May 9: We Have Sinned
Sometimes you sit down to pray and the words feel flat, like they’re hitting the ceiling.
“I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.”
Daniel was one of the most faithful men in Scripture. He’d stayed true to God in a foreign land, under kings who wanted him dead. And yet, when he prayed for his people, he didn’t say “they have sinned.” He said “we have sinned.”
He also started with who God is. You are the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness. Before the confession, he remembered God’s character. That’s a helpful order. You’re not confessing to someone cruel. You’re confessing to someone who keeps His promises and loves faithfully.
Then Daniel was specific. We have sinned. We’ve done wrong. We’ve acted wickedly. We’ve rebelled. We’ve turned aside from Your commandments.
Step Five starts with admitting your wrongs to God. Some people do this on their own, before the conversation with their listener. Others do it together, at the start or end of that conversation. Either way, it matters.
If prayer feels empty right now, Daniel’s pattern can help. You don’t have to feel anything special. Start by naming who God is: faithful, merciful, keeping His promises. Then name what you’ve done, plainly. You might even read parts of your inventory to Him, line by line.
Feelings often follow honesty, not the other way around. Many people find that prayer starts to feel real only after they stop dressing it up.
And remember that God isn’t waiting for you to feel holy. He’s waiting for you to be honest. Even a flat, tired, truthful prayer is heard.
It’s worth noticing that Daniel prayed this way regularly, three times a day by an open window. Honest confession wasn’t a crisis event for him. It was part of how he lived with God. It can become part of how you live too.
One thing today
Pray using Daniel’s pattern. First, name three things that are true about God. Then read one section of your inventory to Him, out loud.
A prayer
Great and faithful God, You keep Your promises and You love steadily. I have sinned. I’ve done wrong. I’ve turned aside. Here is the truth. Hear me, even when my prayers feel empty. Amen.
Admitting it to God is the first part of Step Five.
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