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Corporate Repentance
As a regular part of services at The Chapel, we read a
prayer of repentance together. The prayers below make up our dynamic
collection of corporate prayers of repentance written by Pastor
Christian Lindbeck.
Number 1*
Eternal Father, you are good beyond all thought, but I am broken and
blind; My lips are quick to confess, but my habits are slow to change,
and I am reluctant to totally surrender. I bring my heart to you again;
break it, mould it, and heal it. Show me sin's deformity, that I may
hate it and flee from it. I regret my sins and cry for your forgiveness.
Work in me a more profound and abiding repentance; Give to me the
fullness of due grief, and the blessed joy of assured forgiveness. Grant
that through genuine repentance I may see more clearly the brightness
and glories of the saving cross of Christ.
Number 2
Abba Father, you are completely worthy of praise, and we thank you
that we may come as children before your throne. We know we have fallen
short of your calling this week. When we could have been patient, we
were annoyed; when we needed to show love, we were selfish; when we
should have shared your saving gospel, we were silent. We repent.
Forgive us yet again, and renew a right Spirit within us. For we know
that through the authority of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit
you have given us hearts of obedience. You have not given us the Spirit
of defeat, but the Spirit of victory. Our inheritance is that same power
which raised Christ from the dead! Lord, we commit ourselves again to
your work, again to your kingdom, again to your glory. Take pleasure in
your children as we pray.
Number 3
Lord, you have rescued us from destruction. You have plucked us,
like dry sticks from the fire. We were dead in our transgressions, and
you redeemed us in Christ Jesus. In the richness of your grace you have
made us all heirs in your kingdom.
For the times we have turned our backs on you gift - we repent.
For the times we have ignored your holy calling and served only
ourselves - we repent.
We give to you this offering of prayer, this day, this week, our
lives.
Strengthen us to the task we pray.
Number 4
Sovereign God, you are unmatched in power. Your authority stretches
over all creation. Galaxies spin and stars are born at the direction of
your will. All that has ever been, all that is, and all that will ever
be comes from your hand. Why do you pay attention to us? Surely, we are
unworthy of your consideration. Yet you have positioned us inferior only
to you! You have created us in your image and given us rule over all
that you made. You have crowned your creation with Mankind.
We repent for shrinking you in our hearts. We repent for failing our
position. We repent for doubting your interest in us. We declare
together that you are able and eager to walk with us through life. Our
concerns and pain, our joys and delight, all belong to you.
Glory, Power and Honor to you... and to us, Hope, Peace, and Joy.
Number 5*
Changeless Father, we have restless hearts and struggle to be still
before you. We choose this morning to slow down long enough to feel the
conviction of our sin, and to marvel how little we obey your truth and
ways. Of all hypocrites Lord, grant that we will not be Christian
hypocrites
Who sin more freely because grace abounds
Who proclaim vainly - we are saved
Who love preaching, churches and Christians, but live unholy lives.
It is readily apparent that by nature we a broken
vessels
With a dull desire for the Lord's Day
Ever learning but rarely changing our behavior
Always taking in the Gospel, but struggling to hold water.
Lord forgive us and renew our minds. Grant, by
your unfailing mercy, that even these broken vessels may carry the water
of your gospel.
Number 6
Almighty and ever-living God, in Your tender love for the human race
you sent your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ to take upon Him our nature,
and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of His great
humility. Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of His suffering,
and also share in His resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever.
Number 7
Almighty God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to
the death of the cross, and by His glorious resurrection delivered us
from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we
may evermore live with Him in the joy of His resurrection; through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Number 8
Beloved Redeemer, who for my sin was lifted upon the cross, suffered
shame and cruel death. Today I bind myself to your sacrifice, repent of my evil deeds and shameful thoughts, and claim
the full satisfaction of the penalty in your name. I believe your
promise that by faith I share in your death and inherit your victorious
life.
What more can be said? Your death is my life, your resurrection is my
promise, and your glory is my peace.
Number 9
Lord Jesus Christ, surely you are God. Yet you humbled yourself and
were born as a son of man. You willingly surrendered glory for disgrace,
honor for shame, and life for death.
