Tag: sacrifice

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Gift of Fathers

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. I have countless reasons for which to give you thanks, and on this Father’s Day, I give you thanks for fathers and the irreplaceable role they play in families and homes. Of all the ways you could have chosen to bring up children, in your divine wisdom you established families, providing fathers to lead and love their children. Thank you especially for fathers who prioritize bringing their children to Jesus. 

While no father is perfect, they make many sacrifices to provide for their children and families. When they establish boundaries and rules for the good of their children, they also reflect your loving care in providing the same for us. When they consistently carry out discipline anytime the rules are broken, they are doing what is right and in the best interest of their children. Lead fathers to be eager to demonstrate grace and mercy as well, so that children are able to relate more to your grace and mercy. 

You have established fatherhood as one of the most noble callings of all. Lead our society to uphold it as such, and see that fathers are respected and honored among us. Richly bless their labors of love, encouraging them with supportive wives and rewarding them with obedient children who are a delight to raise.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives

Dear Lord,
On this Memorial Day, we mourn the loss of the service men and women who made the greatest sacrifice one can make in dying for their country. May I never take for granted the rights and freedoms I enjoy because of their tremendous sacrifice. Lead me to honor them by the way I live as an upright citizen and to do whatever I can to see that they are not forgotten and that their sacrifices are always honored. Be with all friends, family members, and loved ones still grieving their loss. Heal their wounds and lift up their saddened spirits. Surround them with care and support on this day and anytime they are down. Remove the guilt of those who are burdened by having survived when others around them were lost in the heat of battle. Give meaning and purpose to them in their lives, and allow us all to appreciate those who gave up their lives for us. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Your Good Friday Sacrifice

Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world. Today, we remember the cost. There is no greater sacrifice imaginable that could have been made than that you, the innocent Son of God, would willingly be executed in the place of the real convicted lawbreakers. My sin crucified you, and your compassion saved me. On this Good Friday, words will not ever be able to capture or convey the thanks you rightly deserve. Nevertheless, thank you for dying for me. Compel me to live for you.   

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Love Others – Even My Enemies

Lord Jesus,
My ego makes loving others a big enough challenge on its own, so when you up the ante and direct me to love even my enemies, I cringe. Honestly, I don’t want to hear it. The last thing I think my enemy deserves is anything good from me. Instead of love, I would prefer to see a heaping dose of misfortune and misery directed at him. When I find myself wishing ill will on others, then I think pretty highly of myself for not actually following through or saying the types of things that come to mind. But your charge to love my enemies means that even when I just do nothing against my enemy, I still fall terribly short! 

Love as you define it includes action. Love as you demonstrated it included action – sacrificial action that saw you hung up and crucified for me. And it might just make sense if I had done anything noteworthy for you or someone else that merited such sacrifice; but I did the exact opposite. My sin reveals my status as sworn enemy by nature, and daily I demonstrate that that enemy is still a part of me. So what did you do for the likes of me? You suffered for me. You died for me. You rose for me. You live for me. You love me.

Now spur on my love for others, even my enemies. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Care for Caregivers

Dear Lord,
Thank you for all of those who serve as caregivers. Many serve in that capacity because it is a path they willfully chose, while others find themselves as caregivers reluctantly or unwillingly, but out of necessity. Regardless of the circumstances that put them in the position of caregiver, their work can be draining both physically and emotionally. Keep bitterness or resentment from taking root in their hearts as they carry out their service. While consumed with the concerns of caring for others, it can be easy to neglect their own self-care.

Surround caregivers with those who care enough about them to look out for their interests. Use them to speak reassuring words of encouragement when they are depleted. Uplift them and strengthen them for their work. Grant them the joys of seeing the fruit of their labor. Let their sacrificial work on behalf of others deepen both their awareness and appreciation of the many ways you sacrificially served others throughout your own life and ministry.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Remember Your Sacrifice

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. When we gather in your house, God, worship rightly points us to Jesus our Savior, who gave himself up as a sacrifice for us all. By that sacrifice we are cleansed and forgiven. 

Sacrifice is on our mind this Memorial Day weekend, as we remember so many men and women of our military who gave their lives for our freedom – including the freedom to worship. Move us to honor their sacrifice by taking advantage of our freedom to worship you. Move us also to honor Jesus’ sacrifice for us by using our freedom to walk in step with your Spirit and live sacrificially for others. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.