A Prayer About Brokenness

When I realize the full extent of my sinfulness

GENTLE HEALER,

I need you . . . desperately. I want to do what is right, to live for you, but I keep falling back into sin. And I gave in to temptation and fell today into those sinful patterns, despite having pledged never to do so again. I feel as though I have let you down. I am ashamed, broken, and desperate. I can identify with Paul in his struggle with the sinful nature. Even when I do what is good, my motives are bad—shallow, self-centered, ego driven. Forgive me, cleanse me, heal me, restore me, draw me close, dear Lord. Please show me what I need to do to make amends with those I have wronged, against whom I have sinned. And give me the resolve, courage, and strength to move forward, sinful but forgiven. I want to be your person in this world, but this was not a good day. Thank you for loving and forgiving me, for your mercy and grace.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:21-25