A Prayer of Confession
The word and concept of sin isn’t that popular today. We are submerged in a culture of ultra plushy comfort and helicopter care and are breathlessly concerned about offending and harming anyone with any self-reflection that might be too negative or cause unsettled or alarming feelings. We are coddled and cooed at from almost every perch be it pious or pagan.
I also understand the needful correction from cranky and curmudgeonly religious eras or circles. I get the animosity raised by hateful screamer preachers on community corners that have driven many people far away from any sound examination of one’s actions towards others or our own inner state of being. It’s a mess all around. I feel ya.
All that aside, I still find it helpful when I come across an old prayer of confession that puts to words what ails me. I often wonder if the soul doctors out there today have forgotten what the true sickness is that’s harming and hamstringing so many lives. So I hope that other fellow sinners and saints will find some remedy in this old timey confession.
A prayer meant to help the soul come out into the light of truth.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:8-9
A Prayer of Confession The International Book of Common Prayer Edition, located in the ‘Additional Prayers’ section.
O most holy Lord God, I thy unworthy servant do here prostrate myself before thee in all humility, acknowledge and confessing my manifold sins and wickedness. My whole life has abounded with actual transgressions against every one of thy commandments.
I have, O Lord, lived in contempt of thy providence, committing idolatry with thy creatures, taking thy glorious name in vain, profaning thy most holy sabbath. I have not shown reverence to those whom it was due. I have envied my brethren, defiled my soul with unchaste desires, laboured to be rich by unlawful means. I have slandered my neighbor, and coveted his wealth.
I have heard thy word, O Lord, but have not believed it. I have known thy word, but have not practiced it. I have come into thy house without reverence, and approached thy holy table without repentance.
I have practiced many sins without remorse. And when I read thy sacred Scriptures, it is not as sweet to me as the honeycomb, but my delight is more in ungodliness, profaness, and atheism.
I have by gluttony and drunkenness pampered my body; I am guilty of pride in my appearance; I am negligent in my calling by misplacing my time; I have spoken vainly at my table, and have sinned out of measure against all those means of grace which thou hast been pleased to afford me from time to time. I have wandering eyes, wanton lusts, an ambitious mind, and covetous desires which have no bounds nor limits. I have lascivious ears, unsavory speeches, and censorious reproaches.
I am still adding sin unto sin, and transgression unto transgression, and am altogether unfaithful in my life, and forgetful of my death and the day of judgment. My abusing of thy mercies and despising of thy judgments is testified against me, yet, O Lord, I am not ashamed, nor confess myself guilty, but still run on in a course of sinning against the works of thy Holy Spirit and the checks of my own conscience, and have refused thy calls and my own purposes and vows of amendment.
O what shall I say, or how shall I open my mouth, O thou that art the preserver of all men?
I know the wages of sin is death, but thy gift, O God, is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. O enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight is no flesh righteous.
Be merciful, O Lord, be merciful unto my sins for they are great, out of thy abundant mercy forgive me all that is past, and be gracious unto me in preventing sins to come. Correct me, O Lord but with mercy, not in thy judgment, for then shall I be consumed and brought to nothing. Destroy in me,
O Lord, the cursed works of the devil, increase in me daily the gifts of thy Spirit, fit me for that calling in which thou has placed me, and make me to employ the strength of my body, the gifts of my mind, and whatsoever grace thou hast already or wilt hereafter bestow upon me, to the glory of thy holy name and the eternal salvation of my own soul.
And grant the remainder of the time which I shall live in this present evil world, that my conversation may be in heaven, and that whether I eat or drink or whatsoever I do, I may hear always this voice sounding in my ear: ‘Arise you dead and come to judgement.’
Many other things, O Lord, I have to beg--things that my ignorance knoweth not how to ask, or my forgetfulness remembereth not--but accept, O Lord, this my humble confession unto thee at this time and whatever else thou knowest needful for me, supply it by the merits of thy dear Son, my only Lord and Saviour, who taught me to pray:
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
