We constantly fall short of the glory of God, and, therefore, are daily in need of His merciful forgiveness. But in addition to what we might call these "little sins," we sometimes are brought under the shadow of worse sins. Prayer can cleanse us of these, and we need to open them up to God that He might cover them up. That was the lesson that David learned in connection with his great sin. He discovered that the only way to blot it out was to open it up to the Lord. He found great humility and happiness in the forgiveness that was extended to him, causing him to write: "Blessed (happy) is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Ps. 32:1). Consider the following expressions of humility and confession of sins included in prayers to the Father:

"And Abraham said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes" (Gen. 18:27).
"Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea, twice; but I will proceed no further" (Job 40:4-5).
"And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech Thee, do away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly" (1 Chron. 21:8).

"I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found" (Ps. 32:5-6).
"For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin" (Ps. 38:18).
"I said, O Lord, be merciful unto me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee" (Ps. 41:4).
"For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight; that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest" (Ps. 51:3-4).

"If Thou, Yahweh, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (Ps. 130:3).
"For innumerable evils have compassed me about; mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up: they are more than the hairs of mine head; therefore my heart faileth me" (Ps. 40:12).
"0 Yahweh, though our iniquities testify against us, do Thou it for Thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against Thee" (Jer. 14:7).

"O my God! I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to Thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens" (Ezra 9:6).
"Thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for Thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly. Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept Thy law, nor hearkened unto Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, wherewith Thou didst testify against them" (Neh. 9:33-34).