Forgiveness

How do we let God know that we have stumbled and that we feel sorry for what we’ve done or said? In what manner do we open our hearts to our Saviour and tell him that we know we’ve sinned and that we are in need of his merciful love? Prayers of confession and contrition are there to express our pain and our remorse. They are also there to cleanse us and heal us, to renew us in Christ Jesus.

Merciful and loving God, we confess that we have stumbled. In our thoughts and words, in what we have done and in what we have neglected to do. We have not loved you with our whole hearts and we have not loved others as ourselves. We are sincerely and fully sorry, humbly repenting before you, and we pray that with your love and strength we may avoid sinning in the future. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Jesus, my all in all, forgive me. I’ve seen the error of my ways and the hurt that I’ve caused. Grant me your pardon, oh Lord, and help me to pardon others their sins, for it is in forgiving others that we are forgiven. Through your most holy name. Amen.

Loving God, we admit that many times we act in ways that disappoint and hurt you. Sometimes we become angry for pointless reasons, and sometimes we take offence and hold grudges against others. Help us to see you in all our brothers and sisters and may we treat them with grace and compassion. Forgive us we pray, for our laziness or neglect, and for putting ourselves first instead of doing your holy will. Help us to fully repent, to amend our ways, and make us whole. Amen.