Confession: Wilderness Places


Here’s a prayer of confession for the Lenten season.  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

 

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13)

 

Gracious and merciful God,

we confess to you our reluctance to enter the wilderness places

where we are confronted with our true selves.  
The places where we are tempted to put wordly values

before our desire for you,

and when our hunger for power and wealth is greater 
than our hunger for seeking and doing your will: 
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to use the gifts you give us

to benefit ourselves at the expense of serving others:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to use sensational means to increase people’s faith, 
rather than being guided by the humility of Christ:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you. 

When we are tempted to use bribery to influence and control people:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to manipulate you, O God, to satisfy our own needs:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

                A time of silence for personal confession

Merciful God,

save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. 

Forgive us our sins and fill us with the joy and peace of your salvation.

So strengthen us with your Spirit during this Lenten season 
that we put our whole trust in you as confidently as Jesus did. 
This we pray in his name.  Amen

Words of Forgiveness
As the Apostle Paul wrote:

“...if you confess with your lips that Jesus Christ is Lord

and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,

you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

These words contain the good news

that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

 

~ written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online. http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/