Prayer for Forgiveness

Holy, Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! I poor sinner come into Thy presence, and humbly beseech Thee to pardon all my sins. O my God! I acknowledge that I have offended Thee many times by evil thoughts and words and deeds. O Lord, Lord, I lament and mourn over my sins. Thou hast through Holy Baptism made me a sheep of Thy fold and a member of Thy body; and I ought, therefore, to listen to Thy voice and obey Thee alone. Yea, I ought, as belonging to Thee, devote all my members to Thee as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Thee. But alas! What shall I say? I have listened more to the voice of the world and of my own flesh than to Thee, and have often done what was displeasing to Thee. O the blindness of my heart! O the folly of my youthful years! If Thou enterest into judgment with me, and dealest with me according to Thy justice, then am I lost eternally. For my own conscience testifies against me, and my sins are more than the sand on the seashore. But I pray Thee, O Lord, have mercy upon me according to Thy loving-kindness. O my Father, do not charge to my account the evil which I have done against Thee in my life-time, but impute to me what Jesus my Saviour has done for me. I take refuge by faith in His blood, which was shed for me. I appropriate his merit, and say: For Christ’s sake be merciful to me, a poor sinner! Henceforth I will begin a new and godly life, and nevermore, O Triune God, willfully or consciously sin against Thee. Amen.