There are some who would scoff at the idea of repentance prayers. Because we tend to be prideful people, and prideful people don’t like to admit that we’re wrong, much less offer prayers of repentance to the Lord, in spite of God’s mercy and grace to sinners.
But here’s the thing we Christ-followers need to realize: if we want to have a close relationship with God and we want Him to hear our prayers, we don’t need clever concoctions conceived in human brains and worked out with human hands.
We need the power of the Holy Spirit.
You see, prayers hindered are wasted prayers.
And nothing hinders our prayers quite like unconfessed sin.
So whether it’s popular or not…
and whether or not it appeals to my sometimes-lukewarm-heart…
it’s critical that we devote a day early in this process toward a focus on sincere repentance.
I’m confident that this post won’t be among the most-shared on my website.
It won’t be the most pinned or liked or tweeted.
And that’s okay.
Because at its very core, this series isn’t about any of that. It’s about you and me getting good and serious with God about prayer.
We need to get real with God.
And that starts with getting real about our sin. It starts with seeking God’s forgiveness for having strayed from complete dependence on Him, choosing rather to pursue our desires accomplished our way in our strength.
It’s important for me and for you, child of God, to “keep short accounts” with Him, making repentance a way of life. I can’t think of a better way to do that than praying the Scriptures to lift these prayers of repentance to God.
Prayers of Repentance from the Bible
1.)Thank the Lord that He is a forgiving God, expressed through His promise that if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
2.)Share with God that you are unable to discern the errors and evil ways of your own heart. Ask Him to cleanse you from faults 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 that the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart would be acceptable in the sight of your Rock and Redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14)
3.)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 that this work would spread like wildfire among His people.
4.)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, in Jesus’ name. (James 4:8-10)
5.)Thank God for a godly grief that produces genuine repentance that leads to salvation. Tell God that you will look for the fruits of this true repentance in the hours and days ahead:
“For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!” (2 Corinthians 7:9-11)
Simple Prayer of Repentance
Dear God, First, let me thank You for eternal life available in Christ Jesus, Your Son. What a gift that He would die for the sins of the world, and especially for mine!
You know the depths of my sorrow over my sin, and it’s from a humble heart that I offer this simple prayer of repentance to a holy God.
Even though it’s painful, I know this sorrow is a gift of grace. I would far rather be aware of my sin and mourning over it, than to be oblivious of it and self-satisfied, because awareness of it is the first step toward confessing it, repenting of it, forsaking it, and turning back toward You.
Dear Lord, I thank You for granting me a fresh awareness of my sin before a holy God! Not so I can wallow or berate myself, but so I can come to the cross for cleansing.
I cannot improve upon King David’s repentance prayer in Psalm 51, and so I offer it to You now.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your steadfast love;
according to Your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You may be justified in Your words
and blameless in Your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being,
and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence,
and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
You will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Do good to Zion in Your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
then will You delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.
Having believed Your promise, I receive Your forgiveness of sins, recognizing that You remove my sin as far as the east is from the west, choosing to remember it no more.
There are no words to thank You for this grace. You are indeed a merciful God. It’s in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, I pray. Amen.
If we don’t get this one right, the rest of our prayers bounce off the ceiling. So glad you included this early in your series!
Exactly right, my sister! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for this prayer. I needed to come back to,God.
You’re most welcome, Vincent. I’ve just taken some time to pray for you and for your walk with the Lord.
Oh I needed this today, my heart is heavy with gladness, for the Lord corrects those whom He loves. I filled with the oil of gladness, my cup runneth over.
Thanks again for writing it, this is not for the faint at heart, but those that trust God’s true will for their life……….
Amen, Tomeika. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you brethren God bless you loads.
You’re most welcome, Estellah! Thanks for reading.
I thank God everyday for I know he is with all the time.he forgives and he loves us all the time.in Jesus Christ amen
Amen! Thanks, Jane.
THANKS…FOR THE REPENTANCE PRAYER
I’M REALLY HOPING FOR A DIVINE TESTIMONY IN MY
JUST WRITTEN EXAMINATION
Hello, Henry, and welcome! I’m glad you found these prayers to be helpful.
Amen
Thanks so much for reading!
God is good all the time 🙂
Amen, indeed He is! And how kind that He grants the gift of repentance, allowing us to restore relationship with Him.
wow this has really blessed me
Praise the Lord! Thank you for taking the time to let me know.
Praise the Lord for forgiveness when I have a very hard time forgiving myself. I wish I could love myself the way he loves me.
Hi, Chad! I’m glad these prayers of repentance resonated with you. I think this post may be helpful to you, also, when it comes to the idea of forgiving yourself. May God bless you richly and increase your knowledge of Him and your love for Him.
I’ve just had a time of deep down, gut-wrenching repentenace with God, This prayer is beautiful and I got a blessing from the steps of the repentance prayer. I’ve been convicted for months and finally had a time of confession and seeking forgiveness. It’s hard to work through the grief and consequences of my actions, but God has plans for my future and fear is a liar. I renounced those strongholds that fear, insecurities, lack of self-esteem, etc., have on me. I’m cautiously (so not as to take for granted my gift of grace or underestimate my enemy) stepping forward in faith and letting God take the lead.
Amen, Michele! Thank you for sharing this powerful testimony with me. “A righteous (wo)man falls seven times and rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16)
Thank you soo much,we are surely running out of time, and a prayer of repentance like the one above is surely a Blessing. Thank You!
I’m glad this blessed you, Colin. Thanks for taking the time to say hello!
This is awesome.
I have decided to leave my life to Jesus and live his way of life throughout the days of my life, walking as he shall Direct my steps by the blood from his feet’s wounds, doing as he shall guide my actions by the blood from his palms’ scars, thinking as he shall lead my thoughts by the blood from his head’s marks and judging as he shall show my heart by the blood from his chest.
As chose to start with fasting, the Holy Spirit led me to break my fasting into three days;
1. Repenting.
2. Anointing.
3. Commissioning.
So am on very right track to going back to the best relationship with God.
May the Holy Spirit help me!
Amen and Amen!
Amen! I pray that the Lord would bless you richly with the knowledge of Him.
Thank you for this prayer of repentance. My spirit always have judged me for my sinfulness and I trust God that He take this Borden of sin from me, cleanse me and take away the consequences of my sin by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Amen! Thanks for reading, Odoh!
I too have been convicted of my sins. Thank you for this article!! Thank God for His mercy!! I was lost, now iam found.
Amen! Thank you for sharing how these prayers ministered to your life. His Word is indeed living and powerful.
Just thank you for this piece..more grace to your ministry.
You’re most welcome! Thank you for your kind words.
Am so grateful to have reach this page. Thanks so much am turning back to God now
Hello, Kindness, and welcome. I praise the Lord for His work in your life. Thank you for taking the time to share with me what He has done. I will pray that He will complete the good work He has begun in your life!
There are so many deep trials upon my life right now (water damaged home, health issues, financial stress) that I searched for something to guide me toward repentance and rest, quietness and trust. Your post came up and it blessed me. God bless you for your ministry.
I’m sorry to hear of the trials you’re experiencing, even as I thank God for them because I know He will use them to strengthen you and mature you (James 1:2-4). That doesn’t mean it’s easy, however, so I will pray that He will give you perseverance and His full provision.
I’ve been really far from God, I really want to make amends.
He’s ready to welcome you back if you’re ready to return, Prudence.
I want God’s forgiveness and to restore all I’ve lost..
Praise the Lord! “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)