A Prayer about Confessing Our Sins

Let your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night…confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Nehemiah 1:6

Great and Awesome God,

Again we come to you with the words of Nehemiah, 

who is teaching us to pray.

We, like Nehemiah, 

answer you with your assuring Word, 

reminding you of your covenant promises 

of steadfast love. 

Like Nehemiah, 

we need to confess our sins to you, 

our own sins and the sins of “the people,” 

which belong to us as the body of Christ.

Unlike Nehemiah, 

we who are covenant-breakers 

have even greater assurance 

of your forgiveness for our sins—

“how much more will the blood of Christ, 

who through the eternal Spirit 

offered himself without blemish to God, 

purify our conscience 

from dead works 

to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

Because of our covenant-keeping Savior, 

we have the confidence 

to approach your throne of grace,

to find the mercy and grace we need (Hebrews 4:16). 

As we name your steadfast love 

and confess our sins, 

may our hope swell 

and our vision of redemption sharpen, 

sending us out to love 

all who are in “great trouble and shame.”

In Jesus’ atoning name. Amen.

Read Nehemiah 1:1-11.