Prayers for Forgiveness - Forgive Others and You Shall Be Forgiven

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” - Mark 11:25

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

10 Prayers for Forgiveness

Pray in true humility and repentance with these powerful forgiveness prayers, and be forgiven by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. May these prayers for forgiveness bring you peace and consolation.

1. Prayer to God for Forgiveness of Sins

Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know I am a sinner and cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.

Note: Even while I encourage you to pray this prayer, I caution you that saying words alone will not save you. Prayer doesn’t save. Only Christ can save. But prayer can be a means of reaching out to the Lord in true saving faith. If you pray these words in faith, Christ will save you. You can be sure of that. - Dr. Ray Pritchard

2. Forgive Us, Oh Lord

We cry to you, Lord, have mercy on us and forgive us.

King of Heaven and eternal Lord, receive the prayer we pour out before you and forgive us.

Visit the sick, release the captives, help the widow and the orphan, and forgive us.

We have sinned and have turned from you. Redeemer of all, save us and forgive us.

Have mercy on the penitent, and wash away the stains of sin, and forgive us.

3. Prayer for Forgiveness and Salvation

Our Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank you, for even though I am a sinner in the kindness of your mercy, you have fed me with the precious body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of goodwill. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in power to do good.

May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the one true God and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with you. Lead me, a sinner, to the banquet, where you, with your Son and Holy Spirit, there is true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end and perfect happiness for your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. - Source: Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century

4. Prayer for Forgiveness and Deliverance

O Christ, my Creator and Redeemer, Almighty Lord God, forgive the sins of all who are joined to me by friendship or blood, and for whom I pray, or have resolved to pray, — and all your faithful people. Deliver them from all evil, preserve them in all good, and bring them to eternal joy for your honor and glory. Amen. Source: Gregorian Sacramentary

5. Short Prayer to Forgive Others

Dear Lord, I thank You for the power of forgiveness and choose to forgive everyone who has hurt me. Help me set [name anyone who has offended you] free and release them to You (Romans 12:19). Help me bless those who have hurt me (Romans 12:14). Help me walk in righteousness, peace, and joy, demonstrating Your life here on earth. I choose to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others, just as You forgave me (Ephesians 4:32). In Jesus’ name, amen. - Debbie Przybylski

6. Short Prayer to Forgive Yourself

Father, today I ask forgiveness for all the negative and harmful words I have spoken about myself. I do not want to abuse myself in such a way again. Transform my thoughts and let me understand how marvelously you made me. Change my habits so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon my life. In Jesus' name. - Sarah Coleman

7. Prayer for Forgiving Others

Dear Merciful Lord, thank you for your gift of forgiveness. Your only Son loved me enough to come to earth and experience the worst pain imaginable so I could be forgiven. Your mercy flows to me in spite of my faults and failures. Your Word says to “clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Col. 3:14) Help me demonstrate unconditional love today, even to those who hurt me.

Even though I feel scarred, I understand that my emotions don’t have to control my actions. Father, may Your sweet words saturate my mind and direct my thoughts. Help me release the hurt and begin to love as Jesus loves. I want to see my offender through my Savior’s eyes. If I can be forgiven, so can he. I understand there are no levels to your love. We are all your children, and your desire is that none of us should perish.

You teach us to “let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts.” (Col. 3:15). When I forgive in words, allow your Holy Spirit to fill my heart with peace. I pray this peace that only comes from Jesus will rule in my heart, keeping out doubt and questions. And above all, I am thankful. Not just today, not just this week, but always. Thank you for the reminder, “Always be thankful.” (Col. 3:15) With gratitude, I can draw closer to you and let go of unforgiveness. With gratitude, I can see the person who caused my pain as a child of God. Loved and accepted. Help me find the compassion that comes with true forgiveness.

And when I see the person who hurt me, bring this prayer back to my remembrance so I can take any ungodly thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) And may the confidence of Christ in my heart guide me into the freedom of forgiveness. I praise you for your work in my life, teaching, and perfecting my faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Kristine Brown

8. Forgive and Awaken Us

Lord God, heavenly Father, we all, like sheep, have gone astray, led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh. Graciously forgive us all our sins for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ and awaken our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may abide in your Word and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in your Church to the end and obtain eternal salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever Amen. ~ Source: Veit Dietrich, d. 1549

9. Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins and Eternal Life

Almighty and eternal God, by your Son, you promised us the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and eternal life. By your Holy Spirit, lead and awaken our hearts that we daily pray for help in all afflictions, seek to be near him, believe the promise of His Word, obtain what we pray for, and at last be saved through your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. ~ Source: Veit Dietrich

10. Forgive Us Our Sins that We May Glorify You

Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You gave us your holy Word and have generously provided for all our bodily needs. We are unworthy of all these mercies and have rather deserved punishment. But forgive us our sins as you forgave Peter, and prosper and bless us in our different callings that by your strength we may be sustained and defended, now and forever and so praise and glorify you eternally; you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. ~ Source: Paul C. Stratman

Bible Verses about Forgiveness

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Colossians 3:13 - Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Sources:

4 Prayers for Forgiveness - For Self and Others - Crosswalk.com

"forgiveness" prayers - acollectionofprayers.com

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