Prayer of Confession for the National Day of Prayer

Father, please forgive us your church for the ways in which we have failed to honor you in our country. We pay so little attention to you in our lives and then we decry when our country wanders far from you. We allow our teaching to be more influenced by the culture around us than by your word, substituting the “wisdom” of men for the timeless truths of Scripture. We fix our eyes on things of this world rather than on things above, living lifestyles indistinguishable from the world in the ways we use our time, money, and resources.

We rightfully decry unjust systems but then fail to work for justice ourselves. We have looked to government and politics, to education, to many different places as solutions – when You are the only real solution.

Father, we confess that we are not that spotless bride prepared for her Groom’s return. And we ask for your forgiveness – not only for our sake, but for the sake of your glory. Bring honor to yourself once again through your church. Cleanse us. Purify us in doctrine and practice; in our personal walks and in our community life; in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in you and in our relationships with those far from you.

We long to see revival in our land, Lord, and we know that you will begin it in the church. Pour out your Spirit on your people afresh, and let your Spirit overflow out of the church into our nation.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.