Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period of reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal in the Christian calendar. It’s a time to turn our hearts toward God and prepare for the celebration of Easter.
These prayers for Ash Wednesday, each accompanied by scripture, aims to guide believers in their journey of humility, forgiveness, and growth in faith.
As we meditate on these prayers and Biblical passages, may we draw closer to God, find strength in His word, and prepare our hearts for the joyous celebration of Easter.
30 Prayers for Ash Wednesday
1. Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Heavenly Father, as we begin this season of Lent, we ask for Your grace to cleanse our hearts and renew our spirits.
Help us to turn away from our sins and draw closer to You. May our repentance be sincere, and our devotion steadfast as we seek to deepen our relationship with You. Amen.
2. Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Lord, we come before You with hearts open and contrite. We seek Your mercy and grace as we fast, weep, and mourn over our transgressions.
Help us to return to You with genuine repentance, knowing that You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love. Amen.
3. Matthew 6:16-18
And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Jesus, teach us to fast with humility and sincerity. Help us to focus on our relationship with You rather than seeking approval from others.
May our fasting be a private act of devotion that draws us closer to You and brings us spiritual renewal. Amen.
4. Isaiah 58:6-7
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Lord, remind us that true fasting is not just about abstaining from food but also about acts of kindness and justice. Help us to loosen the bonds of wickedness, free the oppressed, and care for those in need.
May our Lenten journey be marked by compassion and love for others. Amen.
5. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Father, as ambassadors for Christ, we seek reconciliation with You and with others.
Guide us in our efforts to mend broken relationships and extend Your love and forgiveness to those around us. May we be faithful representatives of Your grace and mercy. Amen.
6. Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Lord, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to You. Help us to live holy and acceptable lives, dedicated to Your service. May our actions and choices reflect our commitment to You and serve as an act of worship. Amen.
7. James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God, we long to draw near to You during this season of Lent. Cleanse our hands and purify our hearts as we seek to live lives that honor You. Help us to be single-minded in our devotion and faithfulness. Amen.
8. Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Lord, transform our hearts and renew our spirits. Remove the hardness from our hearts and replace it with hearts of flesh that are responsive to Your will.
Help us to embrace the changes You are making in our lives and follow Your lead. Amen.
9. Philippians 3:10
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
Jesus, our desire is to know You more deeply and to experience the power of Your resurrection.
Help us to share in Your sufferings and become more like You in all aspects of our lives. May our Lenten journey lead us closer to You and strengthen our faith. Amen.
10. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Merciful God, we confess our sins to You, knowing that You are faithful and just to forgive us.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and help us to live in Your grace and truth. May our repentance bring us closer to You and fill us with Your peace. Amen.
11. Lamentations 3:40
Let us test and examine our ways and return to the Lord!
God, as we examine our hearts and actions during this Lenten season, reveal to us the areas where we have strayed from Your path.
Help us to repent and return to You with renewed faith and commitment. May our lives be a reflection of Your love and grace. Amen.
12. Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Lord, we confess our sins and shortcomings before You, knowing that hiding them only leads to spiritual stagnation.
Grant us the courage to forsake our transgressions and embrace Your mercy and forgiveness. May we walk in the freedom of Your grace. Amen.
13. Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
God, we seek You with all our hearts and call upon You while You are near. Help us to forsake our wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, returning to You for compassion and abundant pardon.
May our Lenten journey lead us to a deeper understanding of Your love and forgiveness. Amen.
14. Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
Lord, we come before You, acknowledging the pain and brokenness in our lives. We trust in Your healing power and ask that You bind up our wounds. Restore us to wholeness as we return to You with repentant hearts. Amen.
15. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
God, teach us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. As we observe this Lenten season, may we develop a habit of constant prayer and gratitude, aligning our lives with Your will. Amen.
16. Romans 6:6
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Jesus, we thank You for the sacrifice You made on the cross to free us from the bondage of sin.
Help us to put to death our old selves and live in the newness of life You have given us. May our Lenten journey be a time of transformation and renewal. Amen.
17. James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Lord, help us to be doers of Your word and not merely hearers. As we study Scripture and pray during this Lenten season, may our faith be evident in our actions. Guide us to live out Your teachings with integrity and love. Amen.
18. Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
God, we are inspired by the faithful witnesses who have gone before us. Help us to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders our spiritual growth.
Grant us the endurance to run the race You have set before us, trusting in Your strength and guidance. Amen.
19. Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Jesus, thank You for loving us and giving Yourself for us. As we reflect on Your sacrifice during this Lenten season, help us to live by faith in You.
May our lives be a testament to Your presence within us and a reflection of Your love to the world. Amen.
20. Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Lord, we approach Your throne of grace with confidence, seeking Your mercy and help in our time of need.
As we journey through Lent, may we experience Your grace in every area of our lives. Strengthen our faith and fill us with Your peace. Amen.
21. Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
God, we invite You to search our hearts and know our thoughts. Reveal any grievous ways within us and lead us in the way everlasting.
During this season of Lent, help us to grow in holiness and deepen our relationship with You. Amen.
22. Colossians 3:12
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Father, as Your chosen ones, help us to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
May these qualities define our Lenten journey and guide our interactions with others. Let Your love shine through us. Amen.
23. Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Lord, as we wait on You during this season of Lent, renew our strength. Help us to rise above challenges and continue our spiritual journey with endurance.
Fill us with Your power and grace to face each day with hope and faith. Amen.
24. Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Jesus, help us to put off our old selves and be renewed in the spirit of our minds. As we embrace our new selves, created in Your likeness, may we live in true righteousness and holiness.
Transform us during this Lenten season to reflect Your image more clearly. Amen.
25. Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
God, may Your word guide us like a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we study Scripture during Lent, illuminate our minds and hearts with Your truth. Lead us in the way we should go and help us to follow Your will. Amen.
26. Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Lord, you have shown us what is good and what You require of us. Help us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with You. May our Lenten journey be marked by these values and draw us closer to Your heart. Amen.
27. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Father, help us to overcome anxiety by bringing our requests to You in prayer and thanksgiving.
As we trust in You, may Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Guide us through this Lenten season with Your tranquility. Amen.
28. 1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
God, we acknowledge that temptation is a common struggle, but we trust in Your faithfulness.
During this Lenten season, help us to resist temptation and find the way of escape that You provide. Strengthen us to endure and remain steadfast in our faith. Amen.
29. John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus, we recognize that apart from You, we can do nothing. Help us to abide in You and stay connected to You, the true vine. As we remain in Your love, may our lives bear much fruit and glorify Your name. Amen.
30. 1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
Father, we come before You in humility, recognizing our need for Your grace and guidance. As we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, lift us up in Your perfect timing.
Help us to trust in Your plans and surrender our lives to Your will. Amen.
Conclusion
As you mediate on these prayers for Ash Wednesday, may the spirit of Lent continue to resonate within you.
Remember that this journey of reflection and repentance is not confined to a single day, but rather an invitation to cultivate a closer relationship with God throughout the season and beyond.
Carry the humility of Ash Wednesday with you, allowing it to shape your actions and deepen your faith as you anticipate the joy of Easter.