Prayer For The Start Of Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement 

This prayer centers on glorifying the Father, the covering of Yeshua’s blood, the fire of God, and the expansion of His Kingdom. Only Tanakh (Old Testament) and Gospels verses are included. 

Prayer of Cleansing and Surrender for Yom Kippur

Avinu Malkeinu, my Father and my King,

On this Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, I come before You in humility, trembling at Your holiness and awed by Your mercy. HaShem, You are righteous and just, yet abounding in steadfast love. As it is written: “The LORD, the LORD, compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6–7).

Father, I know that no man can stand before You in his own strength, for “all we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). But You, in Your mercy, have laid upon the Righteous One the iniquity of us all. I come under the shield of Yeshua’s blood — the eternal covering that cleanses, redeems, and protects me from judgment. As it is written: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Father, I do not rely on my own works, nor on the sacrifices of goats or bulls, but on the perfect atonement of Yeshua, the Anointed One, who laid down His life willingly. Yeshua said: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Tonight, I confess my sins, both known and hidden, and I trust in His ransom as my only hope.

HaShem, let the fire of God fall upon me as I begin this fast. Let Your holy fire purify me, consume my pride, burn away every false desire, and refine me as gold. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Let me not simply abstain from food, but from wickedness, bitterness, and unbelief. As it is written: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6).

Father, be glorified in my repentance. Be glorified in my obedience. Be glorified in my surrender. Yeshua said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Tonight, I deny myself not only in fasting but in every desire that wars against Your Kingdom. Teach me to follow Yeshua fully, without hesitation, without compromise.

I lift up Israel, my people, before You on this holiest of days. As it is written: “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1). Father, open the eyes of Israel to the fountain of cleansing found in Yeshua HaMashiach. Remove the veil, soften hearts, and let the sons and daughters of Abraham behold their Redeemer.

I lift up the nations before You, Abba. Let the trumpet of atonement be heard across the earth. Yeshua declared: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Father, may this Yom Kippur be a cry not only for Israel but for the world, that every tongue may confess, every knee may bow, and every heart may be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.

HaShem, let this year be the year of mercy, awakening, and revival. Let the fire of God burn in Your people. Let the shield of Yeshua’s blood cover Your congregation. Let the glory of the Father fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

And so, Father, I pray as Yeshua taught: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10).

Abba, glorify Your Name in Israel. Glorify Your Name in the nations. Glorify Your Name in me.

B’shem Yeshua HaMashiach — in the holy Name of Yeshua the Messiah,

Amen.