Hope for the Guilty Heart
BENIGN LORD,
I praise thee continually for permission to approach thy throne of grace, and to spread my wants and desires before thee.
I am not worthy of thy blessings and mercies for I am far gone from original righteousness; My depraved nature reveals itself in disobedience and rebellion; My early days discovered in me discontent, pride, envy, revenge.
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor the multiplied transgressions of later years, my failure to improve time and talents, my abuse of mercies and means, my wasted sabbaths, my perverted seasons of grace, my long neglect of thy great salvation, my disregard of the Friend of sinners.
While I confess my guilt, help me to feel it deeply, with self-abhorrence and self-despair, yet to remember there is hope in thee, and to see the Lamb that takes away sin.
Through him may I return to thee, listen to thee, trust in thee, delight in thy law, obey thee, be upheld by thee.
Preserve my understanding from error, my affections from love of idols, my lips from speaking guile, my conduct from stain of vice, my character from appearance of evil, that I may be harmless, blameless, rebukeless, exemplary, useful, light-giving, prudent, zealous for thy glory and the good of my fellow-men.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
This honest prayer reminds us that we come before God not because we are worthy, but because He is merciful. When we look back, we often see a trail of regret—wasted opportunities, selfish choices, and years of neglecting the very grace that was offered to us. But the beauty of the gospel is that even in our guilt, there is hope. We are invited to come—not hiding our failures but confessing them fully—and to fix our eyes on the Lamb who takes away our sin.
God does not despise a contrite heart. In fact, it is the heart He draws close. As we confess our need, He offers not shame, but restoration. Through Jesus, we can return, be renewed, and walk forward in grace—guarded in mind, pure in conduct, and useful for His glory. Let this prayer be yours today: a cry of confession, yes—but also of confidence in the mercy of our benign Lord. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics