Have you ever watched a preacher on TV, and he closes the broadcast with a prayer that you are invited to pray with him?
That prayer usually says something similar to a prayer you may have heard a local Pastor or Sunday school teacher offer. It’s usually referred to as The Sinner’s Prayer.
The “Sinner’s Prayer” seems so common to the modern Christian life that many assume it can be found in the Bible.
Here is an example of The Sinner’s Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayers like this can be traced back to the 17th century, many sources are credited, though no one really knows the author of the original Sinner’s Prayer.
This prayer is not found in the Bible but it is consistent with a general Christian theological understanding of salvation.
The truth is you can pray those exact words and not honor the meaning of the words. Then the prayer is meaningless. You could also agree with the sentiment of the words but pray using very different words and the prayer means everything.
All of us at some point need to acknowledge that we have fallen short of God’s standards, ask Him for forgiveness, agree that Jesus made forgiveness possible, turn from our self-centered ways and follow Him.
I know people who have done that at an altar on Sunday mornings, I know people who have done that on the side of the highway, in a hospital, at a campsite, at a sporting event. The important thing is not repeating the exact words, but surrendering your entire life to God’s will for your life.
I hope you grow to understand God’s overwhelming love for you and dedicate your life to Him.
How, where, and exactly what words you use, is up to you.
Written by Tom Wise Copyright © Finding Wonder 2016
