Prayer for Strength to Overcome Sin

Almighty God, who knowest what is in man! Thou seest how hard I must struggle against sin. It is my heart’s desire to be and remain godly, to avoid angering Thee, to regulate my life according to Thy holy Word, and to do Thy holy will alone. But I find a law in my members warring against the law of my mind. When I think, “Now I am firmly abiding by my good resolutions:” I often find that pride, self-will, self-esteem, envy, and prejudice arise in me against my neighbor; that sinful thoughts make their appearance in my heart; yea, that I commit sin by thoughtless words and unbecoming actions.

O, I lament that I am so full of uncleanness. Cleanse Thou me, O Lord, and I shall be clean. Through Thy enlightenment and grace I recognize, that to commit sin is a great evil; yea, that it is my ruin. It is a plague from which I would gladly be free. I struggle against it by Thy grace; and yet I am sometimes overcome. This wretched condition grieves me. What will become of me at last, if one moment I am good and another bad, and my godliness has no permanency? Thou seest, O God, how I tremble at the thought of my own state, and jet how I cannot help myself by my own power. Therefore I come to Thee, and pray that Thou wouldst grant me strength to resist sin. Let Thy Holy Spirit dwell in me, and purify my heart. If I am tempted to be angry, revengeful, or proud, let Him say to me: “Remember that Thou art a Christian; remember that thou art a child of God or desirest to be one,” and thus keep me meek, humble and godly.

Lord, Thou hast given me the will; give me also the power to do. Strengthen me in the inward man, that through Thy power I may lay aside one sin after another, and rule over it. Give me ever increasing strength to overcome the world within me and without. I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengtheneth me. Amen.