Almighty and Merciful God,
As we come before you this morning we wish to acknowledge ourselves for who we are. We are sinners, utterly unable to submit to your will in any way without you.
We confess that we are evil and inclined toward every sort of wickedness. And the sole reason we do not fly headlong into the grossest of evils is because your hand is there to restrain us.
Indeed you have protected us from many evils already. We know that we have life and breathe today only because you have not treated us as our sins deserve. Lord, we thank you for your mercy, and we thank you for your long suffering. Moreover we thank you for turning our hearts toward you. For we know that we would never have even a sense of our sin without you.
And it is because we have this sense of sin that we turn to you this morning. You are good, and worthy of all honor and praise, but we have not given you’re the homage you deserve. Therefore we bow ourselves before you with contrite hearts. And we wish to ask you to pardon us for our transgressions.
Forgive us for not seeking the things of Christ. Forgive us for rebelling against your dominion and rule. Like the Israelites of old you pledged yourself to us. In kindness you brought us into your covenant, and promised to protect us and be our guide. But we have not submitted to your government or listened to your word. Forgive us Lord for our childish behavior, and be not angry with us.
But instead subdue our hearts. Conquer us with your mighty power, and make us to love your reign. Make us to find delight in your law and help us to take pleasure in what pleases you.
We pray that you might also bind that wretched Satan. We ask that you might restrain him and keep him from tempting us. We do not pardon ourselves by blaming the devil, but we do acknowledge his role in leading us astray. Our souls are so weak that we cannot resist him in and of ourselves. So we pray that you might keep him far from us and far from our children.
In all things we pray that you might order our lives so that you might receive all glory and honor. For this we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen
