Prayers of Confession on Children

Adapted from Matthew 5:27-28, 31-32, 43-44

Pastor: Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

All: We have lusted for others’ bodies. Forgive our adulterous, lustful hearts.

Pastor: Jesus said, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

All: We have treated our marriages with contempt and have not treated them with appropriate delight and solemnity.

Pastor: Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

All: I have hated both my neighbor and my enemy. Forgive my bitterness and hatred, O merciful God.

Submitted by Dustin Ray

Today I pray for those of us who are married. Because of sin, we will never experience exactly what you intended for marriage. But, by your grace, we can approach this ideal. Help us, Lord, to make our marriages a priority, not letting the demands of work injure our marriages.

I also pray for those who are not married, that they might find a husband or wife as you lead them. But, even more, I ask that the body of Christ be a place of deep intimacy among all people, so that we, whether married or single, might enjoy the community you have intended for us. Amen.

Taken from Mark D. Roberts, Life for Leaders, a Devotional Resource of the DePree Leadership Center at Fuller Theological Seminary