Out of love and obedience you came to rescue humans as a human. Thanks
be to God! For as one human brought sin into the world, only a human
could pay the penalty, and only the God-Man could bear the full weight
of the sin.
We repent of our shortcomings today. We accept the struggle born of a
new heart and rebuke the sin resident from an old life. Together, we
fall into the arms of your sacrifice and accept salvation from the God
who came as a man.
Number 10 for World
Missions Emphasis
Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in your wisdom all three of
you ordained for The Son to pay the penalty and open The Way. You sent
The Spirit to counsel and empower the redeemed, and you have chosen us
to go and make disciples of all the nations. We pray for eyes to see and
ears to hear, for tender hearts and courage to speak. May our greatest
testimony be our actions, and may our mouths be quick to confess your
gospel.
Forgive us for missed opportunities and cowardly silence. We repent of
resting in selfish salvation and resolve today to go out again in Jesus
name.
Number 11
Lord Jesus Christ, in perfect union with the Spirit and the Father,
you are the One True God. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and
the End - the great I AM.
This day, I choose again.
I choose you and your kingdom.
I choose full life.
I choose to walk in the Light.
I believe.
I put down my sin and pick up your promises. Where I bring weakness, you
bring strength. Thanks be to God!
Number 12
Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry.
I am sorry that I so often accept your grace but ignore your commands.
How beautiful it is to be clean before the throne of God.
How splendid to be a child in your kingdom.
How rich to know the Holy Spirit.
Yet, have you not also given us work?
You are the perfect example of sacrificial
service.
We may be children of the household, but we are servants of the kingdom.
Forgive us our lazy salvation and renew in us a right spirit.
May we be known by our authentic love, our costly generosity, our ready
courage, our gentle humility, our uncompromising justice, and our cogent
faith.
In your name we pray.
Number 13
Lord Jesus Christ, surely you are the Great Shepherd, as surely
we are difficult sheep. From the very beginning we all, like sheep went
astray, each going our own way. Yet out of immeasurable love you gave
your very life to rescue us from our foolish paths. Dumb, lost and
obstinate we wandered into destruction, and you snatched us from death’s
teeth.
Now you watch over us daily, correcting our course
and leading us to green pastures and beside cool waters. Though we still
misstep and walk through death’s dark valley we will not fear, for
your rod and your staff comfort us. Forgive us our disregard, and our
foolish behavior. May we rest forever in the competent care of the Great
Shepherd.
Number 14
Heavenly Father, in this life,
our compulsions often conflict with our convictions. It is too easy to
let “what we want” dominate our behavior and we are tossed about in a
storm of our own passions. In a moment, anger, lust or impatience can
overwhelm and we make mistakes that cannot be retrieved. For those times
we have hurt others, we repent. For the stain on our testimony, we
repent. For not obeying the Spirit over ourselves, we repent.
Steadfast Love, Righteous Judge, and
Holy God, prepare us to be people of charity, love and justice for your
Name sake. We honestly choose you and your Kingdom first. Do not leave
us, but take this choice and bless it; and then, we ask, continue to
empower us by the Holy Spirit to meet this task.
We pray in the name of the Redeemer Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen
Number 15
Dearest Lord Jesus, you being in very nature God,
true light from true light, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
took on the mantle of created flesh and came to rescue humanity. King of
Glory, Righteousness Incarnate you suffered death, even death on a cross
and became sin for me.
Oh God my God how majestic is your name in all the
earth, because you were obedient your name had been exalted to the
highest place, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and
every tongue confess that you are Lord. Your example is my calling, your
fellowship my hope, the Holy Spirit my strength. Forgive me Lord for
acting in selfish ambition and vain conceit. I am stunned how easily I
consider myself before others. Restore me once again and create a right
spirit within me. Take this choice Lord, bless it, and send me out in
your name again I pray. Amen.
Number 16
Risen Savior, Sovereign Lord and soon coming King, in
this season of thanks, as lost souls struggle to remember who to thank
and cheer themselves in passing revelry; we turn to you in gratitude for
the truly miraculous – our life, your creation, and the miracle of human
relationships; our free salvation by faith alone; your daily graces, and
the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Forgive us Provider, for failing
to be constantly thankful, and help us as we choose to press in and
press on with Christ. On this first Advent Sunday we seize Hope. Hope
for today because you have shown yourself victorious over death and
life. Lord, help us to live peacefully among those who do not recognize
the sovereignty of our King. Hope for tomorrow, because your promises
are true and your power is evident.
