Evening Prayer for Forgiveness

I see it all the time. Nobody confesses the ‘small sins’ since we can’t avoid them, but these are the sins the ‘add up’ to a life distant from the love of God. So today our Daily Lenten Journey will focus on an Evening Prayer for Forgiveness, something we all need but rarely ask from God.

Lord our God, whatever sins I have committed this day, in word, deed or thought, forgive me, for you are good and love all people. Grant me a peaceful and undisturbed sleep. Protect me from every abuse and plot of the evil one. Raise me up in due time that I may glorify you, for you are blessed, together with your only begotten Son, and your all holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

We know we are sinners. We know we don’t always ‘get it’ right. God knows it too, so why not acknowledge our sin in our prayers? Our morning and evening prayers ‘sandwich’ our day with prayer. We begin the day asking God to guide us. We finish the day asking God to forgive us.

This prayer is more than just asking God to forgive the sins of the day. We add, “Raise me up in due time that I may glorify you.” This prayer is about asking God to give us another chance tomorrow to ‘get it’ right. Just because we screwed up today isn’t the end of the war.

Today was one battle against sin and temptation. We are at war. Every soldier finishes a battle evaluating what went well and what didn’t go so well. As we prepare for sleep, asking to forgive us is more so we can prepare for tomorrow’s battle.

Maybe tomorrow we will be victorious. Maybe tomorrow we will lose another battle. Maybe tomorrow won’t come. Maybe God will return while we are asleep. We don’t want to be caught off guard thinking, “I will ask God to forgive me tomorrow.” Tonight is the time, before we sleep.

As you prepare for sleep tonight, take a moment and consider your day. Take ‘inventory’ of your sins and then remind yourself there were more you didn’t realize. With those sins in mind, pray this Prayer for Forgiveness. You’ll sleep better knowing that you took responsibility for your sin.

We will wrap up our series on personal prayer tomorrow and then turn our attention to the services of the Church. There are prayers being offered on your behalf you may have never heard or even know about. Until then, happy praying.