DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Keep Devoting Ourselves to Your Word

Holy Spirit,
Your Word is life, but so often we let life get in the way of your Word. We know firsthand the blessings of being in your Word regularly, but we also know how challenging it can be to maintain the regular habit of spending time in it. Thank you for the seasons of consistency, and for the ways you nurture our faith in those seasons. Be patient with us when we drift or get out of our routine. When we do, guard us so that our guilt and shame do not give way to frustration and discouragement, leading us to fall for the lie that we’ll never be able to establish a regular devotional life. Instead, with your patient grace, invite us back into your Word for the freshness of forgiveness and the newness of your mercy every morning. Feed our souls, and let our time in your Word be driven not by duty, but by delight. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Stuck in Struggle

God of Mercy,
Be merciful to all believers who are in the throes of any personal struggle so intense that they are hanging by a thread. Sometimes, such struggles have the negative effect of leading people to question their faith and ultimately fall away from it. Other times, hardships lead your people to lean into their faith, and you strengthen it through such adversity. For all those currently on the frail fulcrum of distress, use it to draw them to you rather than drive them from you. As their faith is tested, let your Word and the body of Christ be a stronghold and support. Infuse them with strength by your grace, and pour out your Spirit on them to see them through this time of trial.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Believers to Desire Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. While our whole lives are truly an act of worship, our hearts crave your presence and your promises, both of which are always tied to your Word. And since your Word is central to wherever believers gather for Sunday morning worship, we therefore crave corporate worship together with the body of Christ. Lead all of your sheep to come together in worship to hear the voice of their Good Shepherd. Set apart the worship that takes place in churches from all other forms of worship, so that it transcends. Create in Christians an increased yearning and desire to come together to worship you, and build and bless your Church through it. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Look More to You and Less to Ourselves

Mighty Rock,
While we can be frustrated when reminded that we don’t have all the answers and are not in control, turn those situations into learning experiences for us. Use them as prompts to lead us to look to you first more often. Whether we’re unclear on the problem or the plan to address it, make it second nature for us to fix our focus on you. When we do, show us repeatedly that you mean it when you promise to work out everything for our good. And forge our faith into such a rock-solid trust in you that we arrive at the point where we couldn’t imagine beginning any pursuit or taking on any challenge without you, your Word, and your promises as our starting point. Less of us, more of you, Lord. Always. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Establish the Habit of Weekly Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. One of the most blessed routines we can establish is gathering weekly in your house for worship. Since we are creatures of habit, help believers dial in the habit of worshiping every week. When we settle for less than weekly worship, we are more likely to leave open the door of compromise and find ourselves more willing to favor other plans. While there are certainly extenuating circumstances that can keep your people away from your house on Sunday mornings, make those the exception and not the rule. Whether a worshiper is new to the faith or a mature Christian, graciously remove as many roadblocks as possible that keep your people from regular weekly worship. Finally, grant faithful attenders a rich measure of your spiritual blessings to fill up their faith as you draw them to you through Word and Sacrament. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Be My Brother’s Keeper

Dear Jesus,
As our world seems to increasingly call right, wrong and wrong, right, it can be tempting for believers to fall in line and keep their mouths shut – even when it comes to our responsibilities to each other. But, since you have called us to be our brother’s keeper, we care too much about those you’ve placed in our lives to remain silent when their souls are at risk. When we see the damage sin does and is doing in the lives of our brothers or sisters in faith, give us the courage to speak up. When we have reservations about how doing so may affect our relationship, open our eyes to see how much more important their relationship with you is than their relationship with us. Bless our efforts at calling others to repentance, so that their souls are restored and grace wins another victory.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Discernment to Uncover the Lies I Believe

Holy Spirit,
Satan is the father of lies. It is therefore no surprise that he retains the same tactics today that brought him success against Adam and Eve and countless others since then. As shameful as it ought to be that he would be so unoriginal and simple-minded, it’s even more embarrassing that I still fall for his lies today. The reason I so often believe his lies is that he is so good at masking them as the truth. Therefore, I ask for discernment to be able to help me expose any lies that I am believing. Use others around me to help detect them and warn me, or to inform me of the possibility of certain lies in my life. Give me the humility to realize that no matter how smart I think I am, the evil one is superior in outsmarting me with seeds of doubt, misinformation, and deception. Then, when the lies I am believing come to the surface and are discovered, empower me to shut them down with the truth of your Word. Let your light pierce any darkness in my life so that I can call out the lies and replace them with truth. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Hope as We Bear Our Crosses

Lord Jesus,
We know that trials, pain, and suffering are not only unavoidable in a world covered by a constant cloud of sin, but also that we ought to expect them as your disciples. You assure believers that hardships will be littered along our path throughout life as a direct result of our faith in you. So, Lord, rather than ask you to remove what you’ve already told us to expect, we ask you to reinforce us with the hope to endure as we bear these crosses. You have promised that no amount of suffering we’ll ever face is even worth being in the same conversation as the magnificent glory that awaits our eternity with you. And, rather than mere wishful thinking, this present hope we have of a glorious future is steadfast and certain, because it is anchored in the past reality of your suffering, death, and resurrection, which already secured our eternity. Galvanize us with this hope in the face of any cross you call us to bear.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Faithfully Serving Behind the Scenes

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Thank you for those quietly serving behind the scenes. Thank you for the toilet that works because of the retired plumber who came in during the week and used his gifts to fix it. Thank you for those who attentively care for the property and landscaping so that our open door is not an eyesore on Sunday morning. Thank you for those willing to get their hands dirty for the sake of a clean and tidy sanctuary that sets the tone for worship. Thank you for those serving in a hot kitchen to bake the refreshments enjoyed by many. You provide your people with gifts to humbly serve behind the scenes, not for praise or recognition, but with faithful, gratitude-filled hearts, eagerly making the most of these opportunities to love you and us. Thank you for them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Worship to Be About Jesus

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. As believers gather in Christian churches all over the world on this day for worship, edify them through the preaching of your Word. Remind both preachers and those listening that we are called the Christian Church because Christ is central to all that we are and do. Let that be clearly reflected and understood in preaching and worship. While we enjoy freedom and flexibility in so many ways because of the gospel, guard all believers at all times against being willing to compromise anything that may call Christ into question. On Jesus and his saving work, your Church is a tower of strength. Without him, it crumbles to pieces. Let it stand forever, as you have promised, and keep us faithful to our promise to remain true to you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.