“Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate the death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter Sunday) of Jesus. It is this very preparation and repentance – aimed at grasping the intense significance of the crucifixion – that gives us a deep and powerful longing for the resurrection, the joy of Easter.” – Will Walker
As we walk through this season of Lent together as a church family, I will be posting a simple daily prayer of confession for you to use as a prompt for your own prayers of confession. The spiritual practice of daily confession of sin is a vital one for me. I hope these daily posts can help you form a similar practice of forsaking sin and embracing Christ’s mercy that is far, far greater than our sins!
Day 31
Almighty and merciful God, we confess to You that too often we approach You out of duty and obligation rather than genuine love and affection for Your presence. Forgive us for uttering songs of praise to You without being transformed by the truths that we are singing. Forgive us for muttering prayers of adoration to You without depending upon Your love and grace. And forgive us for acting as though You are pleased with our show, pretense, and religious activities, when we do not love our neighbor. You take no pleasure in these worthless offerings, they are an abomination to You. You will hide Your eyes from us, and You will not listen. We confess that we seek comfort and isolation rather than moving toward people, like You have moved toward us. We humbly ask that You would teach us to do what is truly good; that we would seek justice and correct oppression. We pray that we would love seeing things made right in this world because You have first made us right through the cross of Christ. Amen.
Journey to the Cross – based on Is. 1.10-17
