The season of Lent is a time to do some cleaning of our hearts. Life in the world and in our sinful flesh creates a build-up over time of actions, attitudes, and desires that need eliminated. The lent season is a gift to us of space to reflect on the ways we displease God and to acknowledge our need of a Savior. Awareness of these two truths leads us to do the cleansing work of confession so that our hearts are ready to receive the new life that comes through Christ’s resurrection.
When we clean out a closet in our houses, we get rid of the clothes that don’t fit any more. We throw away anything useless. We rearrange what is left. This work is done to create space for the new. Our spiritual lives function the same way. We admit where we are wrong. We give to God the places that are hurt. We get rid of the useless habits that weight us down. When we’ve done this work in confession and repentance, our hearts are clean and ready to replace the sinful with the new and the eternal.
If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone and the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse tells of new strength. New power. New insight. New life. All of these come after a period of confession.
Lent is an important time of growth, and we must do our best to let it have its way with us. Over the next forty days, how will you clean house in your soul? What are some attitudes or habits that you need to get rid of? Below is an order of prayers and Scripture you can use as you spend time in confession and repentance.
Call to Prayer
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Prayer of Confession
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Venite
O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and show ourselves glad in him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods. In his hand are all the depths of the earth, and the heights of the hills are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my works. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said, “It is a people that err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways,” Of whom I swore in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Psalm: Psalm 51
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Scripture Readings
Old Testament: Genesis 2:4-9; 15-17, 25-3:7
New Testament: Romans 5:12-21
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Benedictus es, Domine
Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; you are worthy of praise, glory to you.
Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; we will praise you and highly exalt you forever.
Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.
Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; we will praise you and highly exalt you forever.
Glory to you, beholding the depth; in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.
Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we will praise you and highly exalt you forever.
Intercession
For Those we Love
Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Collect
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan, come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sources
The Book of Common Prayer. (Huntington Beach, CA: Anglican Liturgy Press, 2019).
The Worship Sourcebook. (Kalamazoo, MI: Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2004).
Worship the Lord, The Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America. (Reformed Church Press, 2005).
