Asking God for forgiveness for one's sins is an important gesture. You have to admit your mistakes and sincerely regret what you did. Therefore, you should approach God, pray by reading the Holy Scriptures and ask for his mercy. After that, you must believe in his forgiveness, and finally, once he has granted it to you, try to leave behind the sins you have committed and live a new life.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Confessing Your Sins
Step 1. Mention and admit the mistakes you made
Before asking for forgiveness, you must point out that you were wrong and admit what you did. If you feel guilty, you will probably be tempted to find some excuse or deny that you have misbehaved. You cannot receive God's forgiveness if you don't admit your mistakes.
- You might be thinking, "Maybe I shouldn't lie, but I had a good reason and, after all, it's a little lie." In this case, you are trying to justify the mistake you made rather than admit it.
- He begins by praying: "Father, I stole 5 euros from my brother without asking him". In this way, you indicate what your sin (theft) is and take responsibility for it without making excuses.
Step 2. Tell God you know you were wrong
Once you mention your mistake, you have to acknowledge that you have misbehaved, because you can also say what you did, but not regret it for that. It is useless to admit what you have done if you do not admit that you were wrong.
You will not receive forgiveness if you say, "I had an extramarital relationship with my colleague, but I don't see anything wrong." You must consider what you have done as a sin, as something that makes God unhappy
Step 3. Say you are sorry for what you did
It is not enough for you to say and admit your mistake, but you must also apologize, feel sorry for the wrong you have done and communicate your regret to God through your words. It is important that the remorse be sincere when you say you are sorry.
- Asking God for forgiveness is not like apologizing to a brother even when repentance is not genuine. It has to start from the heart.
- For example, try saying, "I know what I did was wrong and I feel really bad about it. I'm sorry I ruined our relationship. I'm sorry I sinned, Lord."
Part 2 of 3: Ask for forgiveness
Step 1. Pray focusing on what you are feeling
You must always be honest when you ask God for forgiveness. If you are sure he can read your heart, there is no point in lying to him. Tell him how guilty you feel for sinning and how sad you are that you walked away from him.
- Tell him, "Lord, I'm sick in my stomach because I know I made you suffer."
- It is preferable to pray aloud, saying exactly what is on your mind rather than just thinking it.
Step 2. Use the Holy Scriptures to pray
God's word is powerful and encourages you to talk to him. Since the Bible is the word of the Lord, it shows you how you can approach him. Get the Bible, or search for the text online, to find the most appropriate passages. Choose those that allow you to formulate your invocation most effectively.
- Search the following scriptures and include them in your prayer: Romans 6:23, John 3:16, 1 John 2: 2. Each of these biblical verses speaks of forgiveness, but throughout the New Testament you can find truths on this subject.
- Search and discover for yourself the passages in which forgiveness is spoken. You can repeat them using the same words or paraphrase them so that they acquire more meaning in your eyes.
Step 3. Invoke God's forgiveness for what you have done
Just like you would a person, ask them to forgive you after admitting that you are sorry. There is no special prayer to be recited to obtain his forgiveness. All you have to do is call on him through Jesus Christ and believe in his mercy.
- Tell him, "I denied my friend to know you. I was wrong and I was a coward. I'm sorry I didn't tell him about your love for us. Please forgive me for being weak in that moment."
- You don't have to beg, beg, or be repetitive. Just ask him for forgiveness once with all your heart.
Step 4. Tell the Lord that you believe in his forgiveness
Faith and forgiveness go hand in hand. You shouldn't appeal to Him if you don't believe in His mercy. He is ready to forgive you when you sincerely ask him for forgiveness. Repeat within yourself and the Lord that you believe in Him.
- 1 John 1: 9 says, "If we recognize our sins, he who is faithful and righteous will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all guilt." Speak this passage before God and believing what you read.
- You must remember that forgiven sins are forgotten. Hebrews 8:12 says, "Because I will forgive their iniquities and remember their sins no more."
Part 3 of 3: Move on
Step 1. Ask for forgiveness from the people you have hurt
If, on the one hand, sin interrupts the relationship with God, on the other it can also make other people suffer. When you know that God has forgiven you, approach those with whom you have been wrong, saying that you are sorry and expressly asking for their forgiveness.
- Remember that you cannot force them to forgive you nor can you earn their forgiveness. They will accept that you are sorry for your mistakes and may even apologize. However, don't insist if they refuse. You can't force them to change their minds.
- Once you have apologized and asked for forgiveness, you need to get rid of the guilt. Even if they do not forgive you, consider that you have tried to remedy it.
Step 2. Repent of your wrong behaviors
Once God has forgiven your sins and all the harm you may have done to others, forget about it. Once you have received his forgiveness, you decide not to make the same mistakes on purpose.
- Remember that you will still be wrong, but at the moment you have to say that you turn your back on sin. The only way to counteract the risk of repeating a sin is to say that you will never commit it again.
- Try reading Acts 2:38: "Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
- Forgiveness is fundamental, but it is also necessary to move away from sin to stay close to God.
Step 3. Avoid repeating the same mistakes
To follow Christ, you have to get away from sin and therefore you have to work hard. You will not stop sinning right away, but if you try hard, you will become stronger. In Matthew 5:48, God invites you to become perfect, because He is perfect. It's a goal you need to work on.
- Find people who can help you avoid making the same mistakes. Read the Holy Scriptures to combat temptation. Remember that sin hurts you and is useless.
- Reading the Bible, praying to God, and talking to other Christians are all vital acts to live a life free from sin.
