WHAT IS THE SINNERS PRAYER?

A personal, honest prayer to God.

It is a personal prayer from you to God in which you acknowledge your wrongdoing, say sorry to God, ask for forgiveness and ask him to be Lord of your life from now on.

Then make a clean break with your old ways, i.e; stop going to the pub and getting drunk. Stop leading that person astray. Stop making that girl/boy wait for your commitment – commit to them or let them go, make a choice! Stop bullying that person who is weaker than you, be kind to your wife/husband and children. Stop stealing and cheating others – even strangers. Etc, etc.

In other words, turn your back on your previous ways and choose Jesus’ ways. You can’t have both ways of life, you can’t pick and choose which bits of Jesus you like and which to ignore, it doesn’t work that way. Your old ways will bring you misery so let them go!

You don’t have to say long wordy prayers, just honest ones. One of my first prayers was, “Lord, if you’re really there – show me!” Then I searched for him in the bible and talking to others…..but I would say beware of taking other people’s word about God, always test them with the bible. It is much better to get a bible, make time every day to read it and always pray for truth to be revealed to you.

Here are some ideas for prayer if you need them.

• Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, forgive me please. I am sorry for everything I have done wrong. Guide me Lord into a new life with you.
• Lord Jesus, I know I have done/am doing wrong in my life. I am sorry, forgive me and show me your ways.
• Lord Jesus, help me recognize and turn away from my sinful life and turn towards a new life in you.
• Lord, forgive me and help me to trust you as my Lord and Saviour.
• Lord Jesus, help me!! I am stuck in this life. Get me out please.
• Lord Jesus, I am sorry my ways help nail you to the cross. Forgive me and guide into better ways.
• Read the Psalms for prayers if you are struggling to put yours into words. i.e. Psalm 51:1-3

However you say it, make it personal to God – from your heart to his, and he will hear you. Then take that first step of faith and tell someone you prayed. They will very likely mock you, then feel sorry for you, and then get annoyed with you. But eventually, they will either accept you or reject you, but you never know, you may bring someone else to Jesus through your faith and change of lifestyle, because you will have changed. He will give you his strength to get through it – and remember, he will know exactly how you feel because they did it to him first! But the more you put your trust in him, the stronger you will become and the better your life will be. Some people have an instantaneous change. Some, like me, have a gradual change. It will depend on his will and your personality. I believe he knows what is best for each one of us.

So, if you can feel the call of Jesus in your spirit, answer him, just as you are, and see what he can do!

This is how I understand my God.

Read for yourself, see what you think.