Prayer Topic #8:
A Prayer of Repentance and Self-Examination
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 98, Matthew 9:1-13
Reflections of the Heart:
“Explore thyself. Herein are demanded the eye and the nerve.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
Scriptural Prayer:
Generous Father, we thank You for providing a special time for us to examine our lives and repent. Thank You for saving us and giving us eternal life. Thank You for thinking thoughts of peace towards us. Thank You for designing a future for us that is full of hope, good and not evil. You are our refuge and strength. You are always ready to help in times of trouble. We do not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the ocean roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; and God of Israel is our fortress. You are a God of righteousness and justice.
Heavenly Father, Your Word says that those who stand in Your presence must have clean hands and a pure heart. We cannot worship idols or speak lies. During this season of repentance and self-reflection, we take the time to examine ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to show us where we have sinned. Father, we know that we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory, but You have provided redemption through Your Son, Jesus, and we gladly receive His sacrifice. We confess that we will not be like those who steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and bow to the gods of this world and then run into Your house declaring that we are safe, only to return to the same evil again. During this time of repentance, we will be honest with You and ourselves about the condition of our lives. We are a people who love You wholeheartedly and trust You with our lives. Holy Spirit, as You show us our sins this week, we will repent and turn away from them. As a Church Family, we choose to discipline our bodies and minds and bring them into subjection; so that our witness to other people is genuine and we will not later find ourselves disqualified.
I am not perfect, and I could do better in the following areas of my life:
Holy Spirit, help us to overcome pride and any obstacles that keep us from growing in God. We know that a heart without God is deceitful above all things, and it is desperately wicked. So, please search our hearts and test our minds. Create in us a clean heart and renew in us a right spirit. Help us, Holy Spirit, to release all control to You daily, so that Your fruit will operate in us.
Sin has a foothold in my life. (List those areas). I will take the following action to break sin’s hold on my life:
Forgiving Father, forgive us collectively and individually for the sins that we have committed against You. Forgive us for not living as a people who have been set apart for Your good pleasure. Forgive us for continually running back to sin. Forgive us where we have grown lukewarm in our relationship with You. Forgive us for fornication, slander, lying, jealousy, murmuring, and complaining. Forgive us for using our mouths against our brothers and sisters in Christ with gossip, instead of building them up and people in general. Holy Spirit, shine Your light of revelation upon our hearts and show us the areas in our lives where we need to repent. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind us all of those we need to forgive and help us to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to show you names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He shows you, say aloud, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Faithful Father, help us not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord, You are the only true and living God. You are the everlasting King! The whole earth trembles at Your anger. The nations hide before Your wrath. You merely spoke, and the heavens were created. You breathed the word, and all the stars were born. Let everyone in the world fear You, Lord, and let them stand in awe of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 46:1-3,11, Psalm 24:3-4, Romans 3:23, Jeremiah 7:9-10, I Corinthians 9:27, II Corinthians 10:5, Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 51:10, Matthew 6:13, Jeremiah 10:10, Psalm 33:6, 8
Today, I will trust God to:
