Prayers of Confession on Possessions

Holy God, we come to You confessing that we never have enough. We are never satisfied with what You have given us. We look at others with envy and we want more, even when our homes are overflowing with stuff. We think we are in need when really we are just in want. We cling tightly to our things, hoping they will bring us security. Help us to realize that our privileged lives are often a burden and a hindrance to Kingdom living. Show us what it means to live in complete submission to You and Your purposes. May we hold tightly only to You. You are everything we need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Disturb us, O Lord, when

We are too pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, O Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, O Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wilder seas

Where storms will show Your mastery;

Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars.

Source Unknown

Holy God, we have deceived ourselves into believing our sins aren’t that bad, that Your grace isn’t enough, and that we can earn Your forgiveness. We have embraced the stable misery of sin- fractured relationships rather than seeking true reconciliation through Your grace and mercy. We have lived as people pacified by our possessions and dulled by our duties, rather than being jolted by Your Spirit to live as Christ out in the world. We speak of sacrifice flippantly, we refuse to step outside of our comfort zones, and we don’t want to do what it really takes to take up Your cross and follow You. Change us from the inside out, so that we can be one of Your sent ones in the world. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Holy God, we come to confession realizing that we are often aware of the big sins in our lives, but we ignore the sins we think are small. We ask Your forgiveness for times when we have been apathetic, indifferent, impatient, judgmental, dismissive, entitled, and mean. We pray for the ways we have been blinded by our possessions, blinded by our anger, and blinded by our loyalty to self instead of to You. Forgive us and remind us that we are called to a different way of life. We know that being Your disciples involves dying to ourselves so that we can live for You. In the shadow of Your grace we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

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

Almighty God of creation, please forgive us for the times when we’ve squandered the gifts you’ve given us. You give so freely, so abundantly, that we sometimes take your gifts for granted. For the times we’ve wasted precious resources that others tirelessly toil to attain, we repent. Lord, please give us a renewed sense of awe and appreciation for your power and generosity that we experience from your creation as silently confess our sins to you now…

Austin D. Hill