Dedication Prayer - What's Wrong

The Dedication Prayer

This is a typical and considered very good dedication or repentance prayer easily found on internet:

Lord Jesus,
we have not always put you first.
Our lives have not always be in submission to you.
Our hearts have not always been focused on you.
Forgive us, Change us, turn us around, transform us!
In Jesus' Name, Amen

Can you find any thing wrong with it?

Do you think God can answer prayer like that?

The first part is confession of facts - not put Jesus 1st.

The 2nd part, the change, is usually where the misunderstanding occurs that resulted in most Christian living a defeated life.

The main error is that we are asking God to do the thing that He has already done!

It is like having the money in our hand and in our bank account and then still asking our parent for more money.

God cannot give you again what He has already given you. His answer to our such prayer will be "I've done it. It is with you. Use what I've given you. It is not with Me. It has already been given to you through Jesus Christ.

We have, in a subtle way, asked God to do the thing that we should be doing - believing and acting on the accomplished work of Christ.

We have passed our task back to God. We are told to speak to the Mountain about God and not speak to God about the Mountain.

Mar 11:23 KJV For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

#1 Forgive Us

This is the acknowledgement of our wrong doing. We must be able to face up with our wrong doing so that we can change. Repentance is about changing our mindset and behavior to follow Jesus. We must be clear about the timing - when did God know about our sinning? God know about our wronging doing before we discover about it. We need to rest on the fact that all sins, past, present and future have been paid for and forgiven by Jesus' death on the Cross two thousands year ago; at that time, all our sins are in the future and have been nailed to the cross. Our sins or wrong doings are not forgiven at the time of our confession but forgiven 2K years ago. 1 John 1:9 is given to assured us of His forgiveness and for us to use against the Devil's accusation, causing us to feel guilt and shame and to run away from God. (BTW, Devil's tricks are lies, temptation, accusation and driven from Fear. He tell a lie to tempt us to sin and then accuse us.) When we sin, we must come quickly to the throne of grace Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Do not be tricked by the devil that God is holding our sin against us. Get up from the floor and move ahead with the change because God has already forgiven us though Christ and get the Grace Power of Christ in us to move ahead.

#2 Change Us

When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are changed already - our spiritual man is rebirth by the Holy Spirit. 2Co 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. So, this request have been answered. God change us from the inside and we are to work it out Php 2:12. Rom 12:1-2 tells us to offer our body as a living sacrifice, and be transformed by the renewing of our mind (with knowledge of God - starting with the Bible). We has control over our mind and body. We do the change that God has already started within us.

#3 Turn Us Around

God makes not robot. We have ownership of our will. We must will to follow God's will. It is our responsibility to exercise our will.

#4 Transform Us

As pointed above, God has already transformed us from Adam's nature to Christ's nature. All we need to do it to work it out - that our soul and body becomes the medium of God's character that is inside. We become the instruments of God in this present work - touching lives and glorify God with our work.

Conclusions - I can do all things through Christ

Don't ask God to do thing that He has already empowered us, through the Grace in Jesus Christ, to do. Don't blame God for not answering our prayers when we should be one doing the things He has asked us to do. Get up, know the Bible, know His will and just be obedient to His calling and His will and move forward courageously and victoriously. Don't get stuck in the mud of self-pity and blaming God. The 2nd part of the dedication prayer should be : I have realized my mistake and want to turn around. Thank you God for forgiving me. Thank you God that you have transformed me and had given me a New Life and Identity. I'm your children. I've Christ in me. I can walk this new way because Php 4:13 KJV I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.

A Positive Dedication Prayer
The following song used in a Children Church presentation is an example of a good dedication prayer.

• Dear God,
  
  • Thank you for loving me. And giving me Your all.
    When I grow up, I will still be serving You.
    want to know you more. I want to love you more.
    I will never forget You Lord.
  • In Jesus' Name