Prayer of Confession

 Prayer of Confession

I am prideful. 

I think of myself as the smartest person in the room

Even when I know nothing. Often, I use my prideful, boastful behavior

To hide my insecurities.

I am envious.

I am envious of those with more possessions than me.
I am envious of those who are more talented than me.
I am envious of those that have worked harder than me

And are now reaping the rewards of their hard work.

I am fickle. I have changed my goals to suit myself far too often

And I have not loved those that have given me what I have

With enough giving of myself because of my selfishness.

I am wrathful.

I want revenge on those that barely wrong me.
I want revenge on those that don’t even know they’ve wronged me.

My pride brings my wrath.

I am slothful.
I am slothful about the things that don’t bring me joy.
I am too slow to move to help others,

Those things that don’t give me immediate adulation

I far too easily put to the back of my head.
Top of my mind are only the things that bring me pleasure,

Those things I easily offer my time.

I am Greedy.

I want what others have.
I want more than others.

I hoard success in my daily life not giving credit

When it should be given.
I put my wants before family, before friends.
I act as if getting something new will heal me

When all it does is make me sicker with things.

I am envious.
I am envious of the success of others.

I am envious of the possessions of others.
I am envious of the abilities of others.
I live my life in an envious state wanting to be someone

Other than who you have made me.
Why can I not accept myself as you created me?

I am lustful.

This weakness is the most difficult for me to admit.

I lust as all men lust, but

Beyond the standard lust is the want to be wanted.
I desire to have eyes focused on me..

I want to defy the years that I wear on my face and body

And to be something that I am not.

I am unworthy of protection.
I often feel unworthy of love, 

But hide my shame through pride.

Lord, forgive me for I have sinned.

© 2025 David Thornton

Prayer for Help

Lord,

People that I love need help.

We have struggled through this day

A painful cloud of haze over us.

Lord,

People that I love are suffering.

My only wish is to turn off this pain,

Lord,

People that I love need

your hand to heal them.

Lord, hear my prayer.
Lord, God of compassion,

God of miracles,

God of comfort for the afflicted, 

hear my cries from the wilderness.

I know we have not been forsaken.

But show the purpose for our pain,

Drive out the affliction with your word

And, please show the healing power of your touch.

We can not make it without your help.

We can not do this alone,

Wandering in the wilderness

Without your guiding star to follow.

I pray for your healing tonight.

Amen.

© 2025 David Thornton

Introduction

 After years of writing for myself the things that I thought would make me look smart, seem clever, and give me an inflated opinion of myself, I made a promise to God that I will write for him. It has been a struggle giving up self for God. It is something I still struggle with every time I sit at the computer. I fight the battle of trying to write the most poetic sounding prayer versus writing what is truly in my heart. This is where I will post the drafts of these prayers.

While they aren't necessarily finished, and may not be grammatically perfect, the sentiment will remain the same whether a word or two gets changed or if a comma gets omitted or added.