Confession Prayer Week of August 25, 2024
Call to Confession:
As we enter into a time of confession together, let’s prepare our hearts by hearing these words from Colossians 3:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Prayer of Confession:
Patient and loving Father,
You have been faithful to us in all things, keeping your promises to those who belong to you throughout all generations. But Lord, we admit that we are not always faithful to you. We have often let our selfishness invade our relationship with you and with others. Father, forgive us.
Holy Spirit, show us more of Christ and change us into his likeness. Make us steadfast in our love for him and faithful in obedience. Let our weakness only draw us closer to our need for our Savior. May your deep love and mercy cause us to turn to you, to love you, to trust you, and to grow in faithfulness to you. Let it compel us to share freely with others. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon:
In the scriptures we find assurances of our forgiveness and encouragement in our walk. So hear the continuation of these words in Colossians 3 and rest in their truth for us…
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.