Use this prayer to help your church confess their sins to God and experience his forgiveness through Christ.
Full Prayer
Please pray aloud:
Holy God, like Nehemiah confessing sins on behalf of the nation, I come to you now confessing that my church has sinned against you.
We’ve committed sins we know are sins, and sins we don’t know are sins. We’ve committed sins by what we’ve done, and sins by what we’ve failed to do.
Our feet have rushed to rebellion and run from what’s right. Our lips have told lies and gossiped. Our hands have stolen, our hearts are prideful, our eyes are greedy.
We’ve become so familiar with our sin, and familiar with the sin of others, that it no longer shocks or unsettles us. Until we come into your unapproachable, holy, and awesome light. Then, we fall before you like the Apostle Peter and cry out, “Away from me, Lord, for I am sinful!”
How have I sinned against you?
—Pray for Your Church Share on: Twitter
So, as I come into your presence in this moment, shine your light into my darkness and show me—How have I sinned against you?
Take a moment to confess to God the individual sins he brings to mind.
I’m sorry, God. We’re sorry. You are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. If perfection is the standard, our sins deserve your present and eternal punishment.
But because you are slow to anger and abounding in love, your judgment throne is also a throne of grace, where we might receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
So look upon the cross of your beloved Son who was pierced for our transgressions, hear his intercession for our iniquities, and grant us the forgiveness we do not deserve. Forgive our sins, God. As far as the east is from the west, remove them from us.
Thank you, God. Thank you. Your mercies are new every morning. Your grace is greater. Your love is unfailing.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
