Hello there, friend! It’s a two-for-one kind of day.
Yep, that’s right! We’ll pray through a couple of related topics today: confession and repentance.
Confession
When it comes to drawing close to God and living the Christian life, there’s one thing we need more than any other: the power of the Holy Spirit.
And nothing hinders the Holy Spirit quite like unconfessed sin.
So whether or not it’s popular, and whether or not it appeals to our sometimes lukewarm hearts, it’s critical that we devote regular time in prayer toward a focus on confession.
Prayer is nothing if it’s not getting real with God, and that starts with getting real about our sin.
Prayers of Confession
- Thank God for His promise that if you confess your sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
- Share with God that you are unable to discern the errors of your own heart. Ask Him to cleanse you from sins that you cannot see, as well as from sins you’ve committed intentionally. Pray that you would be free from the dominion of sinful strongholds in your life, becoming blameless and innocent. Ask God to help the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart to be acceptable in the sight of your Rock and Redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14)
- Agree with God that the one who conceals their sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
- Echo these verses of David’s psalm:
“Have mercy on me, God, according to Your loving kindness. According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. Against You, and You only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your sight; that You may be proved right when You speak, and justified when You judge.” (Psalm 51:1-4)
Repentance
What comes to your mind when you think about repentance?
In the book of Jeremiah, God describes Israel’s rebellion in terms of turning their backs to Him instead of their faces. (2:27; 32:33) I think that’s an accurate picture of the posture you and I take when we’re walk- ing in sin.
Repentance, then, is the act of turning our faces away from sin, away from the course of our own path, and turning our faces back toward God, choosing to live once more by His commands.
It’s a change in direction away from self and toward our Savior. These prayers can be a helpful guide as you walk in humble repentance.
Prayers of Repentance
- Praise God for the gift of repentance, by which your sins can be blotted out, allowing you to enjoy once more the refreshing presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)
- Pray that you would take seriously the riches of God’s goodness and patience, knowing that it’s His kindness that leads you to repentance. (Romans 2:4) Worship these qualities in your God.
- Remind God of His promise that if His people who are called by His name humble themselves, and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven and will forgive our sin and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) Ask Him to do this very thing – to bring in your own heart a fresh awareness of the seriousness of your sin and a renewed zeal for repentance, and that this work would spread like wildfire among His people.
- Repent of any distance between you and the Lord. Tell God of your desire to draw near to Him, and claim His promise to draw near to you. Prayerfully seek His cleansing of your hands and His purification your heart. Spend some time searching your heart with seriousness and humility before the Lord. (James 4:8-10)
- Thank God for a godly sorrow that produces repentance that leads to salvation. Tell God that you will look for the fruits of this repentance in the hours and days ahead: “For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-11)
Father, thank You for hearing my prayers of confession, for inviting me to cast the burden of sin off my shoulders and to renew my relationship with You. Lord, how I praise You for Your kindness that leads me to repentance. Thank You for the gift of Your Word, which offers such clear insight about how to live in a way that’s pleasing to You. I pray that You would never let me wander far before turning me back to Yourself. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
P.S. I want you to know that you’re doing a great job. Prayer is hard work! It requires purposeful effort, as well as the kind of focus that doesn’t come easily. Keep up the good work!
Click here to navigate to the main page and scroll toward the bottom to find Day 3 of the challenge.
