Prayer of the Penitent

 

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

—Psalm 139:23-24

I believe that we who follow Jesus should both begin and end each of our days in prayer. I also believe that the first part of these prayers should follow a pattern established by King David when he wrote the following words, as recorded in Psalm 139:23-24:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

This prayer of King David is clearly a prayer of the penitent. David recognizes that he is a sinner. He recognizes that God is his salvation. He invites God to closely examine the totality of David’s being to bring to light any flaw—any unconfessed sin—that David might confess and repent of that sin. And, David invites God to lead him in the pathway that points to everlasting life.

What a better way for us to begin and conclude each day. A “Prayer of the Penitent” that we should earnestly desire to pray: before we start and as we end each day.

 

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