Prayers for Forgiveness

Whether we are seeking forgiveness for our own sins or asking God to help us forgive others, prayer is the first place to start when seeking restoration and healing. The below prayers can help guide your thoughts and words as you seek being forgiven or help in forgiving others. It is a big step to seek out forgiveness and you have taken a bold step in faith!

Before we jump into specific prayers for forgiveness, you may want to take some time to consider what God commands of us concerning forgiveness and why it's so critical to be able to forgive.

Though the Bible is filled with passages about forgiveness, forgiving someone who's wronged you is easier said than done. When someone betrays your trust, it's only natural to feel wounded — but when you fail to forgive someone, you end up carrying your bitterness with you, which can be a real burden. The best prayers for forgiveness can help you find peace and comfort, even when forgiving someone feels impossible... or when the person you have to forgive is yourself. Whether you've been hurt by someone you love or sinned against someone else, these prayers about forgiveness will give you strength and put you on a path towards healing.

As difficult as it may be to grant forgiveness, it's the only way you'll be forgiven yourself, and there are few things more important than that. None of us is exempt from needing forgiveness, and if you're looking to find forgiveness in your heart, then these short prayers for seeking forgiveness and forgiving yourself can help.

Gathered together on this page are a number of example prayers and resources for asking God for forgiveness and for forgiving others who have wronged us. You may like to begin by reading the short article further down on "How to ask God for forgiveness" and then pray the "prayer for the forgiveness of sins" or the traditional prayer. There is also a short prayer for strength to help with overcoming whatever sin or difficulty you are experiencing.

Forgiveness always sounds easier on paper. After all, we can look to examples throughout the Bible of people forgiving one another and reap great inspiration from it. Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery. In the midst of intense hurt, you may not know the right words to say. The beautiful thing is there are no right words. God wants to hear the groanings of your heart and comfort you.

We can all think of times when we have fallen short of what we know is right and good — times when we are left with a sick feeling of guilt. Whether we have hurt others, turned away from God, or failed to act when we know the right thing to do, each of us knows well the stories of our shortcomings. Thankfully, a life of faith offers the remedy of forgiveness.

One option is to express sorrow for sin in private prayer. And while this is important, Catholics also have a special way of asking God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of confession. Sometimes also referred to as reconciliation, this is where we speak our sins aloud to God in the presence of the priest. This can be intimidating to do, and fear or embarrassment often keeps many from receiving the sacrament.

Forgiving other people’s sins against you isn’t as easy as it sounds. But remember that as you come to God for forgiveness, you are not in the position to hold a grudge against your brothers and sisters, even if you are deeply hurt. No matter the circumstances, remember that the Holy Spirit intercedes as you let God’s word work miracles in your life through these prayers for forgiveness.

As you have forgiven all our sins, allow us to be humble enough to forgive others for all the wrong acts they have committed against us. Let your sweet words saturate our hearts and change us so that all of us will forgive others the same way your only Son, Jesus Christ, forgave us our sins.