Prayers of Confession on the Body of Christ

Inspired by Exodus 16:2-4; 9-5

Heavenly Father, let it not be said that we are disunified as a people. We are unified by our grumbling. We grumble against you for what you have done or left undone, according to our misplaced communal judgement. We rail against your provisions as being too little and too late. We cry out in protest when we experience a drought of that which we desire and want. It is our tendency to put the blame squarely on your shoulders. Although you lead us out of harm, protect us from the evil that would assail us, and give us all that we could ever need, we grumble that it is not enough. We are blinded to your goodness by our collective complaints. Forgive us, we pray, for not trusting you and for not thanking you as a truly unified people ought. Do not hold our unified grumbling against us. Cleanse us from breaking unity with you, we pray. Amen. 

Gabe Fung

Heavenly Father, Although we surrender our lives to you individually, we are called to live and serve in community as one body. Nevertheless, we do not see each other equally or accurately. We tend to think that some are more gifted, more attractive, even more godly than others. Rather than claim Christ’s righteousness for all who believe, we judge one another, even ourselves, on worldly merit. Forgive us, Lord. Redeem us from our wrong thinking. Open our eyes to the truth of your perfect plan for Your church body to work graciously as one. We pray this humbly in Christ’s name. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Lord Jesus,

We come to you today convicted of our own sin. When we read your call for the church to be united, we have to admit that we have fallen short. We have gossiped against your body, we have spoken words against you that we are not proud of. We have allowed our emotions to get the best of us, and we have spoken a harsh word about your beloved bride. Lord Jesus, draw us to yourself and keep us from falling back into harmful and unnecessary conflict. Empower us by your Spirit to live a life marked by humility, kindness and gentleness towards your body.

In Christ Jesus our Lord,

Amen.

Stuart Strachan Jr.