Most gracious and merciful Father,
We who gather here this morning acknowledge ourselves to be your unworthy servants. We know that our sins have been manifold and you have taken account of each one of our offenses. And in view of our sin, knowing it is all before your eyes, we wish to confess our sins and seek your redeeming grace.
Each of us acknowledges the fact that we are very weak. All too often we have given into temptation and all too easily we have plunged into sin. Yet even when we do battle with our flesh’s desire to sin, we find ourselves perpetually on the losing side.
Our passions rage within us and our sinful desires burn like an unquenchable fire. Indeed our struggles against temptation have been feeble at best and our attempts at godliness have been far from perfect.Lord, our hearts are evil.
This is why we beseech you this morning. For we know that you find sin to be an abomination and you will not let the ungodly see the kingdom of God.We acknowledge that you would be just in handing us over to judgment. You would be right to condemn us and subject us to the most dreadful torments.
For this reason we humbly bow before. We deserve not one of your kindnesses. But by the mercies that are pledged in Christ your Son we ask that you would pardon our failures and forgive all our offenses. We pray that you would not hold our wrong against us, nor would you take count of our sins. We beg that you would blot them out and cast them upon the cross of Calvary and upon the Lamb who was slain.
And would you send forth your Spirit into our hearts to assure us that you are indeed our Father and that we are indeed your children. Impress upon our hearts the fact that you love us with an everlasting love.
And by that same Spirit fortify our hearts against sin. Let the enticement of sin loose its fervor and sin’s grip fall away. And we also desire your word to take root in our hearts that righteousness might come forth like Spring flowers; that we might be strengthened for the fight of faith; and that we might victorious when called to war against the flesh.
In Christ's strong Name, Amen.
