Category: ESV First Person

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Bewail your False Security, Fretfulness, and Impatience

Confession 2.9 | ESV

Our security and unmindfulness of the changes we are liable to in this world.

I have put far from me the day of disaster; Amos 6:3(ESV) and in my prosperity have said, “I shall never be moved,” Psalm 30:6(ESV) as if tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure. Isaiah 56:12(ESV)

I have encouraged my soul to relax, to eat and drink and be merry, as if I had goods laid up for many years, when perhaps this night my soul may be required of me. Luke 12:19-20(ESV)

I have been ready to set my hope on the uncertainty of riches, more than on the living God; 1 Timothy 6:17(ESV) to say to the gold, “You are my hope,” and to the fine gold, “You are my confidence.” Job 31:24(ESV)

Our fretfulness and impatience and murmuring under our afflictions, our inordinate dejection and distrust of God and his providence.

When you have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, I have been like an untrained calf; Jeremiah 31:18(ESV) and though my own folly has brought my way to ruin, yet my heart has raged against the LORD; Proverbs 19:3(ESV) and thus, in my distress I have become yet more faithless to the LORD. 2 Chronicles 28:22(ESV)

I have either despised the LORD’s discipline or been weary of his reproof; Proverbs 3:11(ESV) and if I faint in the day of adversity, my strength is small. Proverbs 24:10(ESV)

I have said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight”; Psalm 31:22(ESV) and, “The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me”; Isaiah 49:14(ESV) as if God would never again be favorable, Psalm 77:7(ESV) as if he had forgotten to be gracious and had in anger shut up his compassion. This has been my infirmity. Psalm 77:9-10(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Bewail your Anger, Love of the World, and Love of the Flesh

Confession 2.8 | ESV

The breaking out of passion and rash anger.

I have not had the rule which I ought to have had over my own spirit, which has therefore been like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28(ESV)

I have been quick in my spirit to become angry, and anger has lodged in my bosom. Ecclesiastes 7:9(ESV) And when my spirit has been made bitter, I have spoken rashly with my lips, Psalm 106:33(ESV) and have been guilty of that clamor and bitterness which should have been put far from me. Ephesians 4:31(ESV)

Our covetousness and love of the world.

My life has not been free from love of money, Hebrews 13:5(ESV) nor have I learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11(ESV)

Who can say that he is clean from that love of money which is the root of all kinds of evil, 1 Timothy 6:10(ESV) that covetousness which is idolatry? Colossians 3:5(ESV)

I have sought great things for myself when you have said, “Seek them not.” Jeremiah 45:5(ESV)

Our sensuality and flesh-pleasing.

I have set my mind on the things of the flesh more than the things of the Spirit, Romans 8:5(ESV) and have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence, and have fattened my heart in a day of slaughter. James 5:5(ESV)

I have made provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires, Romans 13:14(ESV) even those passions which wage war against my soul; 1 Peter 2:11(ESV) and in many instances, I have acted as if I had been a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God. 2 Timothy 3:4(ESV)

When I eat and when I drink, do I not eat for myself and drink for myself? Zechariah 7:6(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Bewail your Many Actual Transgressions, Especially your Pride

Confession 2.7 | ESV

We must likewise bewail our many actual transgressions, in thought, word, and deed.

I have sinned, Father, against heaven and before you: Luke 15:18(ESV) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23(ESV) for the God in whose hand is my breath and whose are all my ways, I have not honored. Daniel 5:23(ESV)

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; Psalm 51:4(ESV) neither have I obeyed the voice of the LORD my God by walking in his laws, which he has set before me, Daniel 9:10(ESV) though they are holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12(ESV)

Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Psalm 19:12(ESV)

In many things I stumble, James 3:2(ESV) and my iniquities are more than the hairs of my head. Psalm 40:12(ESV)

As a well keeps its water fresh, so my heart keeps fresh its evil; Jeremiah 6:7(ESV) and this has been my way from my youth up, that I have not obeyed your voice. Jeremiah 22:21(ESV)

Out of the evil treasure of my heart, I have brought forth much evil. Matthew 12:35(ESV)

We must confess and bewail the workings of pride in us.

I have every reason to be humbled for the pride of my heart; 2 Chronicles 32:26(ESV) for I have thought of myself more highly than I ought to think and have not thought with sober judgment, Romans 12:3(ESV) nor have I walked humbly with my God. Micah 6:8(ESV)

I have leaned on my own understanding, Proverbs 3:5(ESV) and trusted in my own mind, Proverbs 28:26(ESV) and have sacrificed to my own net. Habakkuk 1:16(ESV)

I have sought my own glory more than the glory of him who sent me, John 7:18(ESV) and have been arrogant concerning that for which I should have mourned. 1 Corinthians 5:2(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Lament and Confess your Sins of Omission

Confession 2.6 | ESV

We must lament and confess our omissions of duty, our neglect of it and triflings in it; and that we have done so little since we came into the world of the great work we were sent into the world about, so very little to answer the end of our creation or of our redemption, of our birth and of our baptism; and that we have profited no more by the means of grace.

I have been as a fig tree planted in the vineyard, and you have come many years seeking fruit from me but have found none; and therefore I might justly be cut down and thrown into the fire for using up the ground: Luke 13:6-7(ESV) You have come looking for grapes, but behold wild grapes; Isaiah 5:4(ESV) for I have been an empty vine bringing forth fruit to myself. Hosea 10:1(ESV)

I have known the right thing to do, but have failed to do it. James 4:17(ESV) I have hid my Master’s money, Matthew 25:18(ESV) and therefore deserve the doom of the wicked and slothful servant. Matthew 25:26(ESV)

I have been an unfaithful steward who has wasted my Lord’s possessions; Luke 16:1(ESV) for one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes 9:18(ESV)

Often there has been money in my hand to buy wisdom, yet I have had no sense to; Proverbs 17:16(ESV) or like the fool my heart has been inclined to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2(ESV)

My youth and dawn of life were vanity, Ecclesiastes 11:10(ESV) and I have brought my years to an end like a sigh. Psalm 90:9(ESV)

I have not known or improved the day of my visitation; Luke 19:44(ESV) have not prepared bread in summer nor gathered food in harvest, though I have had chiefs, officers, and rulers. Proverbs 6:7-8(ESV)

I am slow of heart to understand and believe; Luke 24:25(ESV) and though by this time I ought to be a teacher of others, I am yet to learn the basic principles of the oracles of God: I have need of milk, and cannot bear solid food. Hebrews 5:12(ESV)

I have done away with the fear of God and hindered meditation before God; Job 15:4(ESV) I have not called upon your name, nor roused myself to take hold of you. Isaiah 64:7(ESV)

I have come to you as your people come, and have sat before you as your people sit, and have heard what you have said, when my heart at the same time has been set after gain. Ezekiel 33:31(ESV) And thus have I brought the torn and the lame and the sick for sacrifice; have presented to my God that which I would not have presented to my governor; Malachi 1:8(ESV) and have vowed and sacrificed to the Lord what is blemished, when I had in my flock a male. Malachi 1:14(ESV)