Immanuel Confessional Prayer

“The grace of God prepares the way for the confession of sin, is present in the confession, and even before the confession has been made, has already worked the restoration of which the confession is not the cause but the sign”.

Fleming Rutledge

Start by centering your heart in God’s presence… Give thanks to Him that He sent His Son to grant us fullness of life. His love is so deep for us; and for that we now know that God is indeed with us throughout eternity. Are there ways that you don’t live that out? Have the noise and chaos of this broken world crowded His voice out? You do not need to hide anything from him. Affirm that He is faithful and good, and his mercy and grace are “new every morning.” The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).  

Now let Him begin the process of searching your heart. Are there ways you have not honored Christ this week? Where were your thoughts and desires not centered in Him? How have you failed in obedience to Christ?

Then, simply confess specifically what the Holy Spirit is showing you. Don’t rush through this process. Simply rest in God’s presence as He does this.

Now choose to let this go and receive the truth of this passage: “I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. Let him lead me to the banquet hall and let his banner over me be love”. If you have confessed a stronghold of fear or complacency receive Christ’s forgiveness for you. Remember – “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

And finally commit this confession to the Lord. As you rest in His grace and mercy ask Him how to walk this out. Ask for the supernatural power of His Spirit to give you what you need to move forward. Thank him that you “have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer [you] who live, but Christ lives in [you]” (Gal. 2:20).

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7

The Lord’s Prayer in Advent, Week Four- Immanuel

The Lord’s Prayer in Advent: Immanuel

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
And the glory, forever. Amen.

Abba, Father, we come to this prayer praising You, that You make your home in heaven, the rightful place for you, and for Your Son Jesus. And yet, You sent Him into our broken, sinful world. He is truly “Immanuel, God with us.” Your name is holy, sacred, set apart – and thus is Your Son’s. We pray that Your kingdom would come, that Your will would be done – and we rejoice because Your will was to send Jesus to take the wrath meant for us. This is Your will, here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us Lord, all that we need to walk through our day, and forgive us for all the ways we have not honored this reality – that Christ is truly with us. And help us, Lord to forgive others who have sinned against us. May we live as those who know that our Christ is Immanuel, God with us. We pray that You would keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever! Amen.