This prayer was originally published in 2023. New intercessions will be published here by noon on Wednesday 9 September 2026.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
(Charlotte Elliot 1789 – 1871)
God, who alone can forgive all our sins and heal all our infirmities, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We come before you now to offer up prayers for our troubled world. So many people and so many situations where forgiveness could bring so much healing and power – from individuals up to whole countries. We think about the stories in the news this week. We have been so conscious of human shortcomings. We pray for the resolution of unrest in prisons. For the continuous threat of terrorism. We pray for countries – such as the Ukraine – where war is no longer a headline, but where people live each day with uncertainty and terror. We pray for places where a solution cannot even be imagined and the hurt just gets deeper. For people working together to promote peace and forgiveness. We pray for areas – such as Morocco and Libya – affected by such terrible natural disasters, that aid will reach where it is most needed.
God, who alone can forgive all our sins and heal all our infirmities, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the church worldwide. Church, the place where we expect to find tolerance and forgiveness; but it’s not exempt from trouble, both from within and without. We pray for the situation in Eritreya, where outside violence has come within the church walls and caused so much harm. We pray against any kind of violence in your holy places, verbal or physical. May the Church be a beacon of your love and forgiveness.
God, who alone can forgive all our sins and heal all our infirmities, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for our communities. For people who have had tough lives, perhaps have known only unkindness and even violence, and probably don’t even understand what love and forgiveness are. We pray for people who have had things happen in their lives that they can’t forgive. We pray for people whose lives are eaten up by guilt over things they have done.
God, who alone can forgive all our sins and heal all our infirmities, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick, in body mind and spirit. For those who have lost a loved one. May they know your healing touch in the way they need it most. We pray for people who have hurt us; and for people we have hurt. Jacob’s sons told Joseph lies, watching out for themselves. Joseph forgave and provided for them. Help us to forgive from the heart, with deeds, not just words. We pray that we would always put the needs of others before our own.
God, who alone can forgive all our sins and heal all our infirmities, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for our young people, our children and grandchildren, that they will learn the way of forgiveness, forgiving and being forgiven. We think about the man who didn’t pay it forward when he was forgiven his debt. He didn’t even think about it. Help us to be totally honest and open before you, realising forgiveness must be passed on to others. It can’t be hoarded, stored up, hugged close. God, who alone can forgive all our sins and heal all our infirmities, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. Amen.