Tag: penitent

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Merciful God,
On this day, Ash Wednesday, we mark the beginning of the season of Lent. Today especially, we are reminded of the inseparable bond sin and death share. Sinners cannot escape death. I, therefore, cannot escape death. What I can do, though, and need to do daily, is confess my sins that lead to death. Lent is not a season of self-help, but a penitential season of helplessness. Grant me a humble and contrite heart, and create in me a renewed spirit as I prepare once again to see the Savior’s steps toward his ultimate sacrifice for all, including me. Only at the cross was the eternal bond between sin and death broken, so that now, in Christ, even though I die, I live. Eternally. With you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bring Blessings Through the Fruit of My Repentance

Holy Spirit,
When you work in me a penitent spirit, work in me also the genuine desire to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. While repentance itself is a challenge for my stubborn heart, what follows can also be easily overlooked. When contrition and confession lead me to the cross, where I am flooded with your full forgiveness, allow that renewed spirit within me to be eager to bear fruit that seeks to make right whatever wrong I have committed. Let my cleansed soul find genuine joy in humbly serving anyone I have wronged. In that way, through the process of repentance, reshape the original evil that was done into something beautiful and good in the end. Take what was bad and turn it to what is beneficial, bestowing your blessing on many along the way. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For a Penitent Spirit

Patient Father,
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord by preaching a message of repentance. Through your Holy Spirit, work in me a penitent spirit – one that does not seek to diminish or hide my sin, but to confess it. When I come clean to you in confession, confident of your unconditional grace, your forgiveness washes over me and restores my soul. Practicing repentance regularly reminds me that I am not a slave to sin, but to righteousness, and this is not so because of anything on my end, but entirely because your atoning work completely covered all sin. Thank you for your gift of repentance. Keep me always willing and eager to take advantage of it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For a Penitent Spirit

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. The pattern of confession and absolution in worship reminds me that daily I die to sin and am raised to new life in Christ, and this only by the power of the gospel. Renew my spirit in worship this morning as in different ways it calls to mind my baptismal life and feeds my hungry soul through the Supper whenever it is offered. Grant me a penitent spirit, one that is not only aware of my sin and sorry for it, but also willing and open to confess it. Guard my heart from being deceived into thinking I could somehow hide any sin. Then, as I depart your house of worship this morning, always surround me with dedicated brothers in Christ who are bold and unafraid to point out the sin in me which I either can’t see or refuse to see on my own. And make us all even more eager to assure each other of your unconditional forgiveness. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.