Prayers of Confession on Busyness

Adapted from Psalm 6 and “Morning Needs” in The Valley of Vision

Pastor: “O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

All: “My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long? Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.”

Pastor: Lord, I come to you for the grace another year will require for its duties and events. As I step out into a wicked world, I carry in me an evil heart. I know that without you I can do nothing, and I know that my heart is prone to evil and wickedness.

All: Teach me how to use the world, and not abuse it, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom and kindness toward my neighbors, to do good to all men, and to you be all the glory.

Submitted by Dustin Ray

Adapted from Psalm 46:10 & Matthew 7:26

Holy One, help us be still and know that you are God. Too often we move at such a hectic pace that we neglect our relationship with you. Our lives become full of distractions that are nothing but shifting sand. Restore and strengthen us, O God, to rebuild our lives on the foundation of your Word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Kimberly Bracken Long Ed., Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation.

Gracious God, we confess that we do not always listen to your calling for us. Instead we carry on with our busy lives, not being mindful of your voice, calling us to live for more than ourselves. Please forgive us for being too busy to hear your voice and help us to listen to you as we silently confess our sins…

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we become so consumed with the details of life that we do not see the opportunities that you have placed before us.  Open our eyes to your call to extend love, by communicating with grace and by speaking truth in the world around us.  Give us obedient and wise hearts that allow us to see your Kingdom and speak with your words.  We pray these things in the name of the one who is your Word, Christ Jesus.  Hear our prayers as we continue our confession in silence…

Submitted by Allen Thompson

God of grace and mercy, how often we choose to set our eyes on things below rather than things above. We allow ourselves to be ruled by our calendars rather than our King. We honor our own comfort before honoring our Lord. We are consumed by petty concerns, but give lip service to holy concerns. For these things, and for many other sins, we ask for Your forgiveness. We do not yet know how to live. As You forgive us, we also ask that You might raise our eyes heavenward, and remind us of the greater story of Your love which we so often forget. We ask this in the Name of the One making His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Source Unknown

Gracious and Heavenly Father,

In your word, you call us to be comforted first and foremost by You.

But often, if we are honest, we look for comfort in different places. 

We look for comfort in our busyness, in our work, in a glass of wine.

But we know, deep down, that true comfort comes from you. Help us to turn first to you in our deepest need. And may we find your powerful, peaceful presence in that place.

Amen.

Stuart Strachan Jr.

Almighty God, In our pride we have strayed from You. We have followed the desires of our hearts while ignoring what You desire for us. We have left things that matter undone while being consumed by the busyness we have created. Forgive us for our sins and help us to realign our lives with You. May we humbly seek You in thought, word and deed. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church