Prayers of Confession on Stress
Adapted from Psalm 25:6-7, 11, 16-18
All: Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Submitted by Dustin Ray
Gracious and Almighty God, You are the One who keeps promises. In Your providence, we can place all our trust. Yet we confess we often do not trust You. We worry. We argue. We complain. We do things our way, not Your way. We profess faith in You, then we live like atheists. Forgive us, O Lord, in Your great mercy. Renew our hearts and our minds. Give us the faith to trust You in all things, and the courage to step forward in that faith. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Everyone: Holy God, we live our lives struggling in our own burdens and failing to trust You with all the things that hold us down.
Leader: Your Scripture says, “Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
Everyone: We chase material things and success that fades. We prioritize our schedules above our faith.
Leader: Your Scripture says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
Everyone: We live as if hope doesn’t exist. We fail to see the bigger picture of the needs of the world that You have called us to serve.
Leader: Your Scripture says, “He saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.”
Everyone: We carry grudges, avoid conflict, and live in dysfunctional relationships instead of seeking wholeness and reconciliation.
Leader: Your Scripture says, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
Everyone: We don’t live as if Your promises are true. We don’t give You our whole lives and follow You in the gift of Your forgiveness.
Leader: Your Scripture says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life.”
Everyone: Help us to daily live in the gift of Your forgiveness. Help us to serve and live holy lives out of that gift. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Heavenly Father, You are so gracious and we acknowledge Your constant care and devotion for us. You have promised to give Your children the peace that is beyond our understanding. And still, we are guilty of trying to control the stresses of life on our own and in our own strength. Forgive us, Lord, for not trusting in Your precepts. Forgive us for not fully believing in Your faithfulness and goodness. Calm our spirits and deepen our faith in You. We give our stress and anxiety to You and receive Your mercy. Help us to overcome the challenges before us and to glorify You in all things. In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church