Text: Hebrews 4:14-16
As we gather today for our last day of confession, let’s really take to heart these verses from Hebrews.
We are not praying to some stoic being who sits on a cloud. We are not confessing to a god who wields his power without emotion, who looks down with pity and disgust on the lowly humans he created.
We pray to the One who not only knows us, He knows what it’s like to be us. He knows because He lived it. And not only did He live, He died a real death with real pain, with real blood and sweat and tears, with real love in His real heart, to make you and me real daughters of the only true God.
Whoosh. Does it get more intense and more intensely beautiful than that?
Let’s go to Him together in confession, trusting that what He says is true.
Prayer: Yet I Sin
“Eternal Father,
Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amen.
I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin’s deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.
My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly
Grant me to know that the way of transgressors is hard,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good.
I have seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law,
the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
yet I daily violate and condemn its precepts.
Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences,
allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.
All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.
Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly
the brightness and glories of the saving cross.”
from The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, ©2001, The Banner of Truth Trust, p.70.
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60 thoughts on "yet I sin"
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Thank you, sisters, for sharing your beautiful stories of repentance and forgiveness. What great reminders that our Lord does truly set us free from our sins!
Wow. Even as I sit here, I struggle with the sin I've committed even this morning and giving it up to God. Lord, break my heart for how I've broken yours, and let me see the truth of what my sin leads to. I need YOU and no one else. In this reality of what sin is, Lord, I pray I'd only run to your arms. Forgive me, here Lord, for being undisciplined in my fast for you this morning, and for succumbing to fear and wanting control instead of submitting all to you and trusting in you. I know that this separates me from you, and that "the way of transgressors is hard, that evil paths are wretched paths, and that to depart from thee is to lose all good." Help me to truly see what this means so that as I cry out to you for deliverance, your work on the cross would be made more profound and new in me. Praise you.
Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Gosh yes. I long for the fullness of a godly grief…the full knowledge of the awfulness of my sin. And yet, may I ever trust and love the Lord, being confident in His power, because I know that the awfulness of my sin does not separate me from Him because of Christ's work on the Cross!
Sisters, I just have to say that I love this community of God chasers! The prayer of confession today hit home with me as it did with so many others. My prayer is simple, I only ask that God would allow me to put on the glasses that He had prescribed because my vision is sin-blurry. I want to see and recognize clearly my offences to Him and lay it all at the altar. May we all intercede on each other's behalf.
Amen and amen.
Oh Amanda My Sweet Sister….
We pray to the One who not only knows us, He knows what it’s like to be us. He knows because He lived it. And not only did He live, He died a real death with real pain, with real blood and sweat and tears, with real love in His real heart, to make you and me real daughters of the only true God.
Whoosh. Does it get more intense and more intensely beautiful than that?
Thank you. Thank you for this beautiful insight.
I bring my soul to thee
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin’s deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it …
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly …
All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.
Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly
the brightness and glories of the saving cross.
These words are especially my prayer today. Lord, help me to see my sin for what it is, to hate it, to flee from it and live completely and boldly for you.
"Grand that through the tears of repentance I may see clearly the brightness and glories of the saving cross." Read this through tears as I struggle with thoughts of things that haven't even taken place….sabotaging myself. I'm feeling broken and lost, but the line of the prayer that struck and spoke to me was the one "I've seen the purity and the beauty of thy perfect law…the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls, …"
This is the representation I want to hold myself to, "if" the situation I'm struggling with happens.
Just sharing this with you, sisters, helps me with that "calm dignity." Thanks for being here.
I encourage you to write 1st Corinthians 10:13 on your heart. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." It's not a sin to be tempted but just know that our Gracious Father ALWAYS provides an escape route.
Lord, I pray for my Sister Diane right now that You would begin to comfort her and let her know that You are never too far out of reach. Whatever she's thinking about doing, wash it in the Blood of Jesus. Cause supernatural things to occur so that she stays on Your narrow path. Confuse and muddle the enemy's plans in the precious, soul freeing name of Jesus. Amen.
I'm praying right along with Steph, Diane. Lord, whether it'd be sin or just a horrible thing happening, do not let satan's attempts at scaring and sabotaging Diane take place, but confuse and muddle His plans. Diane, He is big enough to handle ANYTHING. ANYTHING EVER. Sister, be comforted by that. That He loves you, no matter what, and that what is happening RIGHT HERE, right now, is covered in His love and grace. Go to Christ, sister! Refuse to honor those foolish things trying to bring you down! God is able! I love you very much, sister! Be blessed in freedom today! xoxo
Amen and amen. Make me feel the awfulness of sin so I flee from it.
And I loved the reminder that not only does He know us, but He knows what it’s like to be us. Wow.
My lips are ready to confess but my heart is slow to feel!!!!!!