Thanks always to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Number 17
Heavenly Father, it does not take long to see that we live in a broken
and dangerous world. Nations convulse and war against each other.
Millions starve, and the rich live in excess. We buy too much, we share
too little. Our unborn develop in helpless peril, and our children know
more diversion than divine. Oh God help us. We grieve over the
purposeful destruction of your creation by insatiable sin. Is there no
end to the appetite of the wicked?
What can we say then? Should we despair? Certainly
not, we will declare that you are Yahweh Shalom, GOD of Peace! We will
delight in your sovereignty. We will rejoice with the angels and
arch-angels that our Savior has come, and we will proclaim that he is
victorious over sin and death. We will choose to do your kingdom work
among the ruins. Forgive us for avoiding the anguish, and send us out
again as
your the agents of your Good News.
In the name of the Son, the very Prince of Peace,
we pray. Amen
Number 18
Loving Redeemer, before you spread the heavens,
before you gave the earth form, before you made the sea to surround the
land, before you made any human to walk in your garden, you willingly
surrendered the Son.
Before we fell, you prepared to catch us. Before the offense, you set
justice in motion.
Thanks be to Jesus, the astonishing, lovely sacrifice; Jesus the
promised hero from the line of Eve; Jesus, the blessing born of
Abraham’s people; Jesus the perfect lamb. Jesus the victorious king!
We grieve our thankless hearts and lackluster response. We praise you as
worthy, and choose you again. Amen.
Number 19
Lord Jesus Christ, true prophet of the Father,
being yourself one with Him.
You are the first and last among prophets.
Before Moses uttered a single word on your behalf, you directed his
steps.
Before Abraham was born, you formed the universe as the great “I AM.”
Before any declared you would come, you were already present.
We praise the Prophet Jesus who points us to the Father.
We thank the Father who raised the Son to the highest place.
And we adore the Spirit who helps us worship God.
Have mercy on us; for though we know the words of
the Prophet
and have the presence of the Spirit, we still wage a war against our
sin.
Sometimes we choose what is filthy and destructive over what is
excellent and useful.
We need daily reconciliation in your love, not unto salvation but unto
right relationship.
We have believed the Prophet and we claim the promises of His Word. Amen.
Number 20
by Ted Lindbeck
Father, we come in the Name of Jesus; the name of
the One You love;
Your Beloved Son;
to ask for everlastingly extended mercy -- sure mercies -- ones that
endure forever.
We ask today for pardon
because we accept hardship, disappointment, frustration, opposition
and all their cognates badly most of the time.
We do not react like Paul and Silas in prison nor like Peter and John
who left the Sanhedrin flogged and rejoicing
that they had been honored to suffer for the sake of The Name.
Instead, we feel sorry for ourselves, or resentful, or vengeful.
Forgive it. Train us in the Gospel way of absorbing evil the way Calvary
did. Amen.
Number 21
Adapted From Psalm 51.
I delight in Your mercy, O God, because of Your unfailing love.
Because of Your great compassion, You blot out the stain of my offense.
You wash me clean from my guilt and purify me from my sin.
For above all it is against You that I continually sin; and Your
judgment against me is just.
I know I was born a sinner — yes, from the moment my mother conceived
me.
Yet, You purify me from my sins, and I am clean; You wash me, and I am
whiter than snow.
Restore in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Never banish me from Your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from
me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, that I may honor You day and
night. Amen
Number 22*
Beloved Holy Spirit,
Consume me. As the sun is full of light, the ocean full of
water, and heaven full of glory, so may I be
full of you.
I need you. All of the beautiful redemption
secured by Jesus is broken in me except as you work it into my life.
