A Prayer of Lament and Repentance

Lord, we come to You this morning with heavy hearts. They are heavy with grief over what we’ve become. Our spirits are broken—we are crushed with the weight of sin expressed in corruption, scandal, war and people who kill innocent people in public places, most recently in Uvalde, TX.

 This past week and these past few years we’ve come face to face with our depravity as people who are prone to wander far from You squandering the extravagant gift of life You’ve given us. Like the psalmist David we cry out:

 I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Psalm 51:3

 We don’t have any excuses, and we aren’t gathered here today to analyze, criticize or pass the blame. We are gathered together in this place to agree with You that what is happening in our world, in our nation, even in our homes is the fruit of selfishness, greed, corruption, fear, and everything else that self-worship produces.

 We cry out to You with the prophet Isaiah, “Woe is me, for I am lost. I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5)

 Have mercy on us, O God.

 Jesus, you said “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” We praise Your Name and are grateful that when You died on the cross You paid for our sins and made the way for us to be comforted by Your Spirit—the Spirit of the living God.

 We are so grateful that You are a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness. (Exodus 34:6-7) You forgive us time and time again. You are fully aware of our dust-like nature, and of the pride that causes us to think more of ourselves than we ought to think. We confess our pride to You now. Please LORD forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all our unrighteousness.

 Thank you for your promise in I John 1:9 that assures us that You are eager to do just that…

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 Thank You LORD for being our ever-present help in time of trouble and for giving us just what we need to shine the light of Your love in this increasingly dark world we live in today. We acknowledge that You pre-ordained that we be Your “boots on the ground” at such a time as this.

We accept Your call on our lives and rededicate ourselves right now to living as the peculiar people You’ve called us to be so that the Name of Jesus is made known until You return to take us home.

 Comfort those who have lost their loved ones this week. Bring healing and redemption in the lives of those who are struggling to overcome. And LORD might we also ask that if there is anyone hearing this prayer who is distracted by their own overwhelming pain, please touch them so that their eyes and ears are open today to the power You have to be to them all that they need.

 It’s in the powerful and precious Name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST that we pray. Amen.