Unmask to me sin's deformity, that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears, yet trusts and loves
Amen. "To depart from thee is to lose all good, ive seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law, the hapinness of those in whose heart it reigns, the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls" awesome words this morning. Ill be taking these with me throughout life. Thank you lord for a new day, thank you SRT for these refreshing words. May your day be filled blessings, a heart of repentance and thanksgiving and a mouth filled with praise.
I pray dsame prayer 2day wit u Tina;Evry chain holding me back 2 Sin;2day God has broken dem all…Amen.
Reminds me of dis wonderful song;
Am pressed bt not Crushed;persercuted not abandoned..evryday wit God seems new 2 me;am learning 2 stand 4 him;2 completely trust in him…I want 2 reach out 2 odas arnd me cos I’ve dis urge esp ma grlfrnd dt cm arnd last weekend;bt wen I strtd talkn 2 her abt d thnz I’ve let go n in d sense tlk 2 her abt God she shunned me..bt within me I stl wnt 2 reach out 2 her..
Claire God’s grace is enuf 4 u;Jst knw;lik paul said’wht I am now is cos God poured out his special favour on him’ n same goes 4 u;he luvs u dts why he poured out his special favour..so open up..n speak words 2 him a broken n a contrite hrt d lord wl not despise..no mata d sin..dnt 4gt he luks @ d hrt..
@ Gema grt testimony;our God is som1 whom wen we confess our sins he remembers dem no mre;old thnz are passed away n all thnz are made anew..Grace..am happy 4 u 2day n I pray 4 u..he wl see u n ur family tru all d days of ur life amen..
Thnks srt 4 dis awesome study I pray 4 u all d hands dt writes dis beautiful words evn if I’ve nothn else 2 offer bt I pray 2day dt God wl see u tru in all life’s endeavours bcos tru u;somany life’s bn touched;eg Me”….n am grateful..
Now I cn relax n enjoy God’s awesomeness in my life cos I knw God’s in control n sin cn neva hv dominion ova me;Amen…
I'll be praying that the Lord would give you insight and boldness to speak to your friend! Your words are so powerful and encouraging, Amara. Praise God! He is good.
Amara, you are so special…..Thank you for your prayers and encouragement..Blessings dear sister…x
Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences,
allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.
These words in the prayer shouted out to me this morning. God continually works in me in a way to give me a way out before my sins goes to deep. My prayer today is that I listen to those secret whispers, those endless clues that he provides through his word and his Holy Spirit when I am being tempted. We have Jesus who has felt temptations, weaknesses, pain, and loss just as we have, yet no sin and has ready access to God. Thank God he doesn't abandoned me.
Shelia, we are in the same boat. I've written 1st Corinthians 10:13 on my heart. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." The hard part is taking the route of escape. I pray our strength in the Lord.
Wow! This morning I'm having a hard time getting over the fact (I guess I should never actually "get over" it) that God's perfect and holy Word put on the limiting, handicapped cloak of humanity to be the Messiah who would save us from our sin! And yet, I still echo the Puritan writer above, "My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel, and my ways reluctant to amen." Father, forgive me! And thank YOU!
This prayer speaks directly to my heart. We are broken, sinful people and yet God loves us so much that he forgives our sins no matter how big they are.
Six years ago “as a rebel I misused my strength” by having an abortion at the age of 21. After I came to Christ I struggled with this sin, I felt like a failure, broken but i seeked God in a deeper way and repented full heartedly through tears and pain and God worked in me.
After being married for two years my husband and I have decided to try to become pregnant. My biggest fear was for God to not allow me to concieve a baby, for God forgives us but leaves the consequences in our lives for our own good.
This morning I can praise God and say that “through my tears and repentance I have seen the brightenss and the glory of the cross.” I just took a pregnancy test and is positive ladies! God has not only forgiven me but he has erased my sin and has now blessed me with a child. Glory to God for being so merciful! Please pray for my health and well as my babies health. God bless you my SRT sisters.
How wonderful, Gema! Though our sins be as scarlett, he makes us white as snow! He remembers them no more! I do pray this morning for a healthy and joyful pregnancy, and that God would keep His hand over baby. Congrats!
Thank you Liz for keeping my baby and I on your prayers.
Praise God for His mercy and goodness. Congratulations on your new expected baby. Praying God's guiding hand over all of you.
God is good, Amen.Praising Him with you.
Congratulations, and I pray for a happy and healthy pregnancy for you and your new blessing.
Our Father is the Giver of every good and perfect gift! What a God of love and grace! So excited and happy for you this morning! What a testimony He has given you. Thank you for sharing with us!
Amazing. Thats the God we serve, merciful, faithful and true. When we come to Him He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west and He remembers them no more. We should also forgive ourselves. Thank God for your blessing and I pray you a safe and healthy pregnancy as well as a safe delivery. God loves you, never stop believing in Him and continue seek Him diligently. God bless u amd your husband.
Amen! I pray for me to seek him more and more every day and to never get tired of looking for him.
So, so happy for you and your husband. Glory to God for this new little family!
Congrats, Gema! He redeems!
