
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,