the same effect.

I am not saying there is something magical about confession. Simply telling others about my sin will not necessarily take it instantaneously away.

At the same time, we our encouraged to encourage one another and build each other up. The Word of God is a means by which God shows His grace to us. When we confess our sins to one another not only does it engender humility and build relatioships, but it also provides the opportunity for others to encourage me by speaking the Word of God to me.

That said, it also provides me with the opportunity to see my situation from another's perspective, which is desperately needed where sin is involved. It's too easy to rationalize as long as I stay within the safe and comfortable confines of my own head. Thoughts begin to bounce around, justifications, rationalizations, bitterness, selfishness, self-pity. But one honest person speaking the Word of truth into my life can dispell all such mental & emotional plaque from my heart.