A Prayer of Repentance
“So I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away and your sin purged.”
Isaiah 6:5–7
The brilliance of Your glory and the beauty of Your holiness overwhelms us and leaves us undone. We are not worthy to stand in Your holy presence as sinful, broken individuals. But because of Your great love for us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and transferred us into the light of Your redeeming love. Holy Father, forgive us for all the ways we sin against You through gossip, backbiting, criticism and unwholesome words. Place Your holy coal upon our lips and remove the guilt of our sin.
Lord Jesus, set a watchman over our lips that we might not sin against You by speaking against our neighbor. Transform our speech that we might speak words of life, blessing and well-being. Holy Spirit, enable us to use our words to encourage one another and build on another up that we might reflect the kindness of Your heart and the beauty of Your holy love to those around us. In Your holy name. Amen.