A Prayer of Consecration and Repentance

"And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." - Joel 2:13

Joel 2:13 - "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

O Lord our God, creator of the heavens and the earth, we come before You with hearts humbled and contrite, as we reflect on the profound exhortation found in the book of Joel, chapter 2, verse 13, where You call us to "rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that in our lives, we have often focused on outward signs of remorse—tearing our garments as a display of sorrow, yet failing to truly rend our hearts in genuine repentance. We recognize that You are not merely concerned with the external manifestations of sorrow, but with the sincerity of our inner being.

Lord, as we come before You today, we ask that You help us to tear our hearts open, exposing the raw pain of our transgressions, our missed opportunities to love, and our lack of faith. Let us not shy away from the uncomfortable emotions that arise when we confront our shortcomings. Teach us, O God, the true meaning of repentance, that it might penetrate deep into our souls, stirring within us a desire to turn back to You completely.

We are grateful, Father, for Your character so vibrantly portrayed in Your word. You are gracious beyond measure; Your kindness stretches far beyond what we can comprehend. We exalt You for being a God who is merciful, willing to extend forgiveness even when we fail time and time again. Your patience is a testament to Your great love; You are slow to anger, reminding us that Your heart beats for reconciliation, not destruction.

O God, we reflect on the myriad of ways we have turned our backs on You, choosing paths of pride or disobedience. We have allowed distractions and temptations to lead us away from the truth of Your word and the warmth of Your presence. Search us, Lord, and know our hearts. Reveal to us any wicked ways so that we may confess and renounce them, casting aside the heavy burdens that weigh us down.

Bring to remembrance the kindness You have shown us in moments of distress. The times when we thought we were beyond redemption, and yet You lifted us from our despair. You are a God who "repenteth him of the evil;" what grace is this? To know that in Your great mercy, You long to turn away from judgement and extend grace instead. When we deserve punishment, You offer compassion. Lord, we are awed by the depth of Your loving-kindness and the assurance of Your unchanging nature.

Today, we turn to You, Lord, with a renewed heart. Clothe us with a spirit of humility and genuine desire to change. Breathe life into our spirits, and help us to reflect a heart that is constantly Attuned to Your voice. As we rend our hearts, let us be transformed from within, able to disciple and lead others not through mere words, but through the authenticity of our changed lives.

In our moments of struggle and failure, remind us of Your faithfulness and steadfast love. Lead us back each time we stray, for we know that You do not tire of welcoming us home. Help us to emulate Your grace and compassion in our dealings with others, that we too may reflect Your kindness and mercy.

As we conclude this prayer, may it serve as a catalyst for a deeper relationship with You, a renewed commitment to turn away from sin and embrace the new life found in Christ Jesus. We ask all these things in the name of Your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, who calls us to repentance and nourishes our souls.

Amen.

Joel 2:13 Artwork

Joel 2:13 - "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

Joel 2:28

Acts 2:16 - "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;"

Joel 2:28 – "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people."

Joel 2:18 - "¶ Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people."

Joel 2:28 – "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people."

Joel 2:4 - "The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run."

Joel 2:15 - "¶ Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:"

Joel 2:30 - "And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke."

Joel 2:12-13 - "Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

Joel 3:13 - "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great."

Joel 2:24 - "And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil."

Joel 2:21 - "¶ Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things."

Joel 2:6 - "Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness."

Joel 2:31 - "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come."

Joel 2:29 - "And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

Joel 1:13 - "Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God."

1 Samuel 8:2 - "Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba."

Joel 2:12 - "¶ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:"

Joel 2:10 - "The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:"

Joel 2:2 - "A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations."

Joel 2:8 - "Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded."

Joel 2:22 - "Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength."

Joel 2:14 - "Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?"

2 Chronicles 29:12 - "¶ Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:"

Joel 2:1 - "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;"

Joel 2:5 - "Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array."