DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Bless First-Time Visitors in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. However, there are many throughout the world setting foot inside your house for the first time ever who don’t know that. Thank you for their willingness to take this courageous step, and for whatever took place in their lives to prompt them to seek something in worship. Regardless of what it is they’re looking for, show them Jesus and the salvation that comes through faith in his name.

Remove any roadblocks or hindrances that could sour their experience, and see that they are warmly welcomed and looked after. Bless their worship and grant them such a favorable experience that they are eager to return. As you did on the first Pentecost, send your Holy Spirit and work on their hearts to open their eyes to the joy of forgiveness and the certainty of their salvation.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Put an End to Abuse

Caring Father,
No matter the nature of the relationship – parent/child, boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, or any other – I pray for those in any relationship where abuse exists. Whether that abuse is expressed physically, emotionally, or in any other sense, it has no place in any relationship. A close relationship is meant to be a source of safety and security, and when anyone takes advantage of the trust that is given to facilitate abuse, the results are devastating.  Defend and protect any victims from serious harm or injury. Give them the courage to speak up for themselves and seek help as soon as possible. Open the eyes of friends or family members nearby to be able to identify any signs of abuse, and give them the courage to intervene. 

Be also with the abuser in any way that puts a stop to the abuse and gets them the help that is needed to address its root cause. Work the fear and trepidation of the law into the hearts of any responsible for abuse, ultimately leading them to contrition and remorse for their actions. Then, grant forgiveness to those who are guilty, and the ability to forgive to those who are victims. Put an end to abuse everywhere, and through the power of your gospel work reconciliation and restoration in those relationships damaged by abuse.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Good Governments

Heavenly Ruler,
You established governments to lead and rule and to be a blessing to the nations and people under them. Through them you intend to establish peace and order that contribute to the well-being of their citizens. Because their decisions and actions affect so many, surround those in government with the wisdom and counsel of many advisors. Grant humility to those in positions of authority. Lead them to be willing to listen to those around them and to weigh all the pertinent considerations when establishing policies and laws. Protect their hearts and minds from ungodly and corrupt influences, and let your Spirit guide them in any and every way possible.

Reward good and commendable governments with supportive citizens who honor and respect their leaders. In this way, let them be a blessing to each other for the greater good. Curb crime, disobedience, and disorder everywhere, allowing governments to give the bulk of their attention to how best to serve. When tensions rise between governments, provide peacemakers on all sides who are committed to avoiding any hostilities or military conflicts. Let them be encouraged to go to great lengths to establish and maintain peace, so that during such times, your Church might diligently carry out her work of seeing the gospel spread rapidly to the ends of the earth. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Grow in Gratitude

God of all Goodness,
Every day you give more reasons than I could possibly ever number to give you thanks. And every day my thanksgiving falls short. Your exceptional generosity exceeds my expressions of gratitude. Guard me from allowing my confidence in your goodness to morph into an attitude of entitlement. Clothe me in humility, always with the full awareness that I don’t deserve anything from your gracious hand, so that when I do, I am grateful. Direct me also to reflect my gratitude in many ways, from prayers of thanksgiving to outward displays of thanks in how I interact and engage with others. Let your Word work in my heart a constant and joyful attitude of gratitude that is outwardly evident to all who know me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Financial Spiritual Maturity

Gracious God,
Grant me spiritual maturity in my relationship with money. Money, like all other possessions, is a gift that you entrust to us that allows us to bless others and honor you in how we use it. Because your Word includes many warnings about the possible pitfalls of greed and wealth, please send your Spirit to surround and protect my heart from those temptations. Establish in me a pure and healthy relationship with money that is pleasing to you.

You provide for me financially so that I can take care of my family, give to the government what is owed, help others in need, and give back to you through offerings. When I bristle in any of these areas, remind me that each one is simply a different outlet for honoring you. Keep me vigilant so that I am not caught up in the consumerism that is so rampant in our society. Counter the lure of materialism with the genuine joy that accompanies generosity, and sustain me with a spirit of contentment in all situations at all times. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Genuine Compassion Toward Others

Compassionate Savior,
I will never be far from someone who is grieving, hurting, or in need. You even assured the disciples that they would always have the poor around them. I simply don’t have to look very hard at all to see people struggling. 

