Prayers of Confession on Lies/Lying

Based on 1 John and John 20

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. But often, we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness. By doing so, we lie and do not live out the truth. We too easily claim to be without sin and deceive ourselves. In this, the truth is far from us. We confess our claim to be in the light while we hate our brother and sister, that we are blinded by darkness. May you forgive us for our breaking of fellowship with you and others. Amen. 

Scott Bullock

Holy and merciful God, we need Your grace and love today. We deliberately lie and speak falsehoods. We mislead and deceive with half-truths. We omit facts that make us look bad. We take pleasure in gossip and slander.  We consistently believe the worst about people, situations, and motives. Forgive us, O Lord, and remind us only Your truth can set us free. May we serve Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Inspired by Psalm 52

We boast of taking advantage of others, love evil more than good, speak deceit rather than tell the truth. We relish words that hurt and harm. We take refuge in wealth, security in savings and in success. For this arrogance and for this offense, we confess. Lord, humble our hearts, cleanse our tongues, and give us compassion for others. May we find our trust in Your steadfast love, may we thank you for what you have accomplished, and proclaim the glory of your name. Lord, hear our prayer. 

Scott Bullock

Isaiah 59:1-4

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,

Nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;

Your sins have hidden his face from you,

So that he will not hear.

For your hands are stained with blood,

Your fingers with guilt.

Your lips have spoken lies,

And your tongue mutters wicked things.

No one calls for justice;

No one pleads his case with integrity.

They rely on empty arguments and speak lies;

They conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

Adapted from Romans 3:10-18

Father, we speak the truth about who we are apart from you. Paul summarizes our condition in Romans 3 using the truth found in the sacred writings of the Psalter and Prophets, 

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes

We confess that though we are repulsed by the gravity of these words, that they are a truthful statement of the depravity of our hearts and express the darkness of our souls in the light of your goodness. May you cleanse us, forgive us, and restore the inner person within us to more accurately reflect your image. Amen.

Scott Bullock