Gracious and Merciful Father, 

We come before you humbly acknowledging our sin and our need for your grace and forgiveness. We confess that we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, nor have we loved our neighbors as ourselves. Please forgive us. We love ourselves more than we realize. We have fallen short on obeying the golden commandments repeatedly.

We confess our transgressions, and our sins that are ever before us. We confess the sins we know, the sins that we have foolishly tried to hide from you, and the sins that we have failed to recognize still. We have wandered from your ways in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We have neglected what you have commanded and failed to do what you have called us to do. 

Instead of boasting abundantly in Christ, we have continually boasted on temporal things. Instead of being grateful for all of our blessings, we have found creative ways to be discontent with your providence. We are of all people to be pitied. Please forgive us. 

Please forgive us for the times that we were prideful with and without our knowledge. We know from the Scriptures that everything that we are and have, we have received from you. And yet, we get puffed up, act foolishly and dig our own graves. Please have mercy on us. 

When we read and study about the Israelites, we struggle to comprehend how they could have committed such heinous sins, rebelled against the Lord, never learning from their own history and yet, like a broken record, we do the same. Jesus, Son of David, please have mercy on us. 

Lord, as your church, we confess that we have often been slow to trust you, slow to pray, and slow to obey. We have pursued our own comfort more than your kingdom, our own desires more than your will, and our own glory more than your honor. We are undeserving of your forgiveness.  

Abba Father, apart from your mercy we cannot stand before you. We place our hope not in our filthy rags righteousness but in your unfailing love and the precious saving work of Lord Jesus Christ. 

Please have mercy on us according to your steadfast love. Please wash us thoroughly from our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin.  

Please forgive us for the ways we have failed to reflect Christ in our homes, our workplaces, our community, and within this congregation. Please heal what is broken among us. Please restore the damage caused by our sins. Please unite us in love, humility, and truth. 

Please teach us to consistently walk in your ways. Please help us to put to death the deeds of the flesh by your Holy Spirit. Please renew our joy daily in your salvation and make us a people who delight in your Word, pursue holiness, and proclaim your gospel. 

Father, our hearts and thoughts are continually evil. Without a pure heart, we will not be able to see you and be in your gracious presence. Please create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us through the work of your Son. We thank you for your love and abundance grace in Christ Jesus. 

We thank you for rescuing us from condemnation and death to blessing us with salvation and eternal life in your presence.  

Please hear our cry from the depths, O YAHWEH. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for your cleansing blood, Son of God. Thank you for leading us and helping us triumph over sin, Holy Spirit of the Living God. Triune God, please glorify yourself among us. 

We pray this… through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loved us and gave Himself for us, Amen.