Prayers of Confession on Image

Gracious and loving God, we stand before You today as sinners in need of redemption and grace. So much of our time and energy goes into projecting positive images of ourselves. We want others to think that we are strong, smart, and independent. Our desire is for the people in our lives to see us as a “success.” And yet every single day we fail to do that which we know is right, and we continue to do that which we know is wrong. Forgive us and help us celebrate the fact that You loved us enough to sacrifice Your only Son on the cross and, as a result, we no longer need to impress You and others. We only need to follow the example that Christ set before us. Grant us the strength and courage to live and love each day as faithful followers. In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Each of us, Lord, has failed to fully observe your beauty.

We fall in love with our own image and are left disappointed and alone.

Please be faithful to us, Jesus, even when we turn from You.

We trust that You will be stalwart, our dedicated Savior, to the end.

Lord, as we seek to embrace our neighbors, no matter the loves of their hearts,

help us to see them as You do, with compassion and zeal for their good.

Forgive us, Holy Spirit, for when we have excluded our neighbors

from our hearts or our tables, knowing how deeply You cherish them.

Forgive us now, in the name of Jesus and for his glory,

and may your face be shown vibrantly where we have failed to show ours.

Submitted by Charles Teixeira