Confession and Repentance
Many years ago, when the kids were small, we would all pray together. Sometimes, to help them I would ask if they wanted to pray a prayer of thanksgiving, praise, requests, or repentance. I bet you can guess which one was chosen least often.
We have a time of confession in each worship service, so that’s good. There is a reminder of our need for confession and repentance whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our sins.
Even with all the practice we have when it comes to sin, we still seem strangely uncomfortable with confession and repentance.
I thought, knowing these things to be true for many, that I would offer some starter prayers for any who may find them useful.
Let’s pray.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You today in repentance, with our faces to the ground. Forgive us, Lord, for our sins against You in thought, word, and deed.
Remove the scales from our eyes, expose every secret place of sin in our lives, and convict our hearts so that we would run from our sins and run instead to You.
Forgive us, Lord, for the idols we have put in your place and the hypocrisy we have allowed in our lives. We confess that we have made idols of our happiness and success, and our children’s happiness and success, while allowing for the murder of innocent lives and the turning away from the needs of those less fortunate than us.
We cherry-pick your Word, watering down the Way, the Truth, and the Life to make everyone feel “comfortable.” Yet, we are quick to convict and shame others when they fall short instead of helping them back on the path to You. We punish them when they break our rules instead of loving them as we love ourselves.
We repent, Lord. Help us from this day forward to seek You first with all of our hearts and to love every one of your children with the same mercy, compassion, and unconditional love that we ask You to give us.
Psalm 25: 6–7
Remember, Lord,
your compassion and mercy
which you showed long ago.
Do not recall the sins and failings of my youth.
In your mercy remember me, lord,
because of your goodness.
Mercy
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
Have mercy on me,
a sinner.
- Author Unknown
Lamb of God
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the lamb of God;
you take away the sins of the world.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit
restore me to friendship with your Father,
cleanse me from every stain of sin
in the blood you shed for me,
and raise me to new life for the glory of your name.
- Author Unknown
Don’t forget to pray for us when you are before the Father, including …
Please Pray: for the kids in our confirmation program. Pray that they and their families would grow in their faith during this time of preparation.
Please Thank God: for Amanda Garces and her 5th grade students at Sunshine Elementary as we gather school supplies for their classroom.
Please Pray: for all of the staff at Sunshine Elementary as we serve breakfast for them on November 7.
Please Pray: for Jack Williams, who has been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
Please Thank God: for Kathy, who received the organs she has been waiting for.
Please Thank God: That Kim has found a new job.
Please Pray: for Mary, who has developed invasive melanoma. She is waiting for surgery.
Please Pray: for Melissa Davis and her two young children, who were recently evicted from their apartment.
Please Pray: for Carol and Ted Rosie, who are having health issues.
Please Pray: for Ivan, who has had a kidney removed.
Please Pray: for Kathy Duitsman, who has breast cancer.
Please Pray: for those who serve in this place as they enthusiastically tackle diverse ministries such as the altar guild, food pantry, and serving our local school.
Please Pray: for Julie, who is battling cancer.
Please Pray: for Joy, who is receiving chemo treatments.
Please Pray: for William Izzo, that God would strengthen him.
Please Thank God: for the health of all the other congregations that worship in our facilities.
Please Pray: for Joe and his struggles with addiction.
Please Pray: for those who struggle with housing needs.
Please pray: for all those who are out of work.