Prayers of Confession on Deception

Adapted from Genesis 3:1-6

Pastor: The serpent deceitfully says to the woman, “Did God actually say” what you think He said?

All: O God, we have heard the deceiver’s words, and we have distrusted your word. We have not delighted in your instruction as we ought, and we’ve forgotten and misunderstood your commandments.

Pastor: The serpent deceitfully says to the woman, “God said that you would die if you disobeyed His commandments, but you won’t! You’ll just be more powerful, intelligent, and wise like him!”

All: When we hear that we can be independent of you, O Creator God, we jump at the opportunity. We have loved ourselves more than we have loved you, and this has broken our relationship with you. Forgive us, O God!

Submitted by Dustin Ray

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

Where there is hypocrisy in our life, please name it.
Where we practice deception, please bring truth.
In your goodness, meet us and heal us
that we might be pure in heart and see you.

Submitted by Laura Murray

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith, let us confess our sin to God.

Lord of all, you are in control. We live under the illusion that we have control, yet all life is sustained by you. We live for our own purposes, we try to become gods over our own lives. We unjustly subjugate others and create lives of captivity. Free us, Oh Lord, from our need to control. Help us to place our trust in you as we silently confess our sins…

Submitted by Austin D. Hill