Holy and merciful God, we bow our hearts in your presence in the quietness of this hour. Draw near to us and hear our confessions. In your great love, O God, pardon our sins and restore a right spirit in our hearts. Guide us to love you with our whole being, so that our actions toward others might magnify you and that all may come to know grace upon grace as promised in your Word. This is what makes the believer free.
Many people find it difficult to believe that dying to self is to gain complete freedom for living.
As Christians, we believe in God's reign of justice, so we will always strive to free the oppressed. It is ultimately the inner freedom of faith in God's loving providence that we desire for others and ourselves. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Mighty God, you surround us with your love in creation. Enter into our lives anew in this hour of prayer, that captured by your love we might know your forgiveness and be set free on the world.