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DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Extend Kindness to Others

Kind Savior,
In the always-busy, hectic pace of life by which our society lives, it’s so easy to forget about how we treat others. Even unintentionally, we can give people the impression that we don’t care about them or that they are unimportant to us, to say nothing of the times we deliberately mistreat or ignore others. 

Help me counter this trend by slowing down my own pace, allowing more margin for and in between my daily activities, and then consciously and intentionally looking for opportunities to be kind to others. Sometimes it may simply be a smile. Other times a nod or an affirming look. A kind gesture or act of kindness that is only a small or simple thing to me may end up being the highlight of another person’s day. Move me to be eager about spreading kindness, and free me to do so by focusing less on myself and more on how you might use me to bless others. Help me to show the gratitude I feel for your never-ending kindness to me by expressing kindliness toward others.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Value Your Gift of Time

Eternal Father,
Time is one of the most precious gifts you give us. Unfortunately, it often isn’t until a significant portion of time in our lives has passed us by that we realize it. When we are young, we feel as if time is an unlimited commodity. As we get older though, and unfinished tasks pile up, the window to achieving our hopes and dreams shrinks, and we see so many other lives cut short all around us, we treasure time more and more. Lead me to set aside time each day to give thoughtful consideration to how I intend to put your gift of time to use for those 24 hours. Limit the time that is so easily lost in useless or senseless activities. Guide me instead toward a profitable and fulfilling use of time that edifies, blesses, or serves others and me, while also bringing honor and glory to you.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Appreciate God’s Gift of Laughter

Joyful Savior,
Your gift of laughter is such a blessing in our fallen, sin-saturated world. It reminds us in a small way that gloom and despair exist on borrowed time, and will eventually meet their end when you return and replace them with eternal joy and delight. Thank you for the positive impact laughter can have on our mood and outlook. Whether the little unplanned bloopers in our day-to-day lives or the personalities and media which specialize in humor and comedy, these sources of laughter can cheer up wearied spirits and uplift heavy hearts. 

As with all good blessings from your hand, we can take them too far. Keep us from consuming comedy and laughter that crosses the line and is an affront to you. And, keep our own efforts within your boundaries for what is appropriate when we are seeking to make others laugh. Guard our lips from offensive language and swearing when attempting to entertain others. Keep us from inappropriate or course joking, and from the temptation to make jokes at the expense of others, which might cause them harm or distress or bring their reputation into question. Let us honor you in our support of clean comedy and humor that allows us to appreciate and treasure your gift of laughter.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Let My Worries Prompt My Prayers

Loving Savior,
It’s not always easy to know what I ought to pray for. Your Word is the best source to guide and inform our prayers. Since in your Word, you invite us to bring everything to you in prayer, help me view the things that cause me concern as opportunities for prayer. When I worry, lead me to pivot my worry into prayer. In that way, you address both my worry and my struggles of what to pray for.

My worries can – and should! – be brought to you in prayer at all times. When I take my worries to you, redirect my thoughts to you and your gracious promises. Finally, assure me that you hear my prayer and will answer my anxieties in the best way possible.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be Willing to Own My Wrongs

Patient Lord,
It’s not easy to admit when I’ve been in the wrong. What is easy is getting defensive when someone points out my faults, accuses me of sin, or implies that I should have handled a matter differently. When these situations arise, so does my pride, which gets stirred up whenever it senses my reputation is in question. I then seek to defend, excuse, justify, blame, and even flat out deny the possibility of any error or wrongdoing on my part.

Instead, lead me to swap out my pride for a humble spirit that seeks first to understand the matter. Then, let me be willing to admit fault and own whatever wrong is mine to own. Finally, never let me shy away from an opportunity to apologize, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Rather than being so self-assured and confident of my own self-righteousness, grant me the self-awareness and willingness to first review my own thoughts, words, and actions with a measure of skepticism. Cause me to be open to analyzing my role from the perspective of what I could have done or said differently to avoid things ending up the way they did. Let me be so confident of your grace and forgiveness, that I never have to deceive myself or others into thinking that I am not in need of it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Prioritize My Salvation

Lord of Salvation,
Nothing should concern us more than the matter of our salvation. Scripture paints such a terrifying picture of hell that we must conclude that Satan and sin are nothing to be trifled with. Yet the same Scripture points to the clear certainty of salvation solely through the work of our Savior. It leaves no doubt for anyone seeking the answer to the question of what happens to us after this life. 

