A Prayer of Confession and Repentance

God, in You is all life. So it is with sorrow, confusion, and even frustration, that we confess all the ways we have chosen to walk in death.  
We have been self-obsessed with how we’re doing, with how we feel about ourselves, and with our own comfort.
We’ve neglected to see You or live in Your life. We’ve lived in paradigms and patterns of religion that dim our awareness of You and Your goodness. We’ve avoided truly seeing others. We’ve lived in selfishness and self-absorption, which is the heart of sin. We can’t work our way out of our darkness.  

But because of You and You alone, we won’t beat ourselves up, nor resolve to despair, but to rise. We repent, and we confess our hope in You, Lord. For the sake of Your life, for the sake of Your Son, for the sake of Your great love for us, we receive your forgiveness and renewal.  

Lead us into the reality of our adoption. Free us God, to live in compassion, in mercy, in justice, and into a new way of being people. 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we pray.  

Amen.