Genesis 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.

The King James Version says that they were “troubled at his presence.” I bet they were!

You know, I hate that feeling … caught. I hate that moment. But consider that what seems to be a horrible “snap back to reality” moment, is in fact, a momentous opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness. When you make a mistake, admit it … without any BIG BUTS. True repentance does not say ”BUT” … ”I did this and I know it was wrong, BUT …”

Deal with it now because sin will always rise up against you and trap you.

Genesis 4:6–7 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

You are going to make mistakes. You have made mistakes. What has been the pattern up to now? Has it been to just sweep them under the rug and hope no one notices? The more you do that, the more it will become a pattern and a habit.

A habit is like a dirt road that you choose to take one day and it seems good, but it’s not the road you were told to take. Because it seems good, you choose to take that dirt road instead of the designated road, and you do it again and again. Soon, your tires form ruts in the road which become deeper and deeper until one day you realize it’s really hard to leave that road for any other. Now’s the time to change the pattern and create a new one. Admit your mistakes and enjoy the mercies of the Lord. A repentant heart does not speak excuses.