Prayers of Confession on Calling

Inspired by Jonah 3:1-5; 10

Father, we thank you that you are a God who provides second chances. You called us to go and we ran. We ran as far from your presence as possible. You pursued us in our abandonment of your call. Like Jonah, we have often rejected your mission of mercy for others and for ourselves. Like Jonah, we would have preferred that you squash those we dislike and simply leave us out of your plans for salvation. But you have not. You have relentlessly pursued us in our rebellion, imploring us again and again to turn to you and to embrace your Gospel of grace for others and for ourselves. Today, we return to you. We ask that you would forgive us for our recalcitrant hearts. May we today, relish the second chance, the opportunity for repentance, revival, and renewal. May we, today, like those of Nineveh to whom you poured out your mercy, present ourselves humbly and gratefully before you. Amen.   

Scott Bullock

Genesis 12:1–9 & Matthew 9:9–13

God of calling, you called Abraham and Matthew and gave them the strength they needed to follow you. You also called a people and cared for and nurtured that people so that they could live life in your abundance. You also call us, but sometimes we prefer to close our eyes and cover our ears, turning our backs to your will. Forgive us, O God, and grant us the confidence and the hope that we need to follow when you call. Amen.

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

Gracious God, we desire to follow when you call. We long to live according to the ways of Jesus, yet we find ourselves stumbling. Forgive us for the times we have ignored your call to follow you in the ways of compassion, love, and mercy. As you meet us with your grace and assurance, empower us to move when you call.

Submitted by Laura Murray

Almighty God, you bless us so richly. You renew us and give us new life. You equip us with the gifts of your Spirit. You give us an amazing calling to follow you each day. But we fail to use the gifts that you’ve given us. We complain that we don’t have enough. We covet and lust after things we don’t need. Please help us to see how you’ve already blessed us with your gifts as we silently confess our sins to you now.…

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

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

Loving and gracious God, we know we do not always live the life to which we are called: We turn away from You, and from our true selves. You command us to shine Your light, but we often hide it instead. We are prideful and self-righteous, and desire control instead of trusting You to guide our steps. We know that You love us, that You do not abandon us, and that You pursue us even when we turn away from You. Thank You for loving us unconditionally, Forgive us, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Holy and merciful God, we come to You as Your humble children: in our sinfulness, and our failure to follow Your Word in loving our neighbors. God, You alone, know our hearts and how often we have sinned; in our selfishness, in ignoring Your calling to go after the one, in forgetting that Your Gospel isn’t just for the church, but for all. In Your great mercy, forgive our sins. Help us to live in a way that is glorifying to You, choosing to obey Your commandments, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Inspired by Amos 5:18-24

God has come to us and revealed Himself fully to us
Yet too often we hide ourselves from His love and salvation

Instead of focusing on you, Lord God, we focus on ourselves
Instead of trusting you to provide and accepting your gifts
We focus on gaining security for ourselves

Instead of worshipping you through our lives
We relegate worship of you to 90 minutes of song on a Sunday morning

We are willing to accept the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ for our sin
But we are not willing to make any sacrifices of our own

You call us to yourself, requiring nothing
You have removed all the barriers between yourself and us

But we consistently turn away
Scared of what might happen if we trust you with our whole lives

You have said: “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”

Make us thirsty for you
That we would seek you with our whole being
And discover again the joy that comes from centering our lives on you

Jacob Traeger