A Simple Christ-Centered Practice for Healing and Surrender

A Christian Ho‘oponopono Prayer

You have probably heard it, perhaps even recited it or used it in your daily spiritual practice. The Hawaiian Ho’oponopono is one of the most effective and powerful forgiveness techniques, as well as a self-healing practice.

Christians are often drawn to the Ho’oponopono because it resonates with the biblical longing for forgiveness, reconciliation, and love… themes central to the Gospel itself.

The Ho’oponopono prayer goes like this:

• I am sorry;

• please forgive me;

• thank you;

• I love you.

I have often recited this prayer as a start to my afternoon meditation and prayer time, but as I have gone deeper into understanding Jesus Christ, His ministry, and His mission, I have realized that I wanted to develop a Christian version of Ho’oponopono.

At its heart, Ho’oponopono reflects a deep human longing… to be forgiven, to forgive, to love, and to be restored. These longings find their fullest expression not in a technique, but in a Person: Jesus Christ, which led to me to the development of the Christ-Centered Prayer of Love and Gratitude.

A Prayer of Opening the Heart: Inspired by the Way of Jesus

As Christians, one of our daily practices should be to sit with God.

While Ho’oponopono emerges from Hawaiian spiritual tradition, this Christ-centered prayer does not merge belief systems. Instead, it uses a simple structure to direct the heart fully toward Jesus Christ, who alone forgives sin and restores the soul.

Jesus himself tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

With this statement, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that He is the only path to spiritual truth and eternal life.

Thus, this prayer was developed to deepen our connection with Jesus, our Lord and Savior. I see it as a daily meditation, but people can use it in whatever way suits their spiritual needs.

The remainder of this article reveals the Christ-Centered Prayer of Love and Gratitude and provides biblical support for each line of the prayer.

The Christ-Centered Prayer of Love and Gratitude

• Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

• Lord Jesus Christ, your love is infinite.

• Lord Jesus Christ, I love you.

• Lord Jesus Christ, open my heart.

• Lord Jesus Christ, forgive my sins.

• Lord Jesus Christ, help me remain in you.

• Lord Jesus Christ, your will be done.

• Lord Jesus Christ, thank you.

Scripture References for Each Line of the Christ-Centered Prayer of Love and Gratitude

1. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

God's mercy is His compassionate and undeserved kindness, sparing punishment and offering forgiveness and salvation to those who repent. Specific Bible verses that support His mercy:

• “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

• “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” Jesus replied: “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14)

• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a

2. “Lord Jesus Christ, your love is infinite.”

Scripture affirms the immeasurable, eternal nature of Christ’s love. Specific Bible verses that support His infinite love:

• “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17–19)

• “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9)

• “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.” (1 John 4:16)

3. “Lord Jesus Christ, I love you.”

Here, it is less about the emotion of loving as it is about showing love through action – through keeping His commandments:

• “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37)

• “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

• “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)

4. “Lord Jesus Christ, open my heart.”

Scripture often speaks of God opening hearts to understand, receive, or respond. It is about surrender and being vulnerable and ready to receive His love, grace, and guidance:

• “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

• “And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.” (Mark 10:13-16)

• “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:16-18)

5. “Lord Jesus Christ, forgive my sins.”

Humanity was created in innocence, but through the fall in the Garden, sin entered the world, and we now live with a fallen nature in need of redemption. While our goal should be to attempt to stop sinning completely, we can start with awareness and asking for forgiveness:

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

• “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

• “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

6. “Lord Jesus Christ, help me remain in you.”

The Bible emphasizes the importance of remaining in God's presence, and Jesus speaks of the importance of staying spiritually connected to Him so that we can live the full Christian life, much like a branch remains attached to a vine, to bear fruit and grow spiritually:

• “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9)

• “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:5-8)

• “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10-11)

7. “Lord Jesus Christ, your will be done.”

Too often, we want our will to be done and God to bless it, but we have it backward. We are to support God’s will:

• “Our kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

• “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

8. “Lord Jesus Christ, thank you.”

Thanksgiving is a core Christian spiritual practice that requires acknowledging that all gifts come from God above:

• “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

• “Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:26)

• “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)

How to Use This Prayer

This prayer can be used in the morning, before bed, or during times of stress or confession.

Slowly pray each line, pausing between them.

Let the words open you to Jesus’ presence, love, and transformation.

Use it daily as a way to remain rooted in Christ.

Final Thoughts About the Christ-Centered Prayer of Love and Gratitude

The goal of this prayer is to bring us closer to Jesus, to deepen our faith, and to ground us in His love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Finally, remember the promise Christ followers have about receiving the Fruit of the Spirit – characteristics that manifest in believers as evidence of the Holy Spirit's work within them, reflecting Christ's character. Per Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness