Category: Prayers

King of kings and Lord of lords, you stand above all princes and rulers. Forgive us for ascribing power to others above you. We have been fearful of the persecution of princes when we ought to stand in awe of you and your words. Yet we thank you for giving us your word as an anchor for our souls in a wicked world. Enable us to praise you habitually and engage your word consistently. Grant us great inward peace and keep us from stumbling. We hope in you and love you exceedingly, for you know us and love us, you bless and keep us. Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:161-168)

Gracious God, we call on you for forgiveness this morning in all humility. We deserve the wages of sin, all the afflictions of this life plus everlasting torment in hell. We have not sought you and obedience to your rules as we ought, so we plead that you would redeem us from sin and affliction. Give us life! “Great is your mercy, O LORD… Give me life according to your steadfast love.” Thank you that we have an advocate before you, Jesus Christ the righteous, who atoned for our sins. We thank you that now even our afflictions are turned for good. We praise you as those set free in your truth and forgiven in your Son. Change us, Holy Spirit, to serve you with our whole hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:153-160 and 1 John 1:5-2:2).

“With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!” We cry out to you for help this morning as those who are small and despised, who have experienced the misery of sin. Save us from our sin. Hear our voices, according to your steadfast love. We have brought sin near to us, yet we thank you that you are nearer still to us. We thank you that you are stronger than all our sin. Transform our lives to reflect Jesus Christ’s moral perfection and Spirit-enabled fruitfulness. Enable us to keep your statutes and walk before you with joy, we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:145-152)

Righteous LORD, your rules are right and good. You are utterly faithful in your righteousness, consistent and proven. We confess that we have sinned against you, and are unrighteous without your mercy and forgiveness. We should be like you, yet our righteousness is inconsistent. Our love for you is hot and cold, not perfectly faithful. Forgive us for the sake of our Savior, your Son, whose zeal for the church consumed his life. He is the King of Righteousness, who lives forever, and whose resurrection from the dead signaled our justification. Give us life in him, we ask, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:137-144, Tsade)

Wonderful God, with grief and hatred of our sins we come before you now. You have given us many kind gifts, yet we have belittled them. We have not grasped how great you are, and have praised you far less than you deserve. Forgive us, and help us to experience what the Psalmist says: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple… Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name… Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me… Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.” Thank you that you sent Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who kept your law perfectly and in whom you accept us. We rely on him for all things, including this prayer, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:129-136, Pe)

Heavenly Father, we come to you this morning asking forgiveness for our many sins. Our world is full of lies and we are threatened by them. Our adversary the devil is the father of lies. The people around us have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worship created things. Forgive us for believing lies. You never lie, and we thank you for the many pledges of your love that you have given to us. We ask that by the Holy Spirit, the pledges of your Word would enable us to withstand oppression. Give us deeper understanding of the truths in your word, that we would treasure them above fine gold. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:121-128, ayin)

Holy God, We confess our sinfulness today. We have been double-minded, and we plead now, “we believe, overcome our unbelief.” Enable us to love your law and hope in your word. Thank you that you are our true hiding place and shield, delivering us from the evil of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We confess that we have kept harmful company, whether with other persons, or virtual influences like social media, television, and the like, which only distracted us from seeking you. We pray that you would give us companions who love you and encourage us to do the same. Forgive us through the blood and righteousness of Christ, without whom we would tremble in fearful expectation of your righteous judgment. Amen. (Based on Psalm 119:113-120)

You are light, God, and there is no darkness in you whatsoever. Sadly, we confess that the same cannot be said of us. We have walked in the darkness, sinning against you in word, thought, and deed. Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, but we have stumbled about because we loved our own paths. We have refused instruction—though you show us how to live in your Word and encouraged us to follow it through the godly people around us. Forgive us, and make us utterly committed to you. Give us perseverance in serving you. Enable each of us to pray, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.” We pray this through the Savior in whom we have an eternal inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:105-112 and 1 John 1 and 1 Peter 1)

Holy, Holy, Holy, God, we confess that, as Jesus charged, we have loved darkness rather than light. We are still tempted to love the wrong things, and the result is sin. Our adoration of lesser things means we have given little thought to you and to your Word. Change our affections so that we love you and your law. Give us faith that seeks greater understanding. Root out the pride of our hearts that says we do not need you. Where we find sin sweet, make it bitter to us. Send your Spirit to enable us to truly echo the Psalm in saying, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” We ask for forgiveness and transformation through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:97-104 and John 3)