Paul Tripp writes,

Confession is not only owning responsibility before God and the appropriate people (those whom my sin and failure has affected), but it is refusing to be stuck in our regrets, and refusing to give up hope. It is believing that no only does God forgive me, but he has promised to change me. And as he changes me, I will grow a whole new harvest of good fruit.

— Lost in the Middle; Mid-Life and the Grace of God (SP, 2004), p. 124

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 esv