What is the sinner's prayer?
The sinner's prayer is simply a way of saying out loud to God what you have come to believe: that you have sinned, that Jesus died and rose for you, and that you receive Him now.
The words are not magic
No sentence saves anybody. Jesus saves. The prayer matters because it is the moment you stop considering and start trusting.
Say it in your own words if you prefer
God is not marking your grammar. The thief beside Jesus managed one line, and Jesus answered him that day.
What the Bible says
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”Romans 10:13 (KJV)
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”Luke 18:13 (KJV)
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
The full prayer is written out on its own page, line by line.