This prevalence of pain that others are experiencing can cause me to become desensitized or indifferent to their plight. Because it is such a common part of the human experience to hurt or be in need, even if not intentionally, I can easily tune out the tribulations of others as I go about my daily business. 

Forgive me for my self-absorption and lack of compassion. Don’t allow me to become so preoccupied with my own schedule and responsibilities that I don’t acknowledge or give thought to the distress others are experiencing. Let me follow through with my promises of prayer, not treating them like a checklist that I can complete, but as powerful petitions that can channel real change for those in need. Increase my own capacity for compassion, so that my care and concern for others might more often flow into expressions of charity.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Bless Young People Through Summer Employment

Providential Father,
When the school year is over, the months away from the classroom often include opportunities for young people to pick up summer jobs. Summer employment can provide unique learning experiences. Teach young people lessons that will serve them well for the rest of their lives, such as being on time, working well with others, being reliable, and the value of hard work. Help them learn how to handle paychecks, giving thoughtful consideration to how to manage your financial blessings.

When they have to deal with difficult managers, employees, or customers, use those challenges to strengthen their relational skills and develop their emotional intelligence. When they have scheduling conflicts between work and personal plans, teach them discernment and the importance of good decision-making. As they engage and interact more and more socially, impress on them how many chances they have to let their light shine and to be a witness to others. Overall, use these summer employment opportunities to help them acquire skills that will be a blessing to them and to others for the rest of their lives.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Remain Close to You Over the Summer

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Summer doesn’t change that. But, knowing that vacations and breaks from school can sometimes negatively affect worship attendance, I pray for you to counter the temptation to allow church attendance to slide. Rather than seeing the summer months as a break from steady worship, let them serve instead as a season to refocus and recommit to time in your house. Let worshippers pay special attention to the details of worship that can easily be lost in the busyness of the school year and other seasonal obligations.

Refresh souls with strong preaching and thoughtful sermons that spur on Christian growth and draw your people closer to their Savior. When travel plans and vacations take us away from our home congregations, lead us to seek out other churches to attend. When this happens, let us be a source of encouragement to our fellow Christians as we gather together with them. In all these ways, lead us to celebrate the unity we have, and the opportunity we have to remain connected to the Vine. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Flexibility

Loving Father,
While structure and routine in our lives provide stability and security, there are times and seasons in our lives that also require flexibility. Help me identify these situations when they arise, and give me both the discernment and the willingness to be appropriately flexible. Keep me from avoiding each extreme: being either too rigid with routine or too flaky in my flexibility.

Direct me also to avoid forcing flexibility on others or changing just for the sake of change. As I assess what any given situation calls for, remind me to give consideration to the needs of others who might be affected. When adaptability is called for, let me proceed with patience and caution for the benefit of those who might struggle more with any changes. Allow flexibility and adaptability to remain blessings by always being implemented lovingly and appropriately. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Structure and Routine

Loving Father,
Thank you for everything that provides structure and routine in my life. Times and seasons serve as signposts that guide me along the way. Years have months, months have weeks, weeks have days, and each day is broken down to hours and minutes – all of which work together to provide a steady and reliable framework for my life. There are so many decisions that need to be made and tasks that need to be carried out on a daily basis, that I would be overwhelmed if I had to process and decide each and every one, every single day. 

However, you designed our brains to put so many of those responsibilities on autopilot based on timing or circumstances, so that the next step or outcome throughout the course of the day is already determined. Daily routines also provide a sense of emotional security and stability, since they free us from the worry and concern that can come from not knowing what’s next. And, when I can anticipate how my day is scheduled, I can also better prepare for it. Although I know that my times are ultimately in your hands, you give me the freedom to design and lay out my days and life with meaning and purpose. In some small ways, this helps bring a measure of control out of chaos, allowing me the joy of serving you and others accordingly.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.