If you’ve never really prayed before or you just feel like you could use some help getting started, here is an example prayer of repentance. If you follow this prayer, please make it your own by including your specifics where indicated. Also, it’s best to speak your prayer out loud, so maybe find a place where you can have privacy with minimal distraction. When you pray, take a posture of humility — you may find it helpful to sit, bow or kneel down.

All set? Let’s begin…

Dear God, I come to you in prayer today because I have realised that I need to repent. I have been going my own way and I acknowledge that I have been living in rebellion against you. Today, I want to make a change, to turn away from my rebellion and my sin and its consequence of death. I want to turn back to you, to receive your forgiveness and your life.

I now understand and believe that Jesus Christ was your only son, who you sent from heaven to earth. He lived a blameless, sinless life but he willingly took our sin upon himself and paid its penalty of death in our place. I acknowledge that he died in my place too — he died because of my own personal sin.

Dear God, I want to confess all my sin openly to you. I now count it as vile and wrong and I want to leave it all behind. I pray that you will hear my confession today so I can be free to receive your forgiveness. I confess that I …

[This is where you start confessing your own sins. Take your time, get specific and don’t leave anything out.]

Thank you God for hearing my confession. Please forgive me for these; my sin and rebellion against you. Thank you Jesus for giving your life in my place so I can be forgiven. Thank you for extending your grace toward me and in turn, I forgive anyone who has sinned against me.

Thank you God for your promise of forgiveness — I receive it today with gladness! I reaffirm my belief in Jesus — that he actually lived, he actually died and he actually rose to life again! Because he lives now and forever, I commit myself to serve, follow and obey Jesus for the rest of my life. I pray that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can be empowered to continue in the faith and freedom I have received from you today!