Tag: gospel

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Keep Christ at the Center of Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. We keep them sacred – holy – by coming together with fellow believers to be fed by your Word. Prevent all efforts at supplanting your Word and gospel with anything else in worship. Your house is not the place for political rallies or protests, but for the proclamation of your Word. Let Christ alone and the hope of salvation through faith in him be the focal point of worship in Christian churches everywhere. Guard the walls of churches from false teaching, but also from anything that doesn’t serve to advance your glorious gospel. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Never Take the Gospel for Granted

Light of the World,
This week of Epiphany, we reflect on the wise men who journeyed to worship the Savior. How were their lives changed once they returned home? How long did they bask in the wonderment of personally witnessing their Savior? Did they struggle with the return to routine and the monotony of life back to normal? Were their lives so radically impacted by their experience that even the most mundane responsibilities in life took on newfound joy?

While we cannot know the answers to such questions, we can boldly ask that the jubilation of our salvation would never be muted in our lives. We can boldly ask that the certainty of a Savior for all permanently pushes us to give our best and to give our very selves to all that we do, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. When we become complacent or unstirred by the gospel’s potency or primacy in our own lives, do whatever it takes to transport us back to the Epiphany. Help us see the Savior from the magi’s perspective, and spur on our spirit to give ourselves in wholehearted devotion to you and your gospel. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For All Who Seek Jesus to Also Share Jesus

Light of the World,
On this day of Epiphany, we reflect on the wise men who journeyed to worship the Savior. At some point, in some way, the news about the birth of the Savior had reached their ears and touched their hearts. That wonderful message was shared with them. Undoubtedly, upon returning to their own country and people, they shared not only stories of their travels with others, but also the news that a Savior for all people had been born. Like the angels and shepherds before them, they couldn’t help but make known to others this life-changing news. Lead all who seek the Savior also to share him. Use me to make known to others the life-changing news that a Savior has come into the world – a Savior for all people. Rather than assuming everyone already knows this, which is simply untrue, help me live as if they don’t, so that I approach my interactions with others as if I cannot wait to share something amazing with them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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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

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For the Blessing of Music

Dear Lord,
Music plays such an important part in our lives – thank you for this special gift. You have blessed so many people with wonderful musical gifts throughout history. You have then used their gifts to extend the blessing of music to so many ears and hearts as well. During the holidays, we especially appreciate the role music can play in evoking nostalgic memories from seasons past. We are grateful for how secular and sacred music each affect us in different ways. We pray that sacred music, from classical chorales to simple hymns, will always have an important role, for through their emphasis on the coming of the Savior and his joyous birth, they beautifully proclaim the good news of salvation. Continue to use this type of music and singing to turn hearts from darkness to the light of faith for generations to come.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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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

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To Be Driven By Eternal Rewards

Eternal Father,
When I get caught up chasing after rewards and recognition this world offers, remind me that my greatest rewards aren’t going to be received on this side of heaven. The rewards of your grace, earned and secured for me by Jesus Christ, are far superior to the best that this world could ever offer. Nevertheless, that which is immediately tangible and able to be experienced here and now so easily grabs my attention and focus. Guard me from being led astray by short-lived success. Let the joy and certainty of eternal blessings prompt my relentless drive and passion in all that I do in this life, and let it also work in me a burning zeal to be about your kingdom and your purposes. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Privilege of Raising Children

Gracious Father,
All good gifts come from you, and children rank near the top of the list. Because parenting can be so exhausting and require so much energy, we can overlook the blessing they are. No matter their season of life – infants, toddlers, teens, or adults – lead parents to appreciate the unique joys of each stage of raising children. Thank you for their individual personalities and the variety of gifts you grant to them. Let children see fine examples of the Christian faith modeled in their parents. Make Jesus central to the home so that the gospel plays a prominent role in their training and instruction. When law and gospel are present and grace abounds, may fruits of faith flourish in children, including loving obedience and respect toward their parents. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless the Celebration of the Reformation

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Worship in many Lutheran churches this morning is special because of the celebration of the Reformation. Thank you, Lord, for how you guided the efforts of so many through the Reformation to restore the good news of the gospel to its rightful place of prominence within the Church. For those who were willing to make such sacrifices for the sake of the gospel, we thank you. For restoring the clear truth that our salvation is by grace, through faith, and not by good works, we thank you. Through the Reformation you allow us to see how serious you are about your promise that your Word will endure forever. Keep our generation steadfast in standing on Scripture, and let it always be central to our worship and life.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be Grateful for the Gospel in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. It’s so easy for us to take for granted that every time we gather for worship, we hear the good news of the gospel preached and sung. Sadly, that is not necessarily the case, certainly among religious gatherings outside of Christianity, but even within Christianity. The gospel is our lifeline to you, the assurance of our eternal security, and our hope for daily living. Cause preachers to proclaim it confidently and clearly. Keep them from the temptation of thinking that their own cleverness or creativity is necessary for the Word to be effective. The gospel is everything, therefore, let it not be overshadowed by anything. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.