DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Make Your Mission Mine

Dear Jesus,
Keep me on mission – not mine, but yours. The daily grind can keep me from remembering that as one who has been bought and paid for by you, I have also been set aside for your purposes. In addition to your general call to daily put my faith into practice in all walks of life, you commission believers to spread your gospel to the ends of the earth. So many are blindly stumbling in the darkness of unbelief, either unconcerned or unaware that they stand lost and condemned without you.

Unloose my tongue so that the joy of salvation spills from my lips as freely and effortlessly as possible. Make me as passionate for your mission as you were to secure salvation for all. Place me in situations that provide the setting to point others to your grace and forgiveness. Give me ears that are willing to listen for opportunities to bring you into the conversation and make you known. Fill me with passion to fervently and faithfully carry out your mission.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Discern Between Trash and Treasure

Loving Father,
You richly bless us with so many material blessings, but we forget how easily our hearts can treasure your gifts more than you, the Giver. Help me discern between trash and my true treasure – you – so that nothing would ever come between us now or for eternity. When I struggle to identify what those things might be in my life, direct me to a trustworthy and respected friend for help. Give me the humility to ask them if they notice any red flags or concerns that reflect any unhealthy attachment(s) to things or people in my life. Then, give me the humility to listen to what they may have to say, without defending or excusing anything, but simply taking it to heart for further personal evaluation. If anything or anyone appears to have a greater hold on my heart than you, Lord, give me the discipline to detach from it or discard it entirely. Let there be no shared space in my heart for anything else that would deceive me into allowing it to coexist alongside you, my greatest treasure. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Give Thoughtfully

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. When we gather to worship you, we do so primarily to be on the receiving end of your rich blessings. However, your grace and generosity to us also generate in us the desire to express our gratitude and think through our offerings. In this day and age, convenient digital options have often replaced the collection plate and other physical, in-person methods of giving offerings. As a result, it’s easier than ever for us to forget or neglect our offerings. I am grateful for the many different means by which I can give, but I seek your guidance both to work in me a generous spirit, and also to reflect on and act regularly regarding my offerings. Thank you for blessing me with the resources to give back to you and to support the important work of your gospel in and through your church.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Befriend Others

Friend of Sinners,
Friendship is exactly what many need. While it is true that we always have a friend in you, you have also created us with a need to connect with other human beings. I am grateful for all the friendships you have blessed me with in my life, but I am also aware that there are many who are not able even to name a close friend. Help me keep my eyes opened for such individuals, and where possible, help me befriend them. Let me be ears to listen to them and allow me opportunities to show love and concern, so that in seeing my care for them, they may also come to know and appreciate how much greater your care for them is, and to know that they always have a friend in you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be Approachable

Precious Savior,
Grant me a gentle spirit. Help me to realize that it isn’t just my words, but my body language and actions as well that contribute to how I come across to others. Do not allow me to get drawn into confrontations just for the sake of arguing. Free me from the need to always be right and help me to see the value in appreciating and respecting other people’s views and opinions. Lead me to measure my words and speak to others with patient kindness. Through all of these efforts, I pray that others may see me as approachable, caring, and always willing to listen. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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Prayers from the Prodigal (Part 4)

Forgiving Father,
Through the “lost” parables in Luke 15, we become aware of how radical your grace truly is. When I am on the receiving end of your compassion and see your capacity for forgiveness, it leaves me a changed man. To be freely welcomed and fully forgiven for all that I have ever done wrong is not only life-changing, but eternity-altering! With this as my reality, there is no place for bitterness or grudges against others when they sin against me. How can I possibly withhold forgiveness from anyone else while standing before a gracious Father who has not chosen to treat me that way? No, let my willingness to forgive others be a perfect reflection of your faithful willingness to forgive me. The world does not need more unmerciful servants, but more forgiving fathers. Help me to be one.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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Prayers from the Prodigal (Part 3)

Forgiving Father,
Through the “lost” parables in Luke 15, we become aware of how radical your grace truly is. Regardless of which son we identify with – the prodigal young son or the prideful older son – we need the same thing: the forgiving father. And in you, we have just that!

As we stumble our way through this life and press on toward our heavenly home, some naturally assume that rigid rules and the threat of a strict, stern disciplinarian are necessary to keep everyone on track. But yours is a better way! Your unconditional love, your open arms, your warm welcome – these are what draw sinners to you. Moreover, it is your heart for us – not the terror or fear we feel – that keeps us on the path of your righteousness to the open door that leads to eternal life. You paid a dear price to be able to forgive us again and again and again, and the sacrifice of your own Son is our only hope for being welcomed to our eternal home. Oh, how we need a forgiving Father! And there you are, always welcoming this lost-on-his-own son, with open arms and gushing with grace. Thank you!

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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Prayers from the Prodigal (Part 2)

Forgiving Father,
Through the “lost” parables in Luke 15, we become aware of how radical your grace truly is. The father’s compassionate patience toward his older son becomes even more real to us when our eyes are opened to see how often we are that older son. While grace is by definition undeserved, we cannot escape the notion that grace is for good people and not for bad people. In our own minds, we create a narrative in which we frame ourselves to be righteous, morally superior, and filled with good intentions. When we see grace extended to those who don’t have their act together like we do, we sulk and pout just as the older brother did.  

I confess to thinking so highly of myself and so little of others. Forgive me for failing to be honest when my acts of righteousness aren’t really out of loving gratitude for you, but rather to puff up myself and pad my own spiritual resumé. Strip me of my pride and lead me instead to rejoice every time your grace wins anyone over. Welcome this prideful sinner back again, as you have so many times before, with open arms and gushing with grace. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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Prayers from the Prodigal (Part 1)

Forgiving Father,
Through the “lost” parables in Luke 15, we become aware of how radical your grace truly is. The father’s compassionate welcome of his wayward younger son becomes even more real to us when our eyes are opened to see how often we are that younger son. Rather than finding joy and satisfaction being in the presence of his father, he chose to chase after material things. Rather than faithfully serving his father and family at home, he served himself and went his own way. 

I see myself in him so often! To have you is not enough – I deceive myself into thinking that the world has something that will satisfy me more, so I chase after this and that, only to end up empty-handed. I live for me rather than for you and my fellow believers and my neighbors in need. When I fall into these traps, turn me, like the younger son, away from it all and lead me to run back to you with a repentant heart. Welcome this selfish sinner back again, as you have so many times before, with open arms and gushing with grace. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Unable to Worship in Person

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Today I pray for all those who long to be able to gather for worship, but are not able to. Many are homebound because they are not physically strong or healthy enough to attend in person. Others may be experiencing emotional or even spiritual struggles hindering their ability to be in a group setting or around certain people. Work schedules can be a challenge to navigate when they overlap with worship times. A lack of proximity to a church can also affect believers’ ability to worship. 

For all these believers, provide them with the means to continue to feed and nourish their faith. If technology allows, may it be a blessing that enables them to benefit from worship in some capacity. Provide them with pastors, leaders, and members in their church who serve them with your Word and Sacrament and provide for their needs. As you see fit, intervene to alter their circumstances or remove obstacles keeping them from being able to worship, and allow them to gather in your house again.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.