Prayers of Confession on Surrender
Heavenly Father, our Savior told us, “Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for My sake will gain it.” These are hard words. We confess that we often close our ears and minds to this kind of risk. Lord, we are sorry for being unfaithful. Please forgive our fearful hearts. Lord, You alone know how desperately we need connection with You and with one another. Surround us with godly counsel that we can trust. Give us courage so that we may respond to Your call to us for a deeper life. Guide us, we pray, on an adventure of hope, where Christ Jesus remains at the center. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Heavenly Father, Your love for us is so very evident. Everywhere we look, we see tangible proof of Your great care for us. Yet, when it comes to following You, we confess that we often don’t surrender our entire selves. We hold back portions of our lives that we would rather control instead of releasing them to Your loving care. Have mercy upon us, Lord. Forgive us for frequently saying one thing and doing another. May our words and our actions line up. Make us willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, knowing full well that You will never leave us or forsake us. We pray this humbly, in Christ’s Name. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
In the days of the early church, believers affirmed their faith by saying, “Jesus is Lord.” We give lip-service to that same affirmation, but find it difficult to surrender control of our lives. Instead of honoring You as Lord, we act as the master of our own souls. Forgive us, and remind us that above all names, Your Name is holy, Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light. Call us forth to receive Your mercy and to walk in the joy of following You. We pray these things in the Name above all names: the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Almighty and loving God, You created us to love You, worship You, and serve You. But our brokenness and sinfulness tarnishes the beauty and perfection of Your creation. We are hard-hearted and indifferent toward Your Kingdom. We easily forget Your call to love You with all our heart, soul, and might. Forgive us for being preoccupied with ourselves and not fulfilling our call to fully surrender and serve You. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in us.
Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Gracious and loving God, you know the deep inner patterns of my life that keep me from being totally yours. You know the misformed structures of my being that hold me in bondage to something less than your high purpose for my life. You also know my reluctance to let you have your way with me in these areas. Hear the deeper cry of my heart for wholeness and by your grace enable me to be open to your transforming presence in this reading. Lord, have mercy.
Taken from: Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation by M. Robert Mulholland and Ruth Haley Barton. Copyright (c) 2016 by M. Robert Mulholland and Ruth Haley Barton. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com