A Prayer of Repentance Explained

O my God: I acknowledge God as the one, all-powerful God, who created me, loves me, and wants me to be part of His family forever.

I am heartily sorry: I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.

For having offended you: I acknowledge that I have broken God’s rules and show respect to Him and His rules.

And I detest all my sins: I despise any and all of my actions against God’s rules, failing in love of God or my neighbor. I take responsibility for my actions.

Because of your just punishments: I realize that God is all-powerful and can impose eternal consequences for not following His rules.

But, most of all, because they offend you, my God: I am sorry, first of all, because I have offended my loving Father, God, and I want to be a loving member of His family.

Who are all good: God alone is perfectly good. I acknowledge that He is the All-Good, Holy God.

And deserving of all my love: God deserves my love because He is my loving Father, God.

I firmly resolve: I solemnly promise

With the help of your grace: I won’t be able in my weakness to keep my promises, so I ask God’s special help and blessing to keep them.

To sin no more: I intend not to violate God’s rules again.

And to avoid the near occasions of sin: To show my sincerity of heart, I will make every effort to avoid anything that might cause me to break the same rules or any other of God’s rules again.