I repent of my cold heart, my spiritual poverty
my selfish sight, my languid service,
my prayerless prayers and praiseless praise
Come as Power,
to expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme and keep me close to God’s
will;
Come as Teacher,
leading me to all truth and filling me with understanding;
Come as Love,
that I may adore the Father and the Son and so fulfill my created
purpose;
Come as Joy,
to dwell in me, to encourage me and to pour out of me;
Come as Light,
illuminating to me the Scripture, molding and making me in its truth;
Come as Sanctifier,
cleansing me body, mind and soul
Come as Helper
with strength to bless my weak choices, and wisdom to direct my
steps;
Come as Beautifier,
bringing order out of confusion and loveliness out of chaos.
Magnify yourself in me, that I may reflect your glory and be scented
with your fragrance.
Number 23
Almighty God and Abba Father, I bring my weakness. I bring my
disappointing failure to fully reflect your light. I bring all of my
broken humanity and habitual selfishness and I lay it all at your feet. I
breathe, I live, I continue because I know the Truth; the Truth of your
overwhelming gift of grace through the divine-man Jesus Christ.
I choose to live in the Truth. I
am not afraid of my nature; I rest in the righteousness you give to me.
I do not fear my weakness, for in my weakness you are strong. I love
your gift of peace and I choose to live in the Spirit, grounded in your
Truth. Amen.
Number 24
Lord Jesus Christ, founder and foundation
of the universal Church of Believers, we magnify your name. We rejoice
in the fellowship of your people from every nation, every tribe and
tongue. With all of heaven we celebrate the redemption of each new
convert and the establishment of every new church.
We recognize the Holy Spirit as the superintendent
of your remaining work on earth and we surrender all of our labor to
his direction. But we need your forgiveness Lord, for we are too often
lazy in our calling. We have rested while our neighbors are lost. We
have wasted resources while millions have starved and your missionaries
have gone without help. We have entertained ourselves in the most urgent
of times and ignored the most desperate of situations.
But that is not the whole of the truth. For by the
Power of the Spirit we have also been light where there was no light;
help where no one would help. We have shown generosity to the point of
pain and concern to the point of loss. When obedient, your church is the
most powerful institution on the earth.
So today, we choose again. We choose to seek you
and your kingdom first. Help us Holy Spirit; we give you reign in this
place and in our hearts. It is with great joy, trembling will and
faithful anticipation that we await your direction. Amen.
Number 25 - Freedom form
Addictions Sunday
Lord God Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth, we laud and magnify your name, joining with all of the angels and
arch angels singing holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, heaven
and earth are full of your glory.
So it is with innate trepidation we come before
your throne, but for the work of Jesus Christ we would not dare. Yet in
him we can come without fear, for he has healed the rift between us.
Thanks be to the Triune God who surrendered the Son!
Now we stand before you again and make the
unimaginable exchange. To you we surrender all the blackest part of our
hearts, all of the deepest sin and most burdensome pain. From you we
take Righteousness and Joy as a gift. We exchange filth for glory.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! All of our sin is yours and your holiness is
ours. How can it be that our God will do this for us? It is too much to
comprehend.
We repent Lord, we repent. We look at our sin in
disgust. It is too hideous to be touched, but we hand it over to you.
Holy Spirit fill the void where the sin resided. And may we never return
to it again but be free of it by your power and in the wonderful name of
Jesus. Amen.
Number 26 - Psalm 23 -
Today's English Version
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in fields of green grass
and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
He gives me new strength.
He guides me in the right paths,
as he has promised.
Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
I will not be afraid, Lord,
for you are with me.
Your shepherd’s rod and staff protect me.
You prepare a banquet for me,
where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honoured guest
and fill my cup to the brim.
I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
and your house will be my home as long as I live.
American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible : Today's English Version
(2nd ed.) (Ps 23:1-6). New York: American Bible Society.
Number 27 - Easter
Lord Jesus, we greet You,
risen from the dead,
victorious over sin and death,
over suffering and shame,
over all evil and wrong.
Lord Jesus, we greet You,
risen from the dead,
overcoming by the power of love,
by patient trust and perseverance,
by faith in God alone.
Lord Jesus, we greet You,
risen from the dead,
proving that nothing can separate us
from God's love,
showing us how far that love will go,
and suffering for the sins of the world.
Lord Jesus, we greet You,
risen from the dead,
and we offer You our thanks and our praise,
our prayers and our worship,
our devotion and our service.