I've been there. Right there. I had 2 abortions in my 20's and once I was older and saved and married. I didn't think I could get pregnant. I was sure god was punishing me. I did and have a sweet (now teenage) boy.
After your baby is here. I encourage you to take a class called Forgiven and Set Free. Or Surrender The Secret. :)
Praying for a healthy pregnancy!! Congratulations.
Thank you for sharing your testimony. God's merciful hand never fails, even when satan attacks us with fear and doubt God is here to remind us that he has the last word. Glory to God for all the wonderful things he does for us. I will be looking into the these classes. God bless!
Gema thank you for sharing your testimony! It's amazing that this community of Sisters is such a comfortable zone for us all too share. May you and you new blessing from God be blessed!
This is BEAUTIFUL! This is more encouraging than you'll ever know… that the Lord does not only forgive us and then leave us with what was, but He's so good that He forgets our sin and makes things TRULY new! Gema, Praise God!! Praying for you and your baby today!
Praising God for you and your husband. Congratulations. I pray you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Gema, praying for you and an amazing and God filled pregnancy…congratulations and God bless you and your husband abundantly….x x
Gema, I'm not sure how I didn't see this yesterday, but it certainly was a blessing to read when I woke up this morning! Congrats! Prayers going up for your family, and praises to our Great God for His mercy, grace, and kindness! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you ladies for all your prayers, you are a blessing to me and to everyone that is part of this community. God bless you all my sisters in christ.
Through my tears, Amen and Amen !
I don't know about anybody else, but confession for me refreshes me and makes me joyful. God granted me mercy once again. I get the opportunity to get it right. I get the opportunity to recognize where I went wrong and make changes. Thank you Lord for loving me so and never letting me go.!
Absolutely!! It's the opportunity to lay it all bare and know that God will forgive us of every single thing. My gratitude toward Jesus abounds.
Confession hardly ever feels joyful going into it (I always feel like I'm going to get scolded like a child who accidentally broke a lamp, you know?), but once I am reminded of and washed clean by the mercifully forgiving grace of God, there is so much joy to be had!
Yes! It is incredibly scary and sometimes difficult to come before the Lord and be that bare, that vulnerable… but it quickly turns into joy as I realize I will never be turned away by Him in my complete vulnerability and contriteness; that He meets me there and completely embraces me. Wow. Praise you, Jesus.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
Beautiful, Florence. Beautiful.
This is me "My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel"
I want my heart to break but something is holding me back.
Going to come back to this prayer and meditate on it more throughout the day.
Please pray for me…
I will pray for you today, and you too pray for me. Break our hearts Lord for what breaks yours.
Praying for you and with you today Claire!
Will do darling. God is with you.
I will pray for you. This has never been more true for me than now. "My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel"
These days prayer is hard and I need a prompt.
I've been grateful for this SRT group and theses Puritan prayers.
Praying for you, and for myself today, Claire. I'm in the same spot – "My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel, and my ways reluctant to amen." – amen means "to agree", and my ways are slow to agree with God sometimes. Praying for authentic breaking in our hearts…genuine disgust for our sin.
Praying this for all of us, Claire. That our hearts would truly be broken before the Lord today in the state of our sin, and that we would not beat ourselves with it, but would draw near to the only one who can save us– Christ. Lord, praise you. Show us how near you are to all of us today.
Eternal Father,
Through these repentant tears, this broken and lost body and soul, I ask, I beg, I plead, I pray, I cry out…..BREAK EVERY CHAIN….BREAK every chain that is holding me captive, that binds me to my sins, that binds me to be prideful, to be a rebel, to turn from you…..BREAK those chains that keep me stuck in the same record of sin, in my mind, that holds me back from you….BREAK those chains, Lord God, I beg you, because, although I DO know,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good…..BREAK those chains Lord, that I can return to you….
BREAK EVERY CHAIN, Eternal Father, that I may daily know you, and heed Your loving Spirit within me……BREAK those chains, Lord with your mighty and Holy power, that cause me to choose devices and desires that do me no good, that hurt me and push me further from you….
Eternal Father, on my knees, I do mourn these sins against you , I lament, I beat my chest and cry PARDON for them….Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly
the brightness and glories of the saving cross.”
Eternal Father, BREAK EVERY CHAIN…..IN JESUS NAME I PRAY……AMEN.
That song hit my heart like a bullet this morning as I read this beautiful and moving prayer…..maybe it could be our anthem today, sisters……
Let's ask the One who doesn't need us, and yet loves us in spite of us to BREAK EVERY CHAIN, so that we might walk even more closely to Him…..
I love you guys….so so very much….x x x
I'm praying this in agreement with you my sister. Amen and amen.
Amen. It should be our prayer indeed. Powerful and true.
Amen. Lord, do what only you can do in all of us… break the chains holding us back from you and break our hearts so that you can be the only one holding them together. Love you too, dear Tina. xoxo
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Amen. I agree this should be our prayer. Jesus, break every chain that binds me and set me free!