We can often “go with the flow” of life, without noticing that we could actually be drifting away from God. It is critical that we ask God regularly for His take on the direction of our lives and to give us fresh eyes to see ourselves as He sees us. A prayer of self-reflection requires us to make time to quiet down our minds and humble our hearts before we can hear from His Holy Spirit.
(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 自我反省 | 繁體中文 > 自我反省)
1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
A self-reflective prayer to restore our perspectives
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that Your mercies are new every morning. You are my King, my Friend and my Helper, and You are right here with me now.
Today, I invite the Holy Spirit to lead me in a time of self-reflection. I wish for my desires to be ruled by the Holy Spirit, rather than by the strivings of my own flesh.
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
First, I would like to thank you for all the blessings, talents, and relationships You have gifted me with!
I am sorry for all the times I have robbed You of Your glory. I lay at the feet of Jesus, every achievement, honour, talent and friendship that You have given me. Forgive me for (pause and reflectively pray).
James 4:8 ESV Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
I thank You for (pause and reflectively pray).
Today, I want to ask You what You would like, rather than asking You for what I want, as I often do.
I repent of all the times I have wilfully gone astray from Your gentle guidance and sought to do things my own way. Please show me what stops me from trusting you completely. (Pause and reflectively pray)
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
In a world where societies are increasingly evil and distorted, I confess that sometimes it is hard to tell Your truth from the world’s deceptions. I am often unknowingly lured into ways of thinking, habits and practices that insult Your righteousness and goodness. Help me to recognise what these are. (Pause and reflectively pray)
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Just as King David prayed in Psalm 24, I too want to have clean hands and a pure heart for You, my Father.
Psalm 24:3-5 ESV Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Please reveal to me what else I have been clinging on to that I need to lay at the foot of Your throne. Are there relationships that I need to reconcile and people I need to forgive? Are there false idols in my life that I need to let go off? Are there things I haven’t done?
I confess I struggle to release Your forgiveness and grace to some people in my life because I have been hurt and wounded. Holy Spirit, please come and move my heart. Lead me to cry out my pain to You and weep before You so that the toxic emotional pain that continues to poison my soul can be flushed out and cleansed. (Please spend some time to invite the Holy Spirit to administer to you as you confess your pains.)
(Please spend an extended period of time listening to the convictions in your spirit from our Helper, the Holy Spirit. You may wish to play some worship music in the background as you do this.)
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
You, oh God, can make anything more beautiful than I could ever hope for, so I willingly surrender these to You.
1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
Please bring into my life, people and situations that will help me along my journey with You, oh God, to ensure that I continue along the path to Your grace and righteousness.
Bring to my awareness when I am lured towards the gate of destruction, by following the masses. Give me the wisdom to recognise the ways that lead to You and the perseverance to stay on that path.
Matthew 7:13-14 ESV “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Thank you, Father, that You answer every heart that seeks You in truth and spirit.
I praise You for Your faithfulness and never-ending love for me.
In Jesus name, amen!”