Three Prayers of Confession

Confession is often a liturgical category that gets overlooked in worship. As worshipers we can be so eager to get to God that we forget the importance of seeking the Lord for forgiveness in confession before coming to Him in unhindered worship. Prayers of confession aim to corporately give language to the saints to help confess our many weaknesses and shortcomings before approaching Him in worship.

Scriptural Confession (cf. Ps 121)

"Lord, from where does our help come from? We confess that we too often look to the things of this world to satisfy us and please us, when those things really never satiate our desires. Remind us that our help comes from you, O Lord, maker of heaven and earth. We have no need to fear, since you are creator of the universe and sustain everything in creation, down to each atom. Lord, keep us until the day of salvation, and come quickly Lord Jesus, giving us the power to sustain us until your coming. We pray this in your powerful name, amen."

Call and Response Confession (cf. Ps 107)

Leader: “The LORD has delivered His people from their distresses, and led them by a straight way.”

Congregation: “Let us thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

Leader: “The LORD has brought us out of the darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

Congregation: “Let us thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

Leader: “The LORD has healed the sick, calmed the storm, and hushed the waves of the sea.”

Congregation: “Let us thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

Leader: “The LORD led Israel through the wilderness, and saved His people from the Egyptians.”

Congregation: “Let us thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

Leader: “The LORD sent His only Son, so that we can be saved by grace through faith in Christ alone.”

Congregation: “Let us thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”

Prayer of Confession

"Lord, we confess our only hope is from without. Within us we struggle with self-sufficiency, sin, and succumbing to tears. For many of us, tears have been our food day and night. For others, it seems as if God has forgotten us, with our enemies being victorious over us. We have been reduced to the dark of night in our longing and despondency. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Lord, we put our hope in you, our salvation and God (Ps 42:11). You who did not withhold you own Son, will you not freely give us all things (Rom 8:32)? We wait on you, O God, who measures time not as we but is patient towards us. Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:12). Help us to see the gospel more clearly from our worship today. Lord, you are our only salvation, so help us to look to Christ. Lord Jesus, you endured the cross, despising the shame for the joy that was set before you (Heb 12). You accomplished this work so that our joy may be complete in your atoning sacrifice. Jesus, through your wounds alone are we healed. Through your scourging, we find safety (1 Pet 2). Help us to daily pick up our cross and follow you, no matter the obstacles that face us. Help us to show the love of Christ to those who need it this week. O God, let your light shine in our hearts so that we may share the light of the knowledge of the glory of God to the rest of the world (2 Cor 4:6). Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and delight in you (Ps 90:14). Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer (Ps 19:14)."