How can we use prayers for repentance in scripture as guidelines to help us confess and repent of our sin?
What are some of the prayers? How can we apply them to our own lives?
Psalms 51:1 - 19
NKJV - 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
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Asked November 12 2014
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Tammi Arriolo
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Tammi Arriolo
Is there and where would I find a prayer for repentance located at in the bible?
Tammi Arriolo
I made the choice at the age of 14 to be baptized, and as I grew older my life went a stray. I truly repented 2 years ago. Question is; Do I need to be baptized again?
Jennifer Rothnie
Were you repentant of your sins, and publicly declaring Christ as Lord and Savior, the first time you were baptized? Or, were you just getting baptized because of pressure or popularity? If you genuinely wished to follow Christ, then no, you do not need to get re-baptized now.
Most of us go astray at some point, like a lost sheep - some longer than others. This does not mean our baptism is annulled, any more than it means we are no longer followers of Christ.
The only reasons I would recommend you get re-baptized is if you were completely faking believing in Christ the first time. As Christ only died once for your sin, we do not need to die to sin more than once to live to Christ - no matter how many times we stumble or wander.
Indeed, that would be much like when Moses struck, instead of spoke, to the rock a second time to get water (Ex 17:5-6, Num 20:8), which insinuated that Christ's death was insufficient, and that He would need to die many times to cover our sin.
Jennifer Rothnie
If you would like a specific "prayer of repentance", Psalm 51 is wonderful.
However, there are no specific words we have to use. Just confess and repent of your sin, praise God, and thank Him for His mercy and the covering blood of Christ.
These sites give some various prayers for specific instances, which are nice as well if you are unsure how to start:
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/7-prayers-for-forgiveness-and-repentance-2/
http://www.rpmministries.org/2011/09/six-prayers-of-repentance/