Prayers of Confession on Running from God
Inspired by Jonah 3:1-5; 10
Father, we thank you that you are a God who provides second chances. You called us to go and we ran. We ran as far from your presence as possible. You pursued us in our abandonment of your call. Like Jonah, we have often rejected your mission of mercy for others and for ourselves. Like Jonah, we would have preferred that you squash those we dislike and simply leave us out of your plans for salvation. But you have not. You have relentlessly pursued us in our rebellion, imploring us again and again to turn to you and to embrace your Gospel of grace for others and for ourselves. Today, we return to you. We ask that you would forgive us for our recalcitrant hearts. May we today, relish the second chance, the opportunity for repentance, revival, and renewal. May we, today, like those of Nineveh to whom you poured out your mercy, present ourselves humbly and gratefully before you. Amen.
Scott Bullock
(Prayer of Adoration)
Good and Gracious Lord,
You hold us in the palm of Your strong hand,
working all things for our good and to Your glory.
There is no place we can go
that escapes your notice
and is hidden from your loving attention.
We are amazed by your power
and in awe of Your grace:
Your take what’s inadvertently or intentionally evil
and bend it to Your will and ways.
(Prayer of Confession)
We cover our sin.
Thinking we can hide from You.
we run, afraid you’ll find us out;
afraid that if you – or others – really knew us
no-one would love us.
We try to run our own lives,
and the lives of others,
attempting to be our own gods.
We love you too little,
we love others hardly at all,
and we love ourselves too much.
Hear our silent confession
and our whispers as we name our sin before You;
and, we pray, forgive us!
(Silence … 30-45 seconds)