Theme
Repentance Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped theme prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, there are two kinds of sorry.
One is sorry I got caught. Sorry, I look bad. Sorry about what it cost me. That kind leads nowhere.
The other is sorry against You. Sorry that I hurt the heart of the One who made me and bought me. That kind leads to real change.
I have practiced the wrong kind. Move me from the first to the second.
Not just regret. Turning. Walking the other way.
Turn me today. The room I was about to enter, the conversation I was about to start, the screen I was about to open — turn me from it.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:10
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray repentance prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in 2 Corinthians 7:10. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.