When it is said that the man confesses or makes a confession, the content of the confession is distinguished in various ways. However, they can all be grouped under two heads, confession of faith and confession of sin. Confessions of faith are public acknowledgments of fidelity to God, and to the truth through which God is revealed, such as 1 Kings 8:33. They are declarations of unconditional trust in Christ and dedication to his service; Matthew 10:32. We bring you these 2 models of prayer to confess in different areas of your life as a Christian.
“Everyone who confesses me before men.” In Philippians 2:11, however, the confession includes, along with the voluntary, also reluctant, acknowledgment of Jesus’ sovereignty. The word confession also means everything that is contained in the Christian religion – “faith” used in the broadest and objective sense, in Hebrews 3:1-4:14. In both passages, the allusion is to the New Testament. The “High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1) is the High Priest, of whom we learn and with whom we deal in that new revelation, which in that epistle is contrasted with the old.
Prayer for confession of faith
Beloved Father we call you and we name you as eternal, always present and unlimited in love. However, there are times, God, when we do not recognize you in the daily life of our lives. Sometimes shame tightens around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings; fear makes us small, and we lose the opportunity to speak from our strength; and doubt invades our hope, and we degrade our own wisdom.
Holy Spirit, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence with us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Help us to see you in the momentary possibilities to live honestly, to act boldly, and to speak from our wisdom.
Heavenly Father, we bow our heads before you and confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we lead our lives as if there is no God and we are far from being a credible witness to you. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask you for strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so that we can bear witness to you in our world. Remind us that we must be who you want us to be no matter what we are doing or who we are with. Embrace us and build our relationship with you and with those you have given us on earth.
Prayer for confession of sins
Holy God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Free us from a past that we cannot change; open up a future for us in which we can be transformed; and grant us the grace to grow more and more in your image and likeness, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
My God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, for what I have done and for what I have left undone. I have not loved with all my heart; I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I repent from the heart, I ask you for mercy and forgive me; so that I may delight myself in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.
Almighty and merciful Father, I have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. I have followed too much the designs and desires of my own heart. Lord, have mercy on us. Restore us according to your promises declared to men in Christ Jesus our Lord. Grant us that we can live a pious, just and sober life from now on.
Lord you are compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in mercy. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor have you rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has our transgressions been removed from us.
Almighty God, who freely forgives all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfills in my contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all my sins, and cleansing me of a bad conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.