Prayers of Confession on Generosity

Holy God, we confess we are selfish people. We are so inwardly focused that we often do not consider the needs of those around us. You call us to be generous because You have been so generous with us. We are blessed to be a blessing, but we tend to hoard our blessings in fear. We say we trust You for all things, but our lives demonstrate a lack of this type of trust. Help us live generously. Help us consider others. Help us stop living in fear. Through the power of the Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit we ask these things, Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace to confess our sin.  We have been selfish instead of generous; we have been proud instead of humble; we have held grudges instead of forgiving; we have proven over and over again that we cannot be good enough on our own.  We need more of You, and less of ourselves.   Gracious God, we ask for Your forgiveness and receive it with joyful hearts. Renew our minds so that we may discern what is good. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may be Your witnesses in the world.  Comfort our hearts, that we may know that we have complete redemption by Your grace alone.  In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Eternal and Generous God, Every good gift comes from You. Your generosity is expressed best Through Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One, Who gave Himself for us. We acknowledge we often doubt  Your willingness to give what we need. We do not ask. We do not seek. We do not knock. We think You don’t want to be bothered Because we often don’t want to be bothered By the needs of others. Forgive us for our lack of trust In Your generous nature. Forgive us for our lack of faith In Your sufficient supply. Forgive us for our lack of desire To give to others as You have given to us. Reorient our lives in Your way. Renew us for faithful service in Your Kingdom. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Gracious God, we fail to give to others, when you have so generously given to us. We look for our maximum benefit and minimum sacrifice. We have forgotten where every good gift comes from – you. Holy Spirit, shape our hearts to have a posture of gratitude and open our hands to give, that others might see you generous grace and love.

Submitted by Laura Murray

Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you teach us to love our neighbors but instead we build dividing walls of hostility. You show us how to love one another as sisters and brothers but instead we hide from our own human family. You ask us to seek out the stranger and welcome the guest. You want us to share your abundant gifts with the poor but instead we cling tightly to our possessions and our privilege. You call us to proclaim good news to all people but instead we waste our words and hide our light. Lord, our loving God, have mercy on us. Forgive our sin, open our hearts, and change our lives. Fill us with the Holy Spirit. Make us holy and whole—one people, united in faith, hope, and love through Jesus Christ, Our reconciler and redeemer.

Presbyterian Mission Agency, Resources on Cultural Diversity and Racism

Loving Father, we often come to you to get the most from you.  You remain incredibly generous, even though we neglect the greatest gift you give – yourself. Forgive us for ignoring you. Help us to enjoy your presence, your generosity, and most significantly, your abundant love for us.  May we encourage others to also know your great love for them.

Submitted by Laura Murray

Great and loving God, we know that one day all peoples will worship you on your mountain. We struggle to live into that reality. We turn inward, thinking mostly of ourselves rather than giving you glory. We often hold onto the resources you give us, even when we want to give back to you generously. We forget to praise you for the faithful saints who have come before us, and we long to follow their example more faithfully, as they followed you.  Forgive us, O God, for these and all our sins, as we continue to pray in silence…

Silent Prayer 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Submitted by Chip Hardwick

Loving God, you show us grace and mercy, again and again and again. You shower gifts on us that we could never earn, and you are slow to punish us when we most deserve it. All too often, we forget to give you thanks. We take your grace for granted, and we assume your mercy will always be there. Even worse, we are so slow to share your grace and mercy with others, out of gratitude for what you have done for us in Jesus Christ.  Forgive us for these and all our sins, as we continue to pray in silence…

Silent Prayer 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Submitted by Chip Hardwick

Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace to confess our sin. We have been selfish instead of generous; we have been proud instead of humble; we have held grudges instead of forgiving; we have proven over and over again that we cannot be good enough on our own. We need more of You, and less of ourselves. Gracious God, we ask for Your forgiveness and receive it with joyful hearts. Renew our minds so that we may discern what is good. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may be Your witnesses in the world. Comfort our hearts, that we may know that we have complete redemption by Your grace alone. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Gracious God, you shower us with so many blessings, yet we struggle to share them with others. You love a cheerful giver, but we sometimes give grudgingly. We forget that all we have is yours, and that you can use our gifts to bless the whole world. Give us generous hearts which long to share our bounty, giving extravagantly, loving at great risk, and working for justice in seemingly impossible situations. Forgive us for clutching too tightly what has always been yours in the first place. Pardon us for this and all of our sins, as we continue to confess in silence…

Silent Prayer

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Submitted by Chip Hardwick

Dear God, we know that it is Your will to help those that are afflicted, to comfort and strengthen the weak, and to provide support and financial help for those in great need. And yet, there are moments where we hold back and we miss the joy of freely giving from a heart of generosity. We confess our sin, and we ask for Your cleansing forgiveness. May our humble gifts be multiplied to help those with meager resources. We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus, Our Savior. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Call to Confession: The prophet asks the Lord’s people, “Who can endure the Lord’s coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.” Let us come before Almighty God in humility, confessing our sins.

Prayer of Confession: Holy God, we claim to be without fault, meanwhile we neglect the orphan, the widow, the destitute, and the stranger. Like the people of Judah, we care only of justice when it impacts us. We assume that your covenant faithfulness allows us to live however we want. Refine us, O Lord. Mold us and shape us. Purify us through the saving power of your Son, Jesus, as we silently confess our self-centered ways to you now.

Austin D. Hill

Generous Lord Jesus