In this time it seems appropriate to depart from our usual
format to encourage you to take time out just to pray. As the millenium (arguably) draws
to a close, it is good to reflect on who we are, what we are about, and to go to our knees
in prayer, confessing our wickedness to God as Daniel did upon learning of the impending
destruction of Jerusalem. We make no Y2K predictions here, but we know with certainty that
we cannot know for sure whether God will choose to give us another day, week, year, or
millenium to continue our patterns of sin, rebellion, repentance, and restoration. So, as
you read the following, read it as a prayer to God, and personalize it, inserting your own
confessions and your own pleas. If pornography addiction is your sin, increase your
awareness of the shame and the consequences as you pray, and take hold of the knowledge
that God is merciful if only we will turn to him.
4. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: "O Lord, the
great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his
commands,
5. we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have
rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
6. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in
your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
7. "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with
shame -- the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in
all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.
8. O Lord, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered
with shame because we have sinned against you.
9. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have
rebelled against him;
10. we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us
through his servants the prophets.
11. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing
to obey you. Therefor the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the
servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.
12. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our
rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been
done like what has been done to Jerusalem.
13. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has
come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our
sins and giving attention to your truth.
14. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the
Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
15. "Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt
with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have
sinned, we have done wrong.
16. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your
anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the
iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all
those around us.
17. Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant.
For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.
18. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation
of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous,
but because of your great mercy.
19. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your
sake, O my God, do not delay because your city and your people bear your Name.