Proverbs 28:13
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
When we keep our sins hidden inside of ourselves, there is a lack of surrender to God. It is either fear or pride that keeps us from coming to God and asking for His mercy and forgiveness. However, it is not enough for us to simply confess sins—we must turn from ever doing them again. Often we are required to confess the sins to others so that they may keep us accountable and advise us against repeating our mistakes when we are tempted.
Romans 12:19-20
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
It is God’s business to bring judgment on another, not ours. When we take revenge, we dethrone God and put ourselves in His place. What we fail to realize by doing so is that God’s judgment is better fitting and fairer than ours could ever be. Rather, we must pray for our enemies and be kind to them, and it will be the worse for their conscience. We are to do this, not only for this reason, but also to draw them unto God. When they see our loving reaction, they see a part of God in us, and they will be drawn to that.