A clear conscience

“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” Acts 24:16
Having a clear conscience is one of the most valuable things in life. It gives peace and security, knowing that you have no need to keep up appearances, or to remember secrets and lies you have to keep hidden from people. When your life is transparent before man, when ‘what you see is what you get’, people will respect you. Before God, we know (at least intellectually) that nothing is hidden from Him. But does this truth really impact our lives? If it does, we will be seeking to remove every sinful thought and every ungodly attitude from our lives in order to live in purity before Him. As we mature in the faith, we learn to let go of the things that displease God, and the things that are not entirely beneficial for us (although they may not be outright sinful). We will seek what He says is best for our lives.
Clearing your conscience starts with confession. Confession requires humility. But God will honour that confession, for “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).