Prayers of Confession on the Soul

Adapted from  2 Chronicles 20

Pastor: O Lord, we are in over our heads. So many are the sins that we’ve committed this past week, and they condemn us in your presence. Only because you love us with a never-ending, unbreaking, always and forever love can we even pray for forgiveness.

All: “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.” We’ve been selfish, we’ve been prideful, and we’ve not loved you and your law.

Pastor: Because of Adam’s sin, we are born with sinful hearts, sinful minds, and broken bodies. When we get up in the morning, when we go throughout our day, and when we lie down at night—our sin draws us away from the God who loves us.

All: This morning, we ask for your forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Not only that, we ask for your help! Renew our desire to love and serve you, to trust in your grace, and to walk in obedience to your law.

Submitted by Dustin Ray

Adapted from Psalm 10:1-7

Leader: Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned against you. I have delighted my soul in other things more than I have in you. Why, then, is it any surprise to me that you feel far off from me? I have driven you away!

All: In my arrogance, I have enjoyed the comforts of this world while I care too little that the poor cannot feed or care for themselves. Because of my greed, I boast of all that I have and all that I desire. 

Leader: In one moment, I believe that I’m invincible, able to withstand any problem or struggle. In the next moment, I believe that the evil all around me is out to get me. My mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under my tongue are mischief and iniquity.

All: O God, forgive me of my sin. Look on me with mercy, and give me grace to delight in you, rather than in my sin. Lift me out of this pit of sin, cleanse me of my unrighteousness, and fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I might walk in holiness and obey your commandments.

Submitted by Dustin Ray

Dear Lord, we worship You as our God and King, as the One true God, as the faithful Guardian of our souls. We come to You in this time of worship to stop, to breathe, and to listen. We want to open our hearts to You and share the secrets we keep, our sins, and our lack of faith.  We lay it all out before You. We confess that we have sinned and are in desperate need of You, Jesus, our Redeemer. We have followed the enticing idols offered by the world instead of worshiping You alone. In the safe place of prayer, Lord, hear our hearts speak. We are sorry; please forgive us. Holy Spirit, come inside our hearts and transform us by Your love and forgiveness. Fill us with Your grace and hope.  In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

As your Servant Augustine said once long ago,

“O Lord, the house of my soul is narrow;

enlarge it, that you may enter in.

It is ruinous, O repair it!

It displeases your sight; I confess it, I know.

But who shall cleanse it, to whom shall we cry but to you?

Cleanse us from our secret faults, O Lord,

and spare us your servants from strange sins.

Augustine of Hippo, The House of the Soul, Language adapted for Corporate Worship by Stuart Strachan Jr.