Father….
I come to You this day with my head down. I claim You as Father because You created me in Your image (Genesis 1:26). I claim You as my Daddy (Romans 8:15). And I claim You as Savior (Jude 1:25) and as Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
I come to Your Throne boldly because I know grace is there (Hebrews 4:16). And right now Lord, I really need Your grace (John 4:6). It comes to me free from You (Ephesians 2:8,9) and I sense the stirrings of that grace within me. That grace makes me want to put on the attributes of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) in a way that others can see You in me (Matt 5:16).
Still, Lord, I sin. And when I sin I do so with cold deliberation and not much remorse…until it is over. This is wrong. It is against Your Will and it is not only hurting me but also others. I could confess to them too Lord, but the bottom line is that it really starts with You, doesn’t it? You created me (Genesis 2:7) ; You nurtured me even before I was born (Psalm 139:13); and I walk with and before you on Your path (2 John 1:6).
And yet I sin.
I am not trying to be perfect Lord. I am trying, however, to honor You. The sin of which I speak is specific and has plagued me all of my life. You know what I am sharing about. I confess Lord that I was not victimized or otherwise taken into this sin from some outside influence, neither the world, or the flesh, or the devil. I am tempted, no doubt and have been since. And yet I go into this sin with eyes wide open. Over the years when I could have grown away from it I went back to it. I never really made an effort to be rid of it. That is my responsibility. I cannot blame anyone. I must stand before You accountable for my actions.
Lord I claim You as Father through my Savior Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12 and John 14:6). I not only understand intellectually the need for the Cross, but I also realize in my heart how much it had to happen. I take John 3;16 very literally and personally. And in knowing this, I still sin. I still disobey even when I know better (John 14:21).
And so Father I come to You first by stating that it is against You and You alone that I have sinned. That is where I need to go first. I come to You broken and contrite (Psalm 51:17). Although I know it is never too late to confess and repent, I also know Father that very often the consequences of sin proceed even though one does repent. I think of David and what he endured in his live after He confessed to you about his sin with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah the Hittite.
Father I submit to You (James 4:7). I draw near to You (James 4:8) but in sorrow and sadness for what I have done (James 4:9). I kneel before You in total humility (James 4:10).
Lord I praise You for Your forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and for the loving way in which you take me into Your arms as I repent (Luke 15:20; James 5:11).