Lord, Jesus, we greet You,
and we pray to you,
and we pray through you,
and we pray with joy and confidence
as you taught us, saying...
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Number 28
Lord Jesus Christ you are worthy of all praise and adoration. You are
the fullness of the Creator God in human form. You are the beginning and
end of all things. All authority, all majesty and all power belong to
you. Your garments are pure light and you are cloaked in beauty. We
ought to come before you in servile fear, but you have invited us to
come as brothers and sisters.
So how can it be that we ever choose anything or anyone else? Why would we
choose the filthy, the wicked and the useless over you?! God help us,
Lord Jesus forgive us, Holy Spirit enable us. For in our right mind we
proclaim, with our father Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord!” We choose with sincerity, we pray with faith, we live day by
day. Amen.
Number 29 - Psalm 15 -
Adapted from The Message
The Scriptures ask, "Father, among your people, who gets invited
to dinner at your house? How do we get on your guest list? How do
we have intimacy with you? 'Walk straight, act right, tell the
truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; despise the
despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest
living, never take a bribe. Your invitation will never be revoked if you
live like this.'"
Let it be so with us Lord. May we be a joy to your
heart, an honor to your name and a blessing to our neighbor. Amen
Number 30
Father of light and love, Lord of truth and beauty, Maker of heaven and
earth, we owe you everything and yet there is no doubt we have failed
you this week. It is sadly in our nature to fall desperately short of
your perfection. So, we ask in all humility and honesty that you will
forgive us our sins; all the intentional rebellion and all of the
overlooked offense.
We take great hope and great joy because you are
real; the gospel is true; we are forgiven and our lives have purpose. We
commit ourselves to you again and we pray Lord that we will live in such
a way that we are admired by many and hated by some. We desire to face
either persecution or admiration with the same humble disposition of all
those who know your Son and are filled by your Spirit. Amen.
Number 31
By Jennifer Baker (Inspired by
Job chapters 38-42, 2Cor chapters 3 and 5, Rev 1:12-16 and 22:4-5)
We fall at your feet Lord our God -
Your power and glory astonish and humble us.
You who laid the earth's foundation,
while the stars sang and angels shouted for joy;
who stormed the gates of death itself,
and crushed the power of darkness
with the light of your creative touch.
All wisdom and understanding we have -
even our very faith, are gifts from your hand.
We have no claim to bring against you -
everything under heaven is yours -
we flounder in our unworthiness.
How can we ask you for anything?
We praise you for reconciling us
in Christ Jesus our Lord,
though we can't begin to understand
how you could love us that much.
All we can do is accept your Gift.
It's in Jesus' name we beg for your mercy -
he is our only righteousness.
Lord we cry for forgiveness -
for the way we sully your Name
with our ignorance and wickedness,
for our childish demands
for personal comfort and gain, and most of all
for failing to acknowledge your sovereignty.
Forgive us for seeking our own faces and not yours.
For making you small by imagining you as a
"son of man" who created earth for our pleasure
and magically grants our wishes.
May we never want more
than to be transformed into Christ's likeness -
to be individual creations
reflecting aspects of your nature.
Lord, be our life and our light forever.
We resolve to love you anew,
to keep you holy in our minds,
to yearn for you and worship you
not because of what you can do for us,
or as eternal insurance,
but because you are God and we belong to you.
AMEN
Number 32
Eternal Father, our nation’s motto is In God We Trust but we
painfully admit that we do not always place our ultimate trust in You.
We are a prideful nation comprised of people like us… people who are
often greedy, blind to the needs around us, and even sometimes wicked.
Forgive us for our poor choices, the sin we have committed, and the good
we have left undone. Help us to live according to a genuine, deep trust
in You our God.
Thank you for the freedoms we enjoy in this great
country. Give us grace and strength to continually call on your name on
behalf of our nation. Give us eyes that seek your face. Bring us to our
knees as we humble ourselves before the God who loves us. We know that
Your promise is true and that you will hear from Heaven and forgive our
sin. Please heal our nation as we turn to You. In the name of our Savior
Jesus we pray. AMEN
* These three are derived from a wonderful collection of Puritan
prayers and devotions called,
"The Valley of Vision,"
Arthur Bennett, Ed., Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA 17013.
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