Prayers of Confession on Decision-Making
Almighty and loving God, all of us here today are hurting. Some of us are hurting as the result of circumstances beyond our control. Some of us are hurting because of our own choices. Some of us are feeling the pain of others. No matter what the circumstances, as we gather here today, help us remember who we are: sinners saved by grace. Lord, for the times we have failed to show Your compassion to others – forgive us! For the times we have failed to trust You – forgive us! For the times we have failed to praise You – forgive us! Help us always to remember that You are the Giver of mercy and wholeness, provided for us through Your Son’s death and resurrection. Heal our brokenness and make us whole once more. In Christ’s Holy Name we pray. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Almighty God, we, too often, live in fear. Fear drives our self-preservation, our self-centered decisions, and prevents us from comprehending the wonder of your presence among us. Like Peter, we would desire to build a box in which to adore you in a way that assuages our fear, increases our control, and defines our comprehension of who we think you are. The metamorphosis on the Mt. of Transfiguration is too terrifying for us. While we repose amazed at the immanence of the incarnation in the birth of God, we are repelled by the transcendent, mind-altering glory of the transfiguration. Forgive us for the way in which we limit our understanding and allegiance to you by our fear of your glorious preeminence. We prefer a tamed god rather than one whose Shekinah comes with pillars of fire by night and clouds by day, of a brother who walks with us with dirty feet and soiled clothes rather than one whose garments brilliantly gleam with the radiance of the Father God. Today, may we live in freedom to follow this glorious God-Man whose radiance shines amidst the gloom and darkness of sin, immanent and transcendent in life, death, and resurrection. Amen.
Scott Bullock
Gracious God, sometimes I think that I can figure out all the consequences of my decisions. I can become overly impressed with what I perceive to be my strategic vision and analysis. Forgive me for my hubris, my arrogance, my foolishness.
Lord, please give me the humility before you, realizing that I cannot fully predict, much less control, the future.
Thank you, Lord, for the times when you redeem my mistakes, when you take the unintended and work it into your grand intentions for the world. Thank you for being a God who sees us, who is present, and who is ever merciful and gracious. Amen.