We all make mistakes, and sometimes, these mistakes return to haunt us in the present. Improvement starts with acceptance, and we can never let go of past regrets and improve ourselves if we continue to dwell on things that have already happened. If we overthink about the past or have low self-esteem, we can take the time to offer this prayer to forgive ourselves and accept our mistakes.
Self forgiveness prayer
Divine Creator,
Your mercy knows no bounds, and I am forever grateful for Your patience throughout my life. I have betrayed You many times, choosing the devil’s tempting offers instead of staying true to my one and only God. For these sins, I ask for Your pardon and forgiveness. Cleanse me of all guilt and blame, and inspire me to improve myself for the better.
Thank You for this wonderful life I have, so full of both happiness and sorrow. Thank You for the experiences that tested my capabilities and made me realize how strong I am, especially with You beside me.
I lay down all my guilt and shame before You, bearing my sins as I hope for Your merciful judgment. May You look upon my meek frame with pity and love. I know that I am an imperfect sinner with a perfect God, and I am Yours to command. Instead of banishing me to the fiery pits of Hell, I beg You to change me from a broken sinner to a renewed soul.
For a long time, I ran away from the monsters of my past. Their persistent pursuit led me to Your doorstep, where I now knock, pleading with You to give me sanctuary from hurtful memories. May time no longer worsen my wounds but heal them. Heal me from the pain of my regrets and mistakes, and help me strengthen my heart so that I can leave it all behind, taking only the lessons I’ve learned, and finally move on.
I know healing is a process, not a moment. I know the journey to self-forgiveness will be a painful one, but I’ll take the bumpy road knowing that it will lead me to You.
Amen.
Short prayer for self forgiveness

Heavenly Father,
I come to You with a mind yearning for peace, with a troubled heart and a weary soul. I am tired of running away from the darkness of my past and the grief, regret, and self-blame. Heal me and help me let go of the burdens I carry. Help me embrace my mistakes and face my problems instead of running away from them. May You strengthen me and fill me with hope as I let go of everything that holds me back from being truly happy.
Amen.
The Word of God
Then whoever invokes a blessing in the land shall bless by the God of faithfulness, and whoever takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of faithfulness, because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my sight.
Isaiah 65:16 NRSVUE
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NRSVUE
as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Augustine
Blessed and Holy Saint Augustine,
Your transition from restlessness to solidarity in faith has helped many people find peace in God. Your burning desire for wisdom and truth brought you to many places until the path led you straight to God. It was in Him that you found truth, and it was in Him that you found peace, contentment, and the comfort of a simple but virtuous life full of meaning and faith. Your story sends a profound message to the world: it’s never too late to believe in God, and sometimes, it takes a long, arduous journey to find where we truly belong.
I come before you with a despairing heart, for I have nowhere else to go. My soul is weary and burdened with the guilt of my past. I only focused on escaping my guilt and shame that I had forgotten the right path to take. I kept running from the demons who constantly reminded me of my failures and wrong choices. Now, I despair upon my fate, for I have reached a dead end, and I no longer know what else to do.
As the monsters of my past continue to close in around me, I pray for your mercy. May you help me ask the Lord for peace and forgiveness for my mistakes so that they will no longer haunt me. Help me realize that mistakes are normal and necessary in order to learn and that my learning doesn’t stop with failure but with giving up. May He give me courage and strength so that I no longer have to run or hide but confront and fight. Help me settle things once and for all.
My soul resonates with your words, and I echo them to the Lord: “Restless is my heart until it rests in You.” Saint Augustine, may you pray for my emotional and spiritual healing. Ask God to lift the burden of my sins and past. Break the chains that have bound me to fear for far too long.
Saint Augustine, hear my humble prayer to forgive myself. Pray for me. Amen.
Further reflection
We’ve all made mistakes that we regret even today. We’ve all had traumatic experiences that continue to haunt us in our sleep. We’ve all seen terrible things that we blame ourselves for, even when they’re sometimes out of our control. We often overthink the past and wish we had made a different choice or chosen a different path, or said different things. We must always remind ourselves that although we’re responsible for the choices we make and their consequences, we should never beat ourselves up over spilled milk.
Saint Augustine of Hippo used to live a sinful life despite his Christian mother’s teachings when he was younger. When he grew tired of fun and games, he knocked on the doors of many temples, trying to find truth and a sense of belonging in numerous religions. He fruitlessly searched until he found himself on God’s doorstep, and it was in the Lord that he found the peace and truth he was looking for. Instead of spending time blaming himself for the sinful things he did in the past, he chose to use days wisely by focusing on the happiness he found in God. The joy he discovered fueled and inspired him to be God’s steward, a founder of holy and faithful communities devoted to God and His people.
In the end, what matters most is that we accept our mistakes, move on, and focus on what God has put before us. We mustn’t be too hard on ourselves, and we must not let the past distract us from the beauty of the present. Take note of things that we can control, and learn how to do better next time. Don’t dwell too long on things that are beyond our control. Most importantly of all, don’t forget to ask for God’s help when confronting our problems because He will never forsake us.
For restoring my relationship with my sister.