Forgiveness prayer could be one of the most difficult commandments left by Jesus christ but is to fulfill this, forgive, or at least say a prayer of forgiveness for those people who hurt us.
Forgiveness always sounds easier on paper. After all, we can look at examples throughout the Bible of people forgiving one another and draw great inspiration from that. Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery (Genesis 50:20).
Daniel and Jesus showed love to their enemies, in the latter case, even to death. So how can we forgive someone while still fixing a broken heart? Can we lift up a prayer for forgiveness when it seems the person who hurt us took away all our words?
In the midst of intense pain, you may not know the right words to say. The beautiful thing is that there are no right words. God wants to hear the groans of your heart and comfort you. But we hope that these prayers below can help offer a model or a starting point on your journey to forgiveness.
Remember, Jesus tells us to pray for those who hurt us (Matthew 5:44). Perhaps these prayers you raise can open your eyes to your pain and to the goodness of our Lord.
Prayer for forgiveness and repentance
You will also notice that below we have some prayers to ask for forgiveness. As humans, we all fall short of the glory of God. If you are in need of asking God for forgiveness, we have some prayers below for that as well.
Prayer for the Gift of Forgiveness
God, I’ve been trying to forgive myself, but I still carry shame. Today, I receive that gift of forgiveness that You offer me. Thank you for doing healing work within me that I cannot do alone. Thank you for a new day, a new chapter, and a new beginning. Amen.
Prayer for the forgiveness of lies
Father of Truth, I was hurt by a friend’s mistake. I know the devil often works on half-truths, and he seems to have a foothold in my friend. I ask for clarity in my situation and the ability to forgive my friend, just as you have forgiven me for the lies I have told in the past. Amen.
Prayer for forgiveness when someone hurts you
Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving me and bringing me back into a relationship with you. Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross to show us the true meaning of forgiveness. Help me to show that same forgiveness to others so they can see You living in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for God’s Forgiveness
Lord, against you I have sinned alone. I know that every time I choose sin over you, I go back to the ways of my old self before I knew you. Help me to return to the paths of righteousness, to turn away from my mistake, and to become more like you each day. Amen.
Prayer to live in forgiveness
Father, I come to You today, asking first for Your forgiveness for the sin in my life. I choose to turn away from this sin and obey you. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Give me the strength and power to extend that same mercy and grace to those in my life who have hurt me.
Prayer for forgiveness and rebuke to resentment
Dear heavenly Father, oh how our hearts struggle to fully and fully forgive. We thank You for showing such forgiveness, graciously extending it to us. Help us to forgive freely and let go of bitterness, and grant us the strength to trust that Your way is best. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for forgiveness and healing
Dear Lord, search my heart. Reveal to me any remnants of hurt where I have tried to forgive apart from You. I pray that you will cover these wounds in your healing grace and, through your strength, enable me to forgive others as fully and completely as you first forgave me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for forgiveness and protection
God, I ask that you grant me the ability to forgive someone who has hurt me. However, I don’t feel safe being around that person. I ask you to protect me when I am around that person. I know forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean I have to be their best friend. Grant me security and peace. Amen.
Prayer for forgiveness during intense anger
Dear Lord, please forgive me for harboring anger. It equips me with a supernatural ability to forgive those who have hurt me. Guard my heart when old emotions threaten to surface. Take the anger out of my heart and replace it with joy. In Jesus name, amen.
Prayer for Forgiveness and Repentance
God, I have an unrepentant friend. Even though I’ve expressed how much they’ve hurt me, they seem to lack conviction at this point. Please help the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the pain they caused. And please give me clarity for those I may have unintentionally hurt as well. Amen.
Prayer for the forgiveness of myself
Father God, I am so grateful that forgiveness is not something I have to earn or achieve. It is a gift of grace that I receive. Thank you that the blood of Jesus was enough to pay for my sin. Help me to receive everything you are offering me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for forgiveness and purification
Jesus, while I ask your forgiveness, I ask you to cleanse me with hyssop and make me pure. Sanctification is not an easy process, but I want to become more like you, Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Forgiveness for Hurting Someone
God, it’s come to my attention that I’ve hurt someone very badly. I intend to go to them and ask for forgiveness, but I also want to go to you and repent too. I was supposed to be a light, and I chose selfishness over showing them the hope I have inside me. May you guide my steps. Amen.
Prayer to rebuke unforgiveness
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today with a heavy heart, the weight of unforgiveness hanging over me. I pray that you will help me to let go of this burden I have been carrying for so long. Remind me how much you love and care for me, as well as how much I have been forgiven. In Your Precious Name, Amen.
Forgiveness Prayer in the Bible
Psalm 51:4: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; then you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.”
Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Prayer to forgive and forget
Lord, please help me to have the courage to speak lovingly to those who have sinned against me. Help me know how to tell them what they did wrong and kindly ask them not to do it again. If they repent and repent, please help me to forgive them for what they’ve done and then completely release them from that hurt, never to bring it up again. Help me put this offense out of my mind forever, just as You did so many times for me! Amen.
Prayer for the forgiveness of disobedience
Father, there is someone in my life who has disobeyed me and in doing so has hurt me. Please help me find ways to forgive them. Also, alert me to areas of my life where there is a lack. I know I can disobey you without even realizing it. Give me clarity and remind me how much you’ve forgiven me. Amen.
Prayer to choose forgiveness
Father, I praise You for the love and forgiveness You so freely offer. I don’t understand how you can love me when I’m so unworthy of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. To think that He died for me shakes my world. Please give me the wisdom and strength to forgive those who have hurt me. I want my life to be a living illustration of His unconditional love and endless forgiveness. Amen.
Prayer for the Forgiveness of Sins
God, I come before you amazed. You, an all-holy God, forgave my sins and allowed me to enter a new life with you. I don’t know if this will be able to be fully understood. Thank you for your eternal forgiveness, and I am so grateful to be a part of your family. Amen.
Prayer for forgiveness and freedom
Father, please forgive me when I allow anger and bitterness to fill my heart because I refuse to forgive someone who has hurt me. Teach me to give up my rights and choose to forgive the way You forgave me. Amen.
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25 BIBLE VERSES ON FORGIVENESS
Below are the top forgiveness prayers in the bible.
- Matthew 26:28 HCSB
For this is My blood that establishes the covenant;it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Acts 2:38 ESV
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 3:19 HCSB
Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord - Acts 10:43 HCSB
All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins. - Ephesians 1:7 ESV
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace - Colossians 1:13-14 NIV
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Hebrews 10:17 ESV
then he adds,“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” - 1 John 1:7-9 HCSB
But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 2:2 HCSB
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours but also for those of the whole world. - Psalm 32:5 ESV
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah - Psalm 51:1-2 ESV
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! - Psalm 103:11-12 ESV
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. - Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. - Isaiah 1:18 HCSB
“Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool. - Isaiah 43:25
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
- Daniel 9:9 NIV
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him - Micah 7:18 HCSB
Who is a God like You,
removing iniquity and passing over rebellion
for the remnant of His inheritance?
He does not hold on to His anger forever,
because He delights in faithful love.
SCRIPTURE ON FORGIVING OTHERS:
- Matthew 5:23-24 HCSB
So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 6:14-15 NLT
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
- Matthew 18:21-22 NLT
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! - Luke 6:37 HCSB
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. - 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 ESV
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. - Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Colossians 3:13 NLT
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.