The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

- Psalm 103:8

Confessing our sins to God can be remarkably difficult. We forget them. We're embarassed by them. They're too many to name.

And yet the Lord is eager to forgive. He wants us to know that we're forgiven. He's not trying to beat us up and make us feel bad. He doesn't want that for us. And we don't want that for you.

Throughout the history of the Christian movement, people have leaned on others to help them pray prayers of confession. Picture a big sister helping a little brother learn to ride a bike, holding his shoulders to steady his balance as he starts to peddle.

This help often looks like thoughtful, pre-written prayers. Praying them keeps us from falling off of our prayer bike into a ditch of condemnation or shame.

Over the years, we've found this prayer to be very helpful ...

From the Book of Common Prayer:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Try praying this prayer today and over the weekend. See if it's helpful to you.

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