The “Swearer’s Prayer”

     
The swearer’s prayer is one of the most interesting of all prayers of repentance.  In the past he had often used holy words, but with a totally different meaning.  The words are very familiar, but the meaning is all new.  He is a man who had used holy words every day, but would not consider himself to be a holy man or his words to be godly speech.  The prayer under consideration is a prayer of repentance and is one that God delights in.

          Lord, I have often said, “Oh, God”, but my heart was not turned toward heaven.  I just used your name as an empty phrase.  By this, I called your name meaningless.  O God, forgive me for this.  I considered you to be nothing, and yet you are the God who made me, and the God I must give an account to.  Forgive me for taking your name in vain.”

          “Lord, I have often spoken of damnation and pronounced it upon people and even objects with which I was angry.  I have played God by using the dreadful words of the judgment day that are not mine to use.  O God, what will I do if you pronounce damnation upon me on that day?  I deserve it for my many sins.  How can I be saved from this judgment that awaits me?  Is not the help I need found in one of the words I have abused most of all?  How often I have spoken the words “Jesus Christ!”, but I have never called upon him as a needy sinner seeking forgiveness.  O Lord Jesus, by your death on the cross for sinners, forgive me of my many and wicked sins.  Saviour, send the Holy Spirit to give me a new heart,  Cleanse me from my own filthy soul.  I confess in shame that my swearing and profanity show how base and evil my heart is.”

          “Often the topics of my profanity have been references to sexual matters in a manner that would defile the minds of any who were listening.  I have even sunk so low as to frequently and repeatedly speak of human excrements as a way of expressing anger or to try to speak forcefully in order to intimidate others.  At other times what I foolishly thought was spicing up my speech to get the attention of others, was really a telling sign that I did not have the character to command anyone’s respect.  Lord, pity and pardon one as vile as myself, who even spoke this way to get laughs or to purposely offend Christian people.  Lord, how can there be forgiveness for one who has even filled the minds of little children with these wicked words.  How can I be forgiven and cleansed?  I am sure it is only by the Lord Jesus enduring the judgement of God upon such sins.”

          “Lord, I thank you for showing me the evil of this sin of profanity and swearing.  Others may try to excuse themselves by saying, “These are just words.”  But Lord, I know my own heart.  My profanity came out of my ignorant, wicked, arrogant, evil, filthy, and blasphemous heart.  Good Lord, pardon me and put holy and pure thoughts in my heart and on my tongue.”

“Lord of all the holy words I have used wrongly, there is one I never used at all.  I never called you Father.  But now, Heavenly Father, help me to walk and speak as one of your beloved children.  O Father, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord My strength and my redeemer”  [Psalm 19:14].

Listen to the Word of God:

•   ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.  For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”  [Exodus 20:7]

•   “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”  [I Timothy 1:15

•   “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness [Romans 3:13-14]

•   “For there is not a  word on my tongue, but behold O Lord, You know it altogether.”  [Psalm 139:4]

•   “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.”  [Ephesians 4:29]

•   “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.”  [Matthew 12:36]

•   “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  [Psalm 34:1]