Prayer: You have given me faithful framework

Read Exodus 20:1-20 and the Ten Commandments

Lord, you have given me a faithful framework to live a faithful and godly life. Yet, I fail to keep your commandments. I do not always put you first. I often worship any number of other gods and idols. I get so busy, I forget that you command me to rest and renew myself. I do not always tell the truth. I do not honor those in authority, especially those close to me. I have impure thoughts. I often covet what someone else has. Forgive me for not keeping your commandments, whether in thought or deed. Place your commandments in my heart, so that I might follow you faithfully. Amen.

Prayer: Lord, I bring my broken, sinful, and weak self

Lord, I bring myself before you, just as I am. I am broken, sinful, and weak. I confess that I am fickle. I say one thing and do another. Forgive me, for I have sinned. I say that I want to follow you, but I turn around and walk the other way. I say that I love you, and yet, I do not love my brothers and sisters. For these reasons, and many more I could name, I find myself amazed at your grace, compassion, and slowness to anger. I humbly thank you. I know that you are here, ready to hear my prayer of confession and to help me to turn from my sinfulness. You have forgiven me repeatedly. Thank you for not treating me as my sins deserve. For the divine qualities of love and forgiveness, I worship you today. Amen.

Prayer: You are gracious to hear me today

Lord, you are gracious to hear me today. I am in need of your grace and forgiveness, today and every day. Your graciousness allows me to be honest in prayer. You offer manna in the desert (Exodus 15). You nourish a hungry crowd with loaves and fishes (Matthew 14). Yet, I find it difficult to trust your abundance. I hoard what I have because it makes me feel secure. I keep score within my relationships by keeping tallies of my good works and the shortcomings of others. I follow Jesus, but only to a point. The gospel confronts me and challenges my complacency, and my response is to make excuses. Forgive me, gracious Lord. Help me to trust a divine grace that defies logic. Help me to live in the extravagance of your love and boundless mercy. Give me the will to live all of my life in service to you, my strength and redeemer. Amen.

Prayer: I confess I have been less than you called me to be

Lord, you are merciful. I confess that in attitude and action, I have been less than you created and called me to be.

• I have forgotten your blessings toward me and in so doing I have failed to bless others.
• I have taken for granted the limitless depth of your love and forgiveness, and in so doing, I have withheld love and forgiveness from others.
• In my misguided efforts to maintain control, I have clung to bitterness, hurt, anger and disappointment, rather than letting go in faith and trust, releasing myself to the healing and cleansing power of your Spirit.

Forgive me, I pray. Forgive me for my willingness to settle for so much less than you desire to give me and to do in me. Restore me to right relationship with you and with others, for the sake of you Son, my Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer: I come before you with a troubled heart

Lord, you are Lord of all. I come before you with a troubled heart.

• I regret that I often give lip service to what I believe, speaking of my beliefs only when it is convenient and non-threatening.
• I admit that though I profess tolerance, I do nothing to enhance the lives of those whom others simply do not tolerate.
• I profess open-minded and fair thinking and acting, yet I admit that I quickly interrupt and take sides before I have even heard both sides of an argument or issue.
• I pride myself on church attendance, and hesitate to be the church in my daily life.
• I say I am willing to try new ways of worship, and I quickly complain that things are not as they used to be.
• I quickly volunteer to help with a church project, but withdraw my commitment when something better comes along.
• I stand for tolerance, and then refuse to give respect to one who disagrees with my theology, politics, or moral standards.

I come before you today and confess those things that trouble my mind and heart. You are gracious, so much so that sometimes I wonder how you can tolerate me. I am grateful for the good news that I have new life in Christ, that true confession can lift the burden of a troubled mind and heart, and that I receive your forgiveness offered in the cross. Amen.

Prayer: You know I have sinned

Lord, you know I have sinned. You know I have hurt others, I have been unkind, and I have had times when I think only of myself. You have given me such grace and mercy. Help me to extend the same to my brothers and sisters. Free me from holding grudges, from gossip, and from passing judgment. Help me never to pour shame upon another. Rather, help me to show love and peace. Help me to walk with others toward forgiveness and restoration. Thank you for the beauty you will bring to my relationships because together, we have sought your healing. We belong to you, Lord. Amen.

