Prayers for a Grateful HeartSample

Father,

I am grateful that you forgive my sins, but the truth is that I have a hard time forgiving myself for some things. I need your help to forgive me. It isn’t easy to do, partly because I feel terrible about mistakes I’ve made. That’s bad enough, but I feel even worse about the times I’ve been intentionally unkind or selfish and have hurt others. I confess these things to you and believe you forgive me. Then I try to forgive myself and even think I’ve done it, but in the darkness of night, the condemning thoughts come rushing back. Oh God, I’m very grateful that you don’t condemn me for my failures. I know that when I confess my sins and ask your forgiveness, you give it freely and once and for all, and my sins are gone from your sight. It is all over and done with.

I’m grateful when you look at me - you don’t see my failures. You see your daughter who is yearning to be like Jesus and learning how to do that a step at a time. You see that my heart wants to learn and grow. Thank you that, with you, every day begins as a clean slate, not clouded by yesterday’s sins and failures. Help me learn to forgive myself so that each day is a fresh start.

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

1 John 3:20 NIV