Below is a traditional Yom Kippur prayer often recited on this sacred day. It took me several years before I could really come to appreciate this. I used to think it was "canned". I thought myself to be "intimate in prayer" and not in need of assistance or a traditional prayers such as this one. However, YHWH is showing me the beauty and benefit of such a prayer at times. I am still intimate in my prayer, but as I continue to grow in my walk - I am continually humbled. I see the beauty of a prayer like this. I may or may not humble myself this thoroughly and completely by praying "off the cuff", but by having something like this as reminder to focus my purpose or repentance and Teshuva (turning) I can be lead into a much deeper and committed direction. When I honestly meditate and pray it in The Ruach (Spirit), and I honestly repent of each thing spoken - my guilt is shown to me. My transgressions are exposed and I truly repent. In this "assisted prayer process", other things are also brought to my mind - specific instances and issues, transgressions for which I also repent things that are defined in this way by HIM, but I had not realized until He revealed them in this process. A prayer like this also helps me to really recognize and take the responsibility for my actions and my fleshly nature and the reality that, it is HE whom I transgress against. If I lost my temper with my children; I lost my temper with HIM! If I was impatient with someone; I was impatient with HIM. If I was rude or haughty or selfish, even only in my thoughts, I was those things in HIS FACE! If we are 'in Him' and 'He is in us' this IS our reality. We are human and have not been made perfect just yet - but He is faithful and so He teaches US to be as well!
Here is an example of such a traditional prayer -
Father please forgive me for my transgressions:
For the mistakes I committed before You under duress and willingly.
For the mistakes I committed before You through having a hard heart.
For the mistakes I committed before you through things we blurted out with our lips.
For the mistake I committed before You through harsh speech.
For the mistakes I committed before You through wronging a friend.
For the mistakes I committed before You by degrading parents and teachers.
For the mistakes I committed before You by exercising power.
For the mistakes I committed before You against those who know, and those who do not know.
For the mistakes I have committed before You through bribery.
For the mistake I have committed before You through denial and false promises.
For the mistake I have committed before You through negative speech.
For the mistakes I have committed before You with food and drink.
For the mistakes I committed before You by being arrogant.
For the mistakes I committed before You with a brazenness.
For the mistakes I committed before You in refusing to accept responsibility.
For the mistakes I committed before You through jealousy.
For the mistakes I committed before You through baseless hatred.
For the mistakes I committed before You in extending the hand.
For the mistakes I committed before You through confusion of the heart.
In Humble Adoration,
Shalom Pamela,
ReplyDeleteI can NOW(after being humbled) appreciate this prayer and some of the other traditions,and blessings of Judaism.
I see NOW(after being humbled)that some of them are beautiful reminders, and what I had done(out of a desire for truth) is thrown the baby out with the bath water, so to speak.
I have since realized(by the conviction of the Ruach HaKodesh) that some of these traditions are good, useful and even glorify our Heavenly Father. I have also seen that speaking truth without love, is most of the time in vain.
I have tried to be careful, what I post on my blog, keeping the truth balanced with love and concern, but I will say that the Ruach HaKodesh recently convicted me to take some things off my blog post. When I did I felt my Shalom return.
HE(YHVH) seems to be reminding me that there are traditions of men that HE hates, but there are also some, that serve as excellent reminders of HIS Will for our lives.
Thank you for posting this!
Shalom shalom,
Moira
Sweet Moira,
ReplyDeleteSuch sage words! It is so exciting to see the Ruach work stuff ou of us isn't it?!! Sometimes our zealousness can get us in trouble, but Praise Yah that He is patient and that we remain open to correction and reprove as we grow. I pray it is the case will all of His people. Restoration and walking in LOVE and obediance is where He wants to bring us all side by side - but thee is so much we need to shed in that process!! So many of us could easily repent for "throwing the baby out with the bath- water" you are not alone sweet sister. I have also jumped from "the pot into the fire" a few times on other topics. :-) But Praise Yah, I have learned from it! :-) And He continues to pour out his mercy on me and chastens me and comforts me when I have had quit enough to cause me to teshuva (turn). :-)
We have so much to be thankful and praise Him for!!!!
Much Love, p
P.S. Thankyou for mentioning your revelation with some of your blog-posts. That is another thing that I would like to pray over and ask Yah if there is anything I change or remove that does not glorify Him.
Shalom~ I am glad I am not alone :)
ReplyDeleteYou are such a good friend!!
YHVH is sooooo good!!!
Shavua tov!
Moira
So I am NOT alone! I am filled with such awe right now, because the seems to be the message this morning! Hallelu YAH!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe children and I were just going over a similar list yesterday. We had a wonderful time of talking about what each item meant in our daily lives. Giving examples and being so grateful HE is showing each of us these sins. It was truly a wonderful experience to be able to pick through them with my children!!!
And I thank the Father because this: "In this "assisted prayer process", other things are also brought to my mind - specific instances and issues, transgressions for which I also repent things that are defined in this way by HIM, but I had not realized until He revealed them in this process." is soooo true!!! How faithfully GOOD is our Father!
My heart is so overwhelmed right now with HIS beauty. Thank you Pamela for the post! And thank you both, Pamela and Moira for your transparency =)
Shalom my dear sisters =)
Thank you for this thought provoking prayer Pamela!
ReplyDeleteluv Donna
:) Moira, you spoke it well...and I am blessed by your sharing Pamela...thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteThank you I was looking for this!
ReplyDeleteblessings
carmen