A Corporate Prayer of Confession
Yesterday, our church continued our study of Ezra and Nehemiah in a series titled Repent, Restore, Rebuild. After reflecting on Ezra’s prayer of confession for the returning exiles (Ezra 9:5-15), I led our congregation in a similar prayer. Two members requested a copy after the service, so I’m sharing it here for others who may find it meaningful.
Lord, with a deeper understanding of our sinfulness, we confess how we have violated your Ten Commandments, the foundation of all moral law.
- We have placed other gods before you, dishonoring your uniqueness by elevating worldly pleasures, possessions, power, and pursuits above you. We have fallen into the schemes of the devil by making idols of people and things.
- We have provoked your jealousy by worshiping you improperly—through visible objects, emotional experiences, or false ideas—rather than as you revealed yourself in Scripture. We have sometimes focused more on the elements of worship than on you, failing to worship in spirit and truth.
- We have taken your holy name in vain, misusing it carelessly, hypocritically, or irreverently. We have spoken flippantly about sacred things, dishonoring your character.
- We have neglected your principle of rest and failed to honor your wisdom. Our relentless pursuit of work and success has distracted us from enjoying your glory in creation. We have trusted in our efforts rather than seeking Christ, often prioritizing work, family, and sports over honoring the Lord’s Day.
- We have sinned against our parents, the foundation of all authority. We have followed the world in disobedience and, as parents, have not always taught our children—by word and example—to obey cheerfully and respect those you have placed in leadership.
- We have harbored anger and resentment, murdering others in our hearts with bitter words. We have failed to cherish the sanctity of all human life—unborn, young, old, and disabled—and to show the world that children are blessings, not burdens, as are the elderly whom we are honored to care for.
- We have indulged in the lust of the flesh and dishonored the gift of sexuality. We have further corrupted our already-corrupt hearts through immoral images and words, both accidentally and intentionally. Husbands and wives have not always held marriage in the highest regard nor kept the marriage bed pure. We have failed to honor singleness and have sought satisfaction outside of you instead of fleeing youthful lusts and pursuing righteousness.
- We have stolen from you and others. We have withheld our tithes due to unbelief or self-centered spending. We have taken advantage of others, been careless with time, handled finances without integrity, and cheated the government or family for personal gain.
- We have spoken lies—through deceit, slander, gossip, or flattery—rather than consistently upholding truth. We have worn masks to impress or deceive rather than live with authenticity.
- We have coveted, allowing materialism and discontentment to rule our hearts. We have failed to respect others’ property, placed trust in credit cards instead of your provision, and indulged in impulse buying to accumulate stuff we don’t need. Our hearts have been filled with complaints instead of gratitude.
Lord, your Word tells us that if we have broken even one of your laws, we are guilty of breaking them all. We are guilty of committing intentional and unintentional sins. Forgive us and transform our hearts so we may walk in your ways.
All our days, you have been merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We thank you for not keeping your anger forever. You have not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. But as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is your lovingkindness.
Above all, we thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to rescue and redeem us. Without him, we could never stand before you. He alone absorbed your wrath against our sins when he was punished on the cross in our place. We rest in the sufficiency of his precious blood, which washes away our sins. Through him, we enter your loving presence. Amen.