Keep us from allowing other concerns and distractions in our lives to crowd out the matter of our salvation. Although Jesus took care of it entirely for us, Satan tries relentlessly to take it away from us. While he cannot undo the work of salvation carried out by Jesus, Satan can convince us that our busy schedules don’t permit the time it takes to keep us close to Jesus. Since he cannot take salvation away from us, he tries to take us away from our salvation. He does this by trying to cut us off from Word and Sacrament. Help us fight that battle daily and remain tethered to you by faith, so that our salvation is never in jeopardy. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Address Hindrances to Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Where the Word is proclaimed, a steady diet of law and gospel is there to feed our faith. Nevertheless, sometimes we are unaware of the hindrances that can prevent or shortchange some from hearing that Word. Make us aware of the special needs of some, such as challenges to hearing or seeing. If language barriers limit the understanding or comprehension of your Word, equip us to address these accordingly. Where temperature and other worship conditions deter worshipers, enable those issues to be addressed as much as possible as well.

Help parents to realize when active children might be a distraction, and move others to lovingly and patiently offer assistance. If a pastor or another worship participant’s mannerisms cause challenges to listening, provide alternate ways for those present to engage and worship actively. Do whatever is necessary so that your Word can not only be proclaimed, but also heard and received as well.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Going Through Change

Dear Jesus,
Be with those going through a major change in their lives right now that involves a new vocation or responsibilities. Single men who are becoming husbands will require added grace to sacrificially love their wives as Jesus loved the church. Those who were previously husbands, who for one reason or another find themselves returning to single hood, may need support and friendship to counter feelings of loneliness. And, where divorce is a factor, protect their hearts from impenitence and refuse to allow bitterness take root in them. 

Remove any fear and insecurity from those preparing to become fathers, and replace it with the Spirit-led confidence that you will equip them with what is needed for that role. Where others are transitioning from years of schooling into the workforce, or simply adjusting to a career change, bless them with a positive outlook, keep them eager to learn, and grant them the determination to be committed coworkers and work to hard to do their job well. Guide all others enduring change to faithfully lean on you throughout it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Believing Men Choosing to Be On Their Own

Faithful Father,
You call us to grow in grace. That growth cannot happen apart from your Word. While we have unlimited resources available to us to be in that Word on our own, you never intended for us only to be in your Word alone. You call us to gather with other believers and brothers in the faith. When men confess the Christian faith, but neglect meeting together with other Christians for worship, Bible study, or even fellowship, we are right to be concerned. Satan knows there is strength in numbers within the body of Christ, so he is much more likely to ambush and attack men who insist on going it alone.

Give me the godly courage to express my concern to them with the confidence that your design for growing together is more suitable than their insistence that they are just fine on their own. Move them to see the strength found in the support, encouragement, and accountability of community with brothers in Christ. Call them out of isolation and into the transformation that the Holy Spirit works as your Word pours into us and through us together, shaping us into the men of God we want to be and you call us to be.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Appreciate Extroverts and Introverts

Wonderful Father,
Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. That means we are not clones of each other, sharing the same personalities, abilities, and interests. Some of us are very outgoing extroverts, while others are keep-to-ourselves introverts. Rather than being frustrated by these differences, help us to embrace them and even celebrate that uniqueness.

You often use the outgoing nature of extroverts to make new introductions and connections with people. Introverts, on the other hand, while not eager to step out of their comfort zone to make those initial new connections, can be amazing at developing those one-on-one relationships more deeply. Extroverts may unintentionally speak without considering how their words might be received by others, while those who are more reserved may have more of a knack for reading the room and being socially aware. While we understand that these generalizations can’t possibly apply to everyone in the same way, they help us to appreciate that you have wired us differently. Rather than seeing these differences as deficiencies, help us to marvel at how you can use everyone in specialized ways to bless and build up each other. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.