Category: NIV First Person

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Method for Prayer NIV First Person

Consider your Evil Sins in Light of your Moral Knowledge and Profession of Faith

Confession 2.15 | NIV

I must aggravate* my sins and take notice of those things which make them more heinous in the sight of God and more dangerous to myself.

I bewail before you all my sins, and all my rebellion in my sins. Leviticus 16:21(NIV)

The more knowledge I have of good and evil, the greater is my sin.

I have known my Master’s will but have not done it, and therefore deserve to be beaten with many blows. Luke 12:47(NIV)

I have known the way of the LORD and the requirements of my God, and yet have broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. Jeremiah 5:4-5(NIV)

I have known God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, and yet I have not only continued to do them but have approved of those who practice them. Romans 1:32(NIV)

I have taught others, and yet have not taught myself; Romans 2:21(NIV) and while I claim to know God, I have in actions denied him. Titus 1:16(NIV)

The greater profession I have made of religion, the greater has been my sin.

I call myself a citizen of the holy city and rely on the God of Israel and invoke his name, but not in truth or righteousness. Isaiah 48:1-2(NIV) For I have dishonored that worthy name by which I have been called, James 2:23(NIV) and by doing this I have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt. 2 Samuel 12:14(NIV)

I have confessed the name of the Lord, and yet have not turned away from wickedness. 2 Timothy 2:19(NIV)

* The author means that we must look at our sins in the worst light, to see just how evil they are, taking into account the persons we have offended, the nature of the offense, the circumstances of our sin, etc. See The Westminster Larger Catechism, Questions 150 and 151. Editor.

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Method for Prayer NIV First Person

Acknowledge that Sin is an Affront to the Holy God and Damages the Soul

Confession 2.14 | NIV

The offense which by sin I have given to the Holy God.

I have dishonored God by breaking the law, Romans 2:23(NIV) and have spurned the Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 1:4(NIV) and bitterly provoked him to anger. Hosea 12:14(NIV) And many a thing that I have done has displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:27(NIV)

God has been grieved by my adulterous heart and my eyes that have lusted after my idols. Ezekiel 6:9(NIV)

I have tested him and tried him and angered him in the wilderness; Psalm 95:9-10(NIV) have rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit, Isaiah 63:10(NIV) and pressed him with my iniquities, as a cart is pressed when loaded with grain. Amos 2:13(KJV)

I have grieved the Holy Spirit of God, with whom I was sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30(NIV)

The damage which by sin I have done to my own soul and its great interests.

By my sins I have sold myself; Isaiah 50:1(NIV) and in sinning against you, I have wronged my own soul. Proverbs 8:36(KJV)

My iniquities have separated me from my God, Isaiah 59:2(NIV) and have deprived me of good; Jeremiah 5:25(NIV) and by them, my mind and conscience have been corrupted. Titus 1:15(NIV)

My own wickedness has punished me, and backslidings have rebuked me; and I cannot but consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for me when I forsake the LORD my God and have no awe of him. Jeremiah 2:19(NIV)

O what fools are they who mock at sin! Proverbs 14:9(KJV)

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Method for Prayer NIV First Person

Acknowledge the Great Evil of Sin, its Unprofitableness and Deceitfulness

Confession 2.13 | NIV

The unprofitableness of sin.

I have sinned and perverted what was right, but it did not profit me. Job 33:27(NIV)

What benefit did I reap from those things that I am now ashamed of, seeing that they result in death? Romans 6:21(NIV) And what good will it be if I should gain the whole world, yet forfeit my soul? Matthew 16:26(NIV)

The deceitfulness of sin.

Sin has deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death; Romans 7:11(NIV) for my heart has been hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, Hebrews 3:13(NIV) and by my own evil desire I have been dragged away and enticed. James 1:14(NIV)

It has promised me freedom, but has made me a slave of depravity; 2 Peter 2:19(NIV) has promised me that I will not surely die and that I will be like God, Genesis 3:4-5(NIV) but it has flattered me and spread a net for my feet. Proverbs 29:5(NIV)

The pride of my heart, particularly, has deceived me. Obadiah 1:3(NIV)