Prayer of Repentance

For coming back after a long time away. A repentance prayer, or a prayer of repentance, can start with one honest sentence.

He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:20

Father, I’ve been gone a long time. I stopped talking to You, and I did things my way. I’m not going to pretend it was fine. I’m sorry. I don’t have a speech ready, only this: I want to come home. Thank You that You run toward people like me. Take me back. In Jesus’ name, amen.

When you know you should be sorry but your heart feels cold. Praying for repentance is asking God to change what you can’t.

I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Lord, I know I’ve sinned, but my heart feels hard about it. I’m more sorry about the trouble than about hurting You. I can’t fix that on my own. Give me a new heart. Take out what’s stone and give me one that can feel again. Grant me real repentance, not just regret. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David’s prayer after his worst failure: the best-known repentance prayer in the Bible.

Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

God, David prayed these words after he had done something terrible, and You heard him. I pray them now. Have mercy on me. Wash me. I won’t make excuses; I’m counting on Your kindness, not my record. Make my heart clean, and make my spirit steady again. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The tax collector’s prayer. A short prayer of repentance for when you have no more words than that.

But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Luke 18:13

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Jesus said a man went home forgiven after praying just that, so I pray it too. I won’t compare myself to anyone else. I only need Your mercy, and You give it freely. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Confess, and be forgiven. A prayer of repentance and forgiveness for when you need to hear that it is really gone.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Lord, I’m confessing this to You now, without softening it. I did it, and it was wrong. You promised that if I confess, You forgive and make me clean. I’m taking You at Your word. Thank You for moving my sin as far as the east is from the west. Help me stop digging it back up. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Name it. A prayer to repent of a specific sin, not sin in general.

He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Father, I don’t want to hide this anymore. You already know what I did, but I need to say it out loud. I’m not only sorry for the trouble it caused; I’m turning away from it. Show me what has to change, who I need to make things right with, and give me the strength to do it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Tell God what you did, call it what He calls it, ask for mercy, and turn around. How to repent in prayer, and what to say to God when you do.

Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13

Lord, I’m coming to You honestly. This is what I did. I’m not going to call it a mistake when it was sin. I’m sorry, and I’m asking for Your mercy. I’m turning around now, away from it and back toward You. Walk with me into the next step. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For starting over clean: a prayer for forgiveness of sins, renewal, and repentance.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

God, I want more than a clean slate for today. I want to be made new. Wash out what sin left behind: the shame, the habits, the excuses. In Christ the old has passed away, so let me stop living in it. Make me a new creation in the way I think and speak and choose. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For the sin you keep coming back to. A deep repentance prayer when you’re tired of confessing the same thing.

For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus, I’m back with the same sin again. I’m tired of it, and I’m ashamed to be here again. But You were tempted too, and You don’t look away from me. Give me sorrow that leads somewhere, not guilt that just sits there. Show me the root of this, and help me pull it out. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For someone else: a prayer for a person you love to turn back to God.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Lord, I’m praying for someone I love who is far from You. You’re patient with them, more patient than I am. You don’t want anyone to be lost. Open their eyes, soften their heart, and bring people into their life who point them to You. Keep me humble, because I needed mercy too. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you’ve never prayed to Jesus before, this is where it starts.

For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31

Jesus, I’ve never really done this before. I believe You died for my sins and that God raised You from the dead. I’m sorry for living without You. I’m asking You to forgive me and to be my Lord from today on. I’m calling on Your name. Save me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Right after you’ve done it, before shame takes over. A prayer for my sins, said straight away.

Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. Micah 7:18

Lord, I just did it again, and I feel sick about it. Before I start hiding, I’m bringing it to You. I repent of my sins, this one included. You don’t stay angry forever; You delight in mercy. Help me get up now instead of staying down. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jesus’ first sermon, and the words often spoken on Ash Wednesday as the ashes go on.

Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.” Mark 1:14-15

Jesus, Your first words to the crowds were simple: repent, and believe the good news. I hear them again today. I turn from what pulls me away from You. I believe Your kingdom is near and Your news is good. Make this season a real turning, not just a ritual. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Before the day starts.

Good morning, Lord. Before the day gets going, I want a clean start with You. Show me anything I need to confess, and I’ll bring it to You now. Thank You that I don’t have to carry yesterday into today. Keep me close to You in every choice. In Jesus’ name, amen.