Do we ask God to forgive our sins or do we confess them to Him since we have already been forgiven?  1 John 1:9 tells us that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  This confession is to receive the forgiveness that is already available to us and to remove the barrier to fellowship that our sin has put between us and God. - Pastor Mike