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.
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