Prayers of Confession on Actions
Inspired by Psalm 14
Almighty God, the Psalmist most accurately describes the state of our distance from you, “[We] have all turned aside; together [we] have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” While many of us would say, “Lord, who?” “Certainly not us.” Our actions and denials betray us. We have turned aside from your goodness, O God. We have rejected your love and leading. We have lived for that which benefits us at your expense and to the detriment of humanity. For this, we confess that the Psalmist’s words are true, not for someone else, but for us. Lord, have mercy upon us, we pray. Amen.
Scott Bullock
Inspired by James 2:1-17
Lord, help us to be a people known for the ways in which we live out our faith by loving and serving all people, even those who, in the world’s eyes, have little to offer us. By treating them with dignity and respect, we demonstrate that a different kind of kingdom is at work in this world. It is not a kingdom of tit-for-tat, where relationships are seen as commodities for exploitation and advancement, but rather it is a world where we see the value in each human life, no matter their circumstances. Help us to be that kind of community,
Amen.
Stuart Strachan Jr.
Almighty and merciful God, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to the world in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful God, for his sake, that we may live a holy, just, and humble life for the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Holy and merciful Father, we confess to You and to one another that we have sinned against You by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we grieve You by wasting Your gifts and by wandering from Your ways. Forgive us and renew in us the grace and strength of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Holy and merciful Father, we confess to You and to one another that we have sinned against You by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we grieve You by wasting Your gifts and by wandering from Your ways. Forgive us and renew in us the grace and strength of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Help me, I pray, to be someone who tells the truth, even when that truth has to do with my mistakes, my sins. Help me see myself and my actions clearly. Give me the courage to admit when I’ve done wrong, whether to you, my colleagues, my family, my friends, or my neighbors.
Thank you, dear Lord, for the promise of forgiveness when we confess our sins to you. May this promise guide our behavior and embolden our hearts. Amen.
Loving God, we reflect on the times when we took too long to obey you. Give us courage next time.
(silent reflection)
Merciful God, we reflect on the instances where we failed to see your leading. Help us be more attentive next time.
(silent reflection)
God of justice, we consider the moments when we were too afraid to take action. Mobilize us next time.
(silent reflection)
O Lord give us grace.
Submitted by Austin D. Hill
Gracious and Loving God, we come into Your presence asking for Your forgiveness. Forgive us for aspirations that never get translated into action and for promises that we have not kept. Forgive us for having good intentions that were not fulfilled and for the good deeds that we never got around to doing. Grant us a new vision and help us to move from intention to action. Help us, Lord, to keep our eyes on You and to be faithful in all that we say and do. In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Lord of Hosts, we remember the words of your servant, James: whoever knows the good they ought to do and does not do it, sins. Oh Lord, have mercy on us. Too often we have failed to act when the world needed us. Too often we have ignored the voices of the marginalized. Too often we have failed to proclaim the truth in love. Please forgive us for our inaction. In the silence, we consider the people we could have served but chose to ignore. We confess those memories to you now…
Austin D. Hill
Father God, we confess that the actions of our hands do not often match the words of our mouths. We say one thing and do another. We give you praise and curse a friend, we sing songs of thanksgiving and gossip about another. Our actions belie the words that we speak and for this we repent. We would desire to act and speak in a way that glorifies you. We would desire that the meditations of our hearts and words of our mouths would be a reflection of our deeds of love, justice, and grace. Forgive us, we pray, for those words and deeds that have grieved your heart.
Scott Bullock
Almighty God, You are with us no matter what, through thick and thin, yet we don’t live any differently based upon that truth. We tend to ignore You, push You out of minds and hearts so that we can live how we want to. We prevent Your presence from impacting us, from calling us to action. Please forgive us for ignoring You. Please help us to be more attuned to Your presence as we silently confess our sins to You now…
Submitted by Austin D. Hill