DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Churches to Warmly Welcome Visitors

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. In this new year, many have made or will make resolutions to go to church. For some, this choice is fueled by a penitent awareness that they have sinfully been neglecting worship. For others, this commitment reflects a curiosity and desire to explore the Christian faith and learn more about it. Regardless of the reason, lead churches and regular church attenders be ready to greet with open arms any and all who walk through their doors in this new year. Let these visitors feel warmly welcomed by radical and loving hospitality extended by your people. Let law and gospel be clearly proclaimed in worship and allow the forgiveness and salvation of Jesus to be central to it. Send your Spirit to work in the hearts of all these visitors and use your Word to draw them closer into your church, the body of Christ.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For the Joy of Christmas to Continue

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Today provides another reason to be grateful after all of the bonus Christmas services this past week: we get to gather for worship yet again to celebrate the gift of your birth. On this fourth day of Christmas, keep the joy of the season shining brightly in and around us. As we engage in the rich blessings of worship, lead your people to confession and repentance, so that you might renew and refresh them with the assurance of their forgiveness and the joy of their salvation. Let the announcement of Jesus’ birth and the news of peace on earth be clearly proclaimed today, and let all hearts that hear it be awakened to faith or strengthened in the faith. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Bless All Christmas Worship This Week

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Today and this week, you provide us with additional opportunities to gather in your house as we celebrate the Savior born to us. Fill your churches this week with saints and seekers, so that all may rejoice in the news of a Savior given to take away the sin of the world. Bless all of the final planning, preparation, and practice that goes into these special services, so that the good news may be clearly proclaimed, heard, understood, and believed. May worship everywhere magnify you, Lord, by keeping Christ at the center of all Christmas worship. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Thoughtful Consideration of Worship Attire

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. The blessing of Christian freedom means that there is no required dress code for worship. At the same time, we recognize that there is something to be said for distinguishing between secular and sacred. Since the gospel inspires our best in all areas of life, move believers to consider how what we wear in worship can reflect the worth we attach to the privilege of being in your house. Our purpose in gathering is not to draw attention to ourselves – whether positively or negatively – but to devote ourselves to you and to receive the rich spiritual banquet which you offer us in worship. Therefore, let us give humble and reverent thought to how we present ourselves each week for worship. May we glorify you in worship, not only with our songs and prayers, but even with our attention to how we thoughtfully present ourselves.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Find Peace in Your Presence Through Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. When we prioritize worship, we aren’t adding another weighty task to the to-do list of our already-busy holiday season. Instead, we are seeking refuge in the midst of our crazy, chaotic schedules. While we do find a measure of peace simply in slowing down our pace and limiting our obligations this time of year, the peace we find in your presence in your house of worship is unique. There we let out a spiritual sigh of relief as we exhale our sins in confession and breathe in deeply the fresh air of forgiveness. Let us never be too busy for time with you and the saints gathered together for worship – especially this time of year. Ready our hearts for both your Second Coming and our Christmas celebration of your First Coming. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Treasure Worship During the Holidays

Heavenly Father,
As the holiday season continues to unfold, many look forward to the treasured traditions that are such a significant part of it. Some are secular and others are sacred. While these understandably have a special place in our hearts, I pray that they do not overshadow the blessing of gathering in your house for worship during the holidays. There we hear the familiar accounts, deeply rooted in history. These properly prepare our hearts and keep us on the Spirit’s path toward a right celebration of the Savior’s First Coming and an eager anticipation of his Second Coming. Fill your churches so that you might fill our souls with true joy this season.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

Thank You for Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. On this first day of Thanksgiving week, we are especially thankful for the blessing of worship, by which you dispense the riches of your grace. Where your Word is preached and your sacraments are administered, there you are placing your divine banquet before your people. Through it, let the Holy Spirit continue to kindle in believers old and new a genuine longing for and love of worship. Use worship to draw them more deeply into your Word and to strengthen their faith’s grip on your gracious promises. As believers grow in their appreciation for worship, lead them to be protective of their time in your house and encourage each other to do the same. The more they come to gather, equip them also to go, shining the light of their faith brightly, and eagerly speaking about what they have seen and heard. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Starting Churches

Lord of the Church,
Energize your people everywhere who are involved in planting a new church. Their ministry is both exciting and exhausting. To be used by you to reach out and connect with the lost and see the Holy Spirit’s work in bringing them to faith is one of the greatest rewards a Christian can experience. But it is also very hard work. Give believers in these settings a great measure of patience and perseverance. Fill them up with a steady diet of your Word so they are prepared and well-equipped to pass along your promises to others as they evangelize. Raise up solid leaders in their midst who are full of faith. Open doors to provide them with strong community relationships and a favorable reputation in their mission field. Infuse missionaries with an abundance of love, support, and encouragement to help protect them from burnout. Use their efforts to add many souls to your kingdom and lead them all to regularly celebrate your gracious work in and through them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Carrying Out the Church’s Work

Holy Spirit,
So many are needed to carry out the ministry of the church. You provide not only pastors and teachers to carry out that work, but also very capable and gifted individuals to oversee and coordinate the work. While some are paid for this work, most are not. Thank you for working in them the desire to use their gifts and time for this noble purpose. Make their service a blessing to fellow believers. Bring them joy and reward in carrying out their responsibilities faithfully. Use them to support others when necessary and to lead when called. Build up your kingdom through their efforts, and meet all of their spiritual needs so that they can carry out their work well. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Husbands to Prioritize Their Wives

Gracious Savior,
Marriage is one of the most tremendous blessings you have given to mankind. Yet we often and easily overlook it, take it for granted, or neglect it. When this happens, it’s not just the marriage relationship that suffers, but we are also missing out on a unique relationship which you established to lead us to a deeper understanding of our relationship with you.

Lead husbands to renew their devotion to their wives and to focus on developing their marriage relationship. Help them manage their days and schedules in a way that prioritizes their time with and attention to their wives. Grant grace to husbands to make them eager to meet the needs of their wives and to be willing to live sacrificially for them. Move them to have hearts of service that follow in Christ’s footsteps and put the needs of house and home before their own. Through all of this, richly bless not only wives, but husbands as well, as they continue striving to become more and more like you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.