Being a human is hard work, and being a Christian and human is doubly difficult. As a Christian our daily goal is to always have God in our thoughts and resist sin. Yet, each day we all fall short of sinning. As a person that leans towards perfection seeking, this is always a challenge for me to accept I am full of sin.
Today, I share with all of you a prayer to say about repentance and asking God forgiveness as we recognize Jesus was a sacrificial lamb of God for our sins. Through Jesus’ blood we are washed. Please note all the bible verses in the video is using the N I V translation.
Let us begin:
Our Father in heaven, the One who created the heavens and the earth and gave us life, we come before You with humble hearts, recognizing our dependence on You and acknowledging our daily shortcomings.
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
Lord, we are reminded daily of our sinful nature. From the moment we wake up to the moment we lay our heads down to sleep, we are confronted with choices and decisions, and we confess that we often fall short of Your glorious standard.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
In our thoughts, words, and actions, we stray from Your path. We entertain thoughts that are not pure, speak words that tear down rather than build up, and commit acts that are displeasing to You.
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15)
We repent, Father, for the times we have been selfish instead of selfless, for choosing our will over Yours, and for letting the desires of the flesh overpower the desires of the Spirit.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
We are reminded of King David, a man after Your own heart, yet he too fell into sin. But in his repentance, he cried out to You, and we echo his words:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2)
Lord, we know that it’s not just about acknowledging our sins but turning away from them. Grant us the strength to resist temptation and the wisdom to discern right from wrong.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
As we repent, we also seek to reconcile with those we have wronged. Give us the courage to ask for forgiveness from our brothers and sisters and the humility to admit our mistakes.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
Jesus, our Savior, we thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross. Because of Your shed blood, we can be forgiven. We are grateful for Your promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Holy Spirit, guide us daily. Convict us when we sin, comfort us in our struggles, and lead us on the path of righteousness.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
As I come before Your presence today, I am humbled by Your boundless grace and mercy. Your love, O Lord, is beyond measure, and I am grateful for the gift of another day to seek Your forgiveness and draw closer to You.
I acknowledge, Lord, that I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness and guidance. Each day, I fall short of Your perfect standards, and my heart is heavy with the weight of my transgressions. But Your Word assures me that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
I stand before You today, Heavenly Father, with a repentant heart, ready to turn away from my daily sins and seek Your face. Your Word teaches me that repentance is not just a one-time event but a daily commitment to turn away from sin and towards You. Help me, Lord, to truly understand the depth of my sin and the need for daily repentance.
Psalm 51:1-2 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” I pray, Lord, that You would have mercy on me according to Your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sins, just as David cried out for cleansing in his time of repentance.
Lord Jesus, your sacrifice on the cross paid the price for my sins. I thank You for the blood that was shed for my redemption. Your Word tells me in Romans 6:23 , “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I confess my sins and receive the gift of eternal life that You offer me through faith.
Father, I also acknowledge the sins I may not be aware of, sins of omission, and the times when I have fallen short of Your glory. Please reveal them to me, and I ask for Your forgiveness and the strength to walk in Your ways.
Lord, I repent of the sins of my tongue. Help me to control my words, to speak with kindness and love, and to avoid gossip, slander, and harsh speech. Your Word in James 3:9-10 says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” I pray that my words may bring glory to You and bless others.
I repent of any sinful thoughts and attitudes in my heart. Your Word in Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” I invite You, Lord, to search my heart, reveal any sinful thoughts, and lead me in Your everlasting way.
Father, I repent of any actions that have harmed others or gone against Your commands. Forgive me for any actions that have caused pain or suffering, and help me to make amends where necessary. Your Word in Matthew 5:23-24 teaches, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” I pray for grace and courage to seek reconciliation and make things right.
I repent of my pride and self-righteousness. Your Word in Proverbs 16:18 reminds me, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Help me to humble myself before You and others, recognizing that I am entirely dependent on Your grace.
Heavenly Father, I also repent of my failures to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. Your Word in Mark 12:30-31 instructs, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Grant me the strength and love to fulfill these greatest commandments.
Lord, I commit myself to daily reading and meditating on Your Word, for Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). May it guide me in righteous living and help me avoid sin.
I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me and empower me to overcome the temptations and struggles I face daily. Your Word assures me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
I thank You for Your unfailing love, Your boundless grace, and Your forgiveness. I am grateful for the opportunity to repent and turn towards You each day. May Your mercy and grace continue to shape my life, and may I walk in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake.
Lord, acknowledging You as my Creator, our Sustainer, and our Redeemer. We praise You for Your faithfulness, for Your love endures forever (Psalm 136:1). Yet, even in the light of Your immense love, I recognize that I am a sinner, falling short of Your glory every day (Romans 3:23).
Lord, Your Word declares that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just and will forgive me of my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). So, we come before You with contrite hearts today, not hiding our transgressions but confessing them openly before You, trusting in Your promise of forgiveness.
Father, in the quiet moments of this day, I reflect upon our thoughts, words, and actions. I acknowledge those times we have not loved You with our whole heart or our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). We repent for the times we have given in to anger, jealousy, or pride, for these things do not come from You (Galatians 5:20).
Your Word tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). I recognize our daily failings, our acts of selfishness, and moments when we have strayed from Your path. We have not always been the light of the world or the salt of the earth that You have called us to be (Matthew 5:13-14).
I repent for the times our words have caused harm rather than offered love and encouragement (Ephesians 4:29). For those moments when I allowed fear and worry to undermine my faith in Your sovereign care (Philippians 4:6), I seek Your forgiveness. For the missed opportunities to show kindness and mercy, because I know that “mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13), I ask for Your gracious pardon.
Lord Jesus, I take comfort in Your assurance that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). I am immensely grateful for Your sacrifice on the cross, a manifestation of love so profound that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought us into Your kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13), and for this, I am eternally thankful.
As we continue in our prayer, O God, I ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to examine my heart deeply (Psalm 139:23-24). I pray not only for personal repentance but also for communal repentance. As member of the body of Christ, I ask forgiveness for when I am in Your church have not fully embodied Your love and truth in the world (1 Corinthians 12:27). I seek Your wisdom and renewal, that I might better serve as beacons of Your grace, truth, and love.
Father, I also remember the command of Ephesians 4:31-32, to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Help me not only to receive Your forgiveness but also to extend it to others, even as we have been forgiven. By doing so, I obey Christ’s directive to forgive “not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22).
Lord, I recognize that repentance is not merely a one-time act but a daily returning to You. I desire to “present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1), no longer conforming to the pattern of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). I want to live as a person who is “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).
I ask now for Your strength in the face of temptation. Your Word promises that no temptation has overtaken me except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. But when I am tempted, He will also provide a way out so that we can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). I pray for vigilance to see the way out that You provide and the courage to take it.
God of mercy, as I draw this prayer to a close, I will do so with the confidence of Your Word which assures us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I lay my sins before You, trust in Your mercy, and accept Your grace, knowing that my slate is wiped clean because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
May I walk in the freedom of Your forgiveness, not using it as a license for wrongdoing, but as motivation to live increasingly holy and joy-filled lives (Galatians 5:13). Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12). And may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
I am on Rumble!
if you prefer to listen along to the daily prayer you can find the video here:
