Prayer for Forgiveness before Communion in Illness

O gracious and loving Father! I have resolved in Thy name to be reconciled with Thee, to pray Thee for mercy and the forgiveness of my sins, and then to receive the Holy Supper here on my sickbed. I would do this in time, while I am in the possession of all my faculties. I live, but I know not how long. I must die, and I know not when.

Therefore I now come before the throne of Thy grace, and humbly pray Thee for the forgiveness of all the sins which I have committed against Thee in my life-time. My God, I am compelled to acknowledge that I have often offended Thee in times past. Alas, I did not always employ the days of my health to Thy glory, in Thy service, for my growth in grace, or in true godliness. And therefore Thou hast had reason to visit me with sickness, that I might look into my heart and life, and repent of the misuse of my health, and my many sins. Forgive me, O Lord, that I have not loved Thee more fervently nor lived more uprightly than I, alas, have done. O God, remember not the sins of my youth nor my many transgressions. According to Thy mercy remember Thou me, for Thy goodness’ sake, O Lord, how I tremble, when I hear that I must appear before Thy judgment-throne, and give an account of every idle word which I have spoken. O, how shall I, with my many sinful thoughts, stand before Thee, who art the Judge even of our thoughts? And if I must give an account of my whole life, and of all my deeds and actions, O Lord, who can stand? Therefore I come before the throne of Thy grace trusting in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, and pray: For the sake of His wounds, have mercy upon me; for the sake of His precious blood, forgive me all my sins; for the sake of His agony and bloody sweat, help me, O Lord God.

I am ashamed, O my God, to lift up my eyes to Thee; I am ashamed of my former years and their transgressions. O that I had not done these things! O that I had lived a better Christian life! I promise Thee, O God, that I will begin a new life. If Thou wilt give me back my health, I will spend to Thy glory, in faith and in true piety, all the years which Thou shalt permit me to live henceforth, and regard them as a gift, as an addition to my life. I will look back during all my life to this illness and this distress of soul, and also to Thy mighty hand. O Lord, be merciful to Thy child, and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Amen.