Prayers of Confession on Guidance

Adapted from Psalm 73

Pastor: Truly, O God, you have been good to me. My troubles have been few, my blessings have been many, and you have given me this day to worship you.

All: But I have stumbled, and my foot has slipped. I have sinned against you, envied my neighbor and his possessions, and have neglected your grace. Forgive my sin, gracious God.

Pastor: “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”

All: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Submitted by Dustin Ray

Almighty God, we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance. We each have our hopes and expectations for what lies ahead, but only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we need. In life’s uncertainties, assure us of Your unchanging love. In disappointing moments, help us turn to You for stability. In temptation, give us courage to humbly place our hands into Yours. In daily preoccupations, open our eyes to the sorrows of our hurting world that we might respond with compassion. By your grace, equip us to keep You as the center of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Lord, though you should guide us, we inform ourselves;
though you should rule us, we control ourselves;
though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves.
We think your truth too high, your will too hard,
your power too remote, your love too free. But they are not!
And without them, we are of all people most miserable.
Now heal our confused minds with your word,
heal our divided wills with your law,
heal our troubled consciences with your love,
heal our anxious hearts with your presence,
all for the sake of your Son,
who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

Source Unknown

Heavenly Father, we confess that we are unable to do all the work that you wish for us to do.  We are held back by our own desires and our own apprehensions.  We know that you make us bearers of your image and ambassadors of your Word, but we too often serve ourselves and not you.  Forgive us and redeem us, so that we may grow closer to you.  Guide us as people and as a church to reveal Jesus’s sacrifice and generous love through our gifts.  We pray these things in his name, and we ask that you receive our continued confession in silence…

Submitted by Allen Thompson

WE confess our sins to you, today, O Lord. Wed confess that we sometimes find it difficult to believe that you are actually involved in our day-to-day experiences, that you actually impact our circumstances. Lord, please give us the eyes to see your hand, guiding us, shaping us, and empowering us. Please renew our awareness of your presence as we silently confess our sins and shortcomings to you now…

Time of silent reflection.

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

O Lord, You have promised to send Your Holy Spirit to be with us, and to guide us. Yet we confess the many times that our eyes can’t see You, that our hearts can’t fathom Your work in our pain. Forgive us for assuming we are on our own to navigate this life. Teach us to pray expectantly for the Holy Spirit to reveal Your goodness. Give us the strength to wait, the courage to trust in You, for we place our lives in Your keeping, through Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Lord of all, the only thing that truly matters is staying connected to you. As we remain in you, you give us life. We are sorry, Lord, for squandering the gift of incredible love that you have given us. We are sorry for placing our trust in ourselves, our assets, our talents, and anything else that prevents us from trusting in you. Please renew our sense of hope that you alone can give as we silently confess our sins to you now…

Submitted by Austin D. Hill

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we are lost, and when we do not seek those who are.  Forgive us when we harden our hearts and do not understand the magnitude of your love.  Lead us with your Holy Spirit to receive your grace and offer it to others.  We pray these things in the name of the one you sent to reclaim us, Christ Jesus.  Hear our prayers as we continue our confession in silence…

Submitted by Allen Thompson

Holy God, we realize that You know us more intimately than we know ourselves. We come before You now asking You to show us our sin, to make us aware of our failings, to open our eyes to our brokenness. We are wandering sheep that have gone our own way. We need Your wisdom and guidance to show us the path of truth and life, for we are lost without Your grace. Search us, O God, and know our hearts. Test us and know our troubled thoughts. Give us true repentance that only comes from You. Do Your transforming work in us so that we can live as Your redeemed people in the world. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Almighty, gracious God, we confess to you that we do not see what you see. You are ever-present, speaking, coaxing, prodding, leading, guiding, and motivating. Yet that is not enough. Like the stubborn people of Israel, we complain and do things our own way. Please give us grace, forgive us for our pride, and help us to see with your vision. 

 Time of silent reflection and confession.. 

 Submitted by Austin D. Hill