5 Beautiful Prayers for Repentance and Restoration

Have you succumbed to harmful habits that are hurting your faith and testimony? We’ve all been there at one time or another. If guilt and shame now dot your life, and regrets are filling in the blanks of your story, take heart. God offers love, forgiveness, and restoration. If this fits you, here is a prayer for repentance and restoration that can help you find renewed joy, hope, and life:

A Prayer for Repentance and Restoration

Lord Jesus, I’m tired of the sin struggle in my life. I feel distant from You. My choices have not led me into the right places. I’ve listened to the whispers of my enemy instead of Your words in Scripture, and the result has been disastrous.

I once walked with you, my heart tender to Your leading. Yet little by little, I exchanged Your truths for temptations and deceit that led me away from You. Instead of taking thoughts captive and confessing them immediately, I allowed them to grow totally out of control. Repentance was not in my vocabulary. Blame, cover-ups, or trying to reason and rationalize sin never work. They only give birth to deeper sin entanglements.

You created me in Your own image, Lord. You know my thoughts before I speak them. You x-ray my heart and see through my excuses and intentions. Your Spirit warned me, but I ignored You. Disappointment and discouragement have taken their toll on me.

So today I’m confessing my desperate need for You. You have promised that if we will confess our sin, You will forgive us and make us clean again. Lord, I truly need Your forgiveness. Repentance is on my heart and lips. I want to turn around and head another direction—back to You, Lord. But I need Your help.

Just as You created the world out of nothing, Lord, create a clean heart out of my “nothingness.” You paid for my sin with your own death. Restore my life and the fellowship we once shared together. You don’t condemn me, and You won’t disown me; I am Your child forever. But I take all the blame—I own my own sin. I am the one who broke fellowship with You and am crushed over the way I treated You and Your name.

Lord, root out the darkness and light up my life with Your holy presence. Help me understand what went wrong. Show me how my destructive patterns first began. What did I allow to become more important than loving and honoring You? Why did I seek satisfaction in others or other things than You? You are the only One Who provides all my needs. You fill up the soul with deep down joy and peace beyond all understanding.

Lord, may your restoration include new boundaries around my life. I can’t flirt with sin and not be hurt. In restoring me, teach me how to say no again to things which could harm myself or my testimony. If my actions have wounded others, show me where and to whom I need to ask forgiveness or how to make amends. Help me to surround myself with positive encouragers who will hold me accountable and who will speak the truth in love. Truly, shame melts away and we are healed when we confess to others and ask for their help.

I understand that my repentance won’t eliminate the consequences of my sin. Knowing that You don’t hold our sins to our account—You remember them no more--and that You place them as far as the east is from the west both humbles me and fills me with amazement and gratitude. No consequence could ever be as painful as knowing how my sin hurt You or how You suffered for me out of love. Your crucifying death gave me eternal life with You. Lord, You place grace next to my regrets and give me hope for a new future.

Thank You, Lord, that sin does not disqualify us. Instead, like a runner who has fallen but who gets up again, I, too, am willing to start again and finish the race You have set for me.  

With Your restoration, Lord, perhaps I can help others find their way back to You again. I will not give my enemy the victory. Instead, I will accept Yours. Instead of a meltdown, with Your help I will allow Your Spirit to give me a hot heart for You, one that seeks You and wants to live for You the rest of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for Your sweet forgiveness and promised restoration. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Psalm 51 Prayer for Repentance

Father, You are gracious and full of mercy. I come to you now, repenting for the sin(s) that have held me captive.  

Lord, so many times I told You I was sorry for what I’d done, but I wasn’t yet moved with godly sorrow and returned to the same sin(s).  Today, true godly sorrow leads me to repentance.   I know I need to change my behavior and desire to do so.  

Father, thank you for forgiving me.  Thank you for cleansing me.  Thank you for restoring me. Have mercy on me.  Give me strength to turn from my wicked ways and live a life that’s holy and pleasing to you.   I love you, Lord and pray this prayer in Jesus’s name, Amen. (by Aretha Grant)

A Prayer for Geniune Repentance

Dear Lord, thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for not abandoning us to our mistakes, but for reaching out instead to bring us home. Help convict me of sin and help me accept your mercy without shame. Thank you for the love you have poured out for me and all of your children. Help me live out of that love today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Prayer for Biblical Repentance

Gracious God, we come before You today, with contrite hearts and willing minds. Lord, thank You for your loving-kindness that leads us to repentance. Help us to be quick to acknowledge our sin before You and even quicker to turn from our sinful ways. Show us, Lord, what it means to have godly sorrow instead of the shallow sorrow of the world. Let our sin grieve us when we have dishonored You so that we will be diligent in repentance. In Jesus’ Name, amen. (by Jennifer Waddle)

A Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins

Heavenly Father, I come before You with a contrite heart, seeking Your forgiveness for my sins. I acknowledge my transgressions and sincerely repent of my actions, thoughts, and words that have disobeyed You. Please wash me clean with Your mercy and grace, just as You forgave Peter's denial and those who crucified You. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to turn away from sin and follow the path of righteousness that glorifies Your holy name.

Jesus, I ask for Your strength and guidance to overcome my weaknesses and to resist temptation. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so I may live a life that reflects Your love and grace. Let Your forgiveness flow through me, allowing me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. May Your name be honored, Your kingdom extended, and Your will be done in my life and in the world. Thank You for Your endless love, compassion, and the gift of salvation. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Has someone in your life sought out restoration and forgiveness? Are you having a hard time forgiving them, or even yourself? Download our FREE prayer guide for forgiveness to help you pursue restoration and healing.

Never prayed for repentance before?

Pray this prayer for salvation:

Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control.  In Your precious name, Amen

Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.

This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

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