Here’s a thoughtful prayer of confession based on Deuteronomy 30:11-20. It comes from the Patmos Abbey website.
Prayer of Confession & Assurance
(inspired by Deuteronomy 30:11-20)
Today I have given you the choice between life and death,
between blessings and curses….
Oh, that you would choose life,
that you and your descendants might live!
(Deuteronomy 30: 19)
God has set before us life and death.
The choice is ours.
Let us acknowledge our misuse of the
liberty of choice. Let us pray.
—silent prayer—
Let us ask to be forgiven for the times when we have chosen badly,
opting for the easy way of
habit and social convention,
rather that the higher and harder ways of Jesus.
Let us confess that sometimes our choices have been made
from rank selfishness,
with scant concern for those around us,
even for those who love us dearly.
Let us ask to be forgiven for putting off decisions,
for dithering and avoiding choice until opportunity has gone by.
Let us confess that we have at times
made outwardly good decisions for the wrong reasons,
driven by selfish motives.
Holy God, Saviour and Friend,
we thank you that long before we face up to ourselves
and frame our confessions,
your mercy in Jesus is here waiting for us.
We rest our mortal lives in your immortal Life,
allowing your grace, mercy and peace
to cleanse, refresh and straighten us.
Breathe into our humanity, loving God,
that we may fully live.
Please breathe your Spirit in our brains,
that our decision making may be pure and wise.
Breathe your Spirit on our lips,
that our speech may witness to life and light and holy joy.
Breathe your Spirit on our hands,
that in their busyness they may serve you before all else.
Breathe your Spirit on our feet,
that we may tread this earth with gentleness and respect.
Through Christ Jesus, our liberator.
Amen!
— from Traveling to Easter with Jesus as our Guide, posted on the website of Patmos Abbey—The Order of Saint Columba. http://www.patmosabbey.org/
