Confession: Psalm 145: 17-18

Here’s a prayer of confession and words of assurance inspired by Psalm 145: 17-18.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Prayer of Confession
(inspired by Psalm 145: 17-18)

“The Lord our God is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.”

Most Holy God,
we confess to you and to each other
that we are rarely just in all our ways,
and far from being kind in all our doings.
What we want to be and what we actually are,
are two different things.

Our lives are a miss-mash of astuteness and stupidity,
of moral strength and cowardice,
of kindness and meanness,
of openness and cunning,
of sincere love for you yet also of conniving self-interest.

We need both your justice and your kindness
to convict us of our sins,
to forgive and cleanse us,
and to save us from the power of evil in the days that lie ahead.
We need your mercy to wipe away shame and disabling regrets,
your light to give us our bearings,
and your friendship to delight with us in our happiness
and to comfort us in our sorrows.

Please grant to us, loving God,
the grace of a new beginning
and the joy of an enlarged love for you.
Give us a passion for all your loving ways.
Through Christ Jesus our Brother and Redeemer.

Words of Assurance
(inspired by Psalm 145: 17-18)

Sisters and brothers, Holy Scripture says:
“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all and his mercy is over all his works.”

In the name of the living God,
through the grace of Christ Jesus the Son,
and with the authority of the Spirit,
I declare to you the forgiveness of sins
and the life that is eternal!

We will extol you, our God and Saviour,
and glorify your name forever and ever!
Every day we will praise you,
and glorify your name forever and ever.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/DocC/C62sun32.htm