Lord God,
I know you have every right to be angry with me because of my sin, but I pray you won’t let me suffer your wrath. I pray you won’t reject me because I continue to promote my own self-interests, even when it hurts others. I pray you won’t ignore my prayers because I often act as if it’s all about me.
To be honest, Lord, my failures overwhelm me, and I am drowning in the guilt of my sin. If others knew how selfish I really am, I fear they would have nothing to do with me. The way I treat people sometimes is disgusting. The way I think only of myself is vile. The fact that I can see the rightness of your ways and yet refuse to follow them, proves how great a fool I am.
All I can do, is request your mercy. All I can do is bow at your feet and beg for forgiveness. For I know my heart is weak and my words are pathetic. I know my remorse must sound hollow, considering how I rejected your law, but I have nothing more to offer to you. I simply confess my sin and admit my failures hoping you will forgive.
Sometimes, I feel like I’m deaf to your word, and simply do not hear your truth. At other times, I think I’m simply a fool, who hears and sees, but never understands. But by your grace, there are moments of respite, windows through which I see the reality of what you have done for me. At those moments, I know you will not forsake or abandon me, because you are my salvation.
So give me life, Lord. Save me as you promised, because I’m tired of feeling defeated. I’m tired of failing to live by your word. I’m tired of the guilt and shame of my sin, and I want to be different. I want to be obedient, because my sin leaves me in weak and weary. Help me to understand your law and make my heart obey, for I am not strong enough to do it on my own.
Keep my eyes from looking for worthless treasures and my mind from thoughts of fleeting fame. Keep my feet from chasing selfish gain and my heart fixed only on you. Let your great love come to me anew every day, and remind me of the forgiveness I have by grace through faith in your Son. Fill my heart with hope so I can trust in your more fully. Change me, Lord, into something new and give me patience as I await the day when pain, death and sorrow are swallowed up in victory. Show me your mercy. Forgive my sin. Heal my brokenness and restore me, so that I might glorify you in all that I do.
To be honest, Lord, my failures overwhelm me, and I am drowning in the guilt of my sin. If others knew how selfish I really am, I fear they would have nothing to do with me. The way I treat people sometimes is disgusting. The way I think only of myself is vile. The fact that I can see the rightness of your ways and yet refuse to follow them, proves how great a fool I am.
All I can do, is request your mercy. All I can do is bow at your feet and beg for forgiveness. For I know my heart is weak and my words are pathetic. I know my remorse must sound hollow, considering how I rejected your law, but I have nothing more to offer to you. I simply confess my sin and admit my failures hoping you will forgive.
Sometimes, I feel like I’m deaf to your word, and simply do not hear your truth. At other times, I think I’m simply a fool, who hears and sees, but never understands. But by your grace, there are moments of respite, windows through which I see the reality of what you have done for me. At those moments, I know you will not forsake or abandon me, because you are my salvation.
So give me life, Lord. Save me as you promised, because I’m tired of feeling defeated. I’m tired of failing to live by your word. I’m tired of the guilt and shame of my sin, and I want to be different. I want to be obedient, because my sin leaves me in weak and weary. Help me to understand your law and make my heart obey, for I am not strong enough to do it on my own.
Keep my eyes from looking for worthless treasures and my mind from thoughts of fleeting fame. Keep my feet from chasing selfish gain and my heart fixed only on you. Let your great love come to me anew every day, and remind me of the forgiveness I have by grace through faith in your Son. Fill my heart with hope so I can trust in your more fully. Change me, Lord, into something new and give me patience as I await the day when pain, death and sorrow are swallowed up in victory. Show me your mercy. Forgive my sin. Heal my brokenness and restore me, so that I might glorify you in all that I do.
By the power of your Spirit, and the grace of your Son, I pray all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
~Read: Psalm 38, 119:25-48; Lamentations 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Matthew 12:1-14