Prayer: You have made your love clear

Lord, you have made your love for me so clear. Yet, I confess that I have not loved others as you have commanded me to do. I have done wrong to my neighbor. I delight in pointing out the faults of others. I have ignored your law of love and devised my own law instead. I have not recognized your presence when two or more have gathered in your name. Have mercy upon me. Awaken my heart to your love in such a way that it will kindle in me love for others. Help me to know the fulfillment of your law of love in my life. Amen.

Prayer: You call me out of darkness and into your marvelous light

Lord, you call me out of darkness and into your marvelous light. However, I crouch in the shadows, ashamed of the wrong I have done and the good I have neglected to do. I have been a timid disciple, afraid of putting my life on the line for the good of your rule on earth. I conceal my true self from others. I hide behind the delusion of my power and competence. The mask I present to others conceals so much. I allow division and discord to rule in my heart, crowding out your presence. I know discord is not your way. You have shown me, in Christ, that you are a reconciling God. Call me back to you. Equip me for relationships of integrity in my family, church, and world, all of which you love. I acknowledge my need of your love today. Amen.

Prayer: I confess my shortcomings

I want to confess honestly my shortcomings to the God who has love that will never let me go. I too often see others in terms of black and white and allow myself shades of grey. I can so quickly judge others by what they fail to do. I can also quickly give excuses for my actions. I can look askance at how others spend their money. I make allowances for my spending habits. I can so readily hold others to the rules and allow myself the luxury to bend them in order to justify my actions. I can be so eager to hold others accountable to the letter of the law while giving myself a measure of grace. Forgive me. In these moments of stillness, release me from the harshness of my ways and fill me with the love of Christ so much that it will flow outward to others as grace offered to them. I am so grateful for the grace of God that surrounds me and goes before me. I am so grateful that the love of God is stronger than my misdeeds. I receive your forgiveness. I receive this good news and breathe in the forgiving love of God.

Prayer: I am too much like the disciples of Jesus

Lord, you are merciful. I am too much like the disciples of Jesus, who were often shortsighted and smallminded. I focus on problems and needs. I focus on what seems like logical or possible solutions. I am confident you work through such analysis of decisions I must make in my life. Yet, too often, I rely upon my strength and resources and therefore find myself quickly overwhelmed. I forget to turn to you. I fail to depend on your Spirt. Forgive me, Lord. Remind me that your ways are not my ways. All things are possible with you. Renew me in faith and commitment that I might trust you in every situation. Amen.

Prayer: I confess failure in the pressure of the moment

Lord, I have a confession to make. At times, the pressures and stresses of the moment catch me off guard. I act hastily, rashly, and thoughtlessly. I say and do things I later regret. In the heat of the moment, I can allow my temper, impatience, and selfishness overcome the goodness and compassion you have brought into my life. I respond in ways that hurt others and dishonor you. I confess that though I long to have the mind of Christ and respond in all situations as Jesus modeled for me, I fail too often. I admit that I am shortsighted, forgetful, and fearful. I ask your forgiveness, Lord. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and the love of humanity. Amen.

I ask forgiveness for my words

Lord, you are merciful. I ask your forgiveness for my words. I am grateful for the ability to speak. Through speaking, I communicate my hopes and dreams. I communicate my care for other people and the society in which I live. Through listening to the speaking of others, I come out of myself just a little, and engage in the world as another person sees it. Yet, so often, what I say is hurtful. I use words to tear down relationships, to make fun of others, and to show how incredibly witty I am. Sometimes, I know it the minute I say it. Other times, I may have fooled myself into thinking what I say is for their own good. Forgive me, Lord. Help me use my language to build up instead of tear down. Allow my words to show kindness and graciousness to others. Help me to live in love, as Christ has loved me. Amen.