Most holy and merciful Father:
I confess that I have sinned by my own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.
I have not loved you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. I have let the idea of being a writer distract me from devotion to you. I have made myself busier with words than with your Word. I have been consumed by my writing plans and dreams, rather than your good, perfect, and pleasing will for me. I have been impatient with you, instead of trusting your love, wisdom, and timing.
Nor have I loved my neighbor as myself. I have been envious of others—of this one’s sales figures, that one’s income, this other one’s ideas, his creativity, her marketing skills, and yet another’s craftsmanship. I have sought advancement over others. I have made uncharitable judgments toward others.
Have mercy on me, Lord.
I have relied on my own strength.
I have prioritized approval and affirmation from others instead of seeking your smile first and always.
I have been discouraged by disappointing sales and lagging income instead of trusting you for my reputation and daily bread.
I confess to you, Lord.
I have been been physically and intellectually lazy.
I have worried more than prayed.
I have written pablum when you deserved poetry. I have hurried when you urged patience. I have settled for my thoughts instead of plumbing your depths.
Accept my repentance, Lord, for the wrongs I have done.
Forgive me, and try me again.
Hear me, that I may hear you,
And write your thoughts on my heart that I may write what will reach the hearts of others, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Love this! So true!
Excellent.
This is a wonderful confession that is in my heart. Thank you for this reminder.
Selah.
Amen.
Wow. I was expecting a humorous writing reminder, but got a huge blessing instead. Thank you!
Amen!
Guilty as charged.
Beautiful. So meaningful to this writer. Thanks you for sharing.
Amen. You captured in this prayer what is going on in my spirit. The spiritual journey that each of us must travel isn’t an easy one. I’m learning to thank God every day for the good and the not so good things that challenge me. This includes a door that was recently slammed in my face and being able to remember the promise, ”when a door is closed, it’s God desiring to open a new and perfect opportunity for you.”
I am always thankful for the inspiration of these emails. This morning is no exception. Thank you.
God, how can You be so patient
with such a fool as me,
whose heart is often vaccant
of Your majesty?
Do You laugh when You behold
my puny efforts to take wing,
enthusiasm gone fast-cold
in favour of some newer bling?
Do You smile and shake Your head
(Your beard like roiling cumuli)
as I turn Your gold to lead
in my alchemistic writing eye?
As I make my life a voodoo dance,
You’re there to give another chance.
Great prayer! The last paragraph sums it ip for me.
Bob, thank you for expressing so eloquently what is also on my heart. Amen and amen and amen.
Wow! Powerful prayer. Let that be the cry and confession of my heart.
Amen.
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this. I will keep it in my Book of Common Prayer. I need to repeat this often.
I will pray this confession often. Thank you. Also, thank you for your wise words spoken at LIT Masterclass last week. I am prayerfully pondering your message.
Amen and amen. Thank you, Bob.
And write your thoughts on my heart that I may write what will reach the hearts of others, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This sentence, the entire prayer, spoke to my heart. Thank you…
P.S. It was great to meet you and sit under your teaching at Lit Masterclass. A special thanks for the laughter 😉
Yes, Dear Lord. May it be so!
Wonderful! I’ll print this out and keep it.
Printing this out right now to place on the top of my “to do” pile. In other words, I want to see/pray this prayer before I write each day.
Thank you!
I Am Interested To Know People Of World And I Like To You.
Thank you so much for sharing this! It was exactly what I needed this week. I am going to print it and post where I can see it every day.
Such a thoughtful prayer. The Holy Spirit shines through those words and thoughts. Thank you for sharing.
Yes, it is so easy to take our eyes off God and put them on our own efforts, Even the needs of others can distract our faith and make us think that we are responsible for the heartaches of those we care about. Suffering is so necessary to force us onto God. God’s love, alone heals the broken heart. God’s love alone sets the captive free.
More often in my day I should combine 26 letters, numerous punctuation marks, and appropriate spaces to voice prayers like this before I use those same things to write another word on paper.
Thanks so much, Bob.
Amen!!!
Repentance makes way for God’s divine intervention to work efficiently in our lives.
I can’t worry about my career anymore, my heavenly father has promised me a future and a hope -Jeremiah 29:11. All that is left is to lean on his promise. For God is faithful.
Repentance is most important in the lives of every Christians, Jesus is coming soon. That is enough reason to seek repentance.
Oh God, hear our prayers.