Tag: guys

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Appreciate God’s Gift of Laughter

Joyful Savior,
Your gift of laughter is such a blessing in our fallen, sin-saturated world. It reminds us in a small way that gloom and despair exist on borrowed time, and will eventually meet their end when you return and replace them with eternal joy and delight. Thank you for the positive impact laughter can have on our mood and outlook. Whether the little unplanned bloopers in our day-to-day lives or the personalities and media which specialize in humor and comedy, these sources of laughter can cheer up wearied spirits and uplift heavy hearts. 

As with all good blessings from your hand, we can take them too far. Keep us from consuming comedy and laughter that crosses the line and is an affront to you. And, keep our own efforts within your boundaries for what is appropriate when we are seeking to make others laugh. Guard our lips from offensive language and swearing when attempting to entertain others. Keep us from inappropriate or course joking, and from the temptation to make jokes at the expense of others, which might cause them harm or distress or bring their reputation into question. Let us honor you in our support of clean comedy and humor that allows us to appreciate and treasure your gift of laughter.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Let My Worries Prompt My Prayers

Loving Savior,
It’s not always easy to know what I ought to pray for. Your Word is the best source to guide and inform our prayers. Since in your Word, you invite us to bring everything to you in prayer, help me view the things that cause me concern as opportunities for prayer. When I worry, lead me to pivot my worry into prayer. In that way, you address both my worry and my struggles of what to pray for.

My worries can – and should! – be brought to you in prayer at all times. When I take my worries to you, redirect my thoughts to you and your gracious promises. Finally, assure me that you hear my prayer and will answer my anxieties in the best way possible.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Be Willing to Own My Wrongs

Patient Lord,
It’s not easy to admit when I’ve been in the wrong. What is easy is getting defensive when someone points out my faults, accuses me of sin, or implies that I should have handled a matter differently. When these situations arise, so does my pride, which gets stirred up whenever it senses my reputation is in question. I then seek to defend, excuse, justify, blame, and even flat out deny the possibility of any error or wrongdoing on my part.

Instead, lead me to swap out my pride for a humble spirit that seeks first to understand the matter. Then, let me be willing to admit fault and own whatever wrong is mine to own. Finally, never let me shy away from an opportunity to apologize, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Rather than being so self-assured and confident of my own self-righteousness, grant me the self-awareness and willingness to first review my own thoughts, words, and actions with a measure of skepticism. Cause me to be open to analyzing my role from the perspective of what I could have done or said differently to avoid things ending up the way they did. Let me be so confident of your grace and forgiveness, that I never have to deceive myself or others into thinking that I am not in need of it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Prioritize My Salvation

Lord of Salvation,
Nothing should concern us more than the matter of our salvation. Scripture paints such a terrifying picture of hell that we must conclude that Satan and sin are nothing to be trifled with. Yet the same Scripture points to the clear certainty of salvation solely through the work of our Savior. It leaves no doubt for anyone seeking the answer to the question of what happens to us after this life. 

Keep us from allowing other concerns and distractions in our lives to crowd out the matter of our salvation. Although Jesus took care of it entirely for us, Satan tries relentlessly to take it away from us. While he cannot undo the work of salvation carried out by Jesus, Satan can convince us that our busy schedules don’t permit the time it takes to keep us close to Jesus. Since he cannot take salvation away from us, he tries to take us away from our salvation. He does this by trying to cut us off from Word and Sacrament. Help us fight that battle daily and remain tethered to you by faith, so that our salvation is never in jeopardy. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Address Hindrances to Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Where the Word is proclaimed, a steady diet of law and gospel is there to feed our faith. Nevertheless, sometimes we are unaware of the hindrances that can prevent or shortchange some from hearing that Word. Make us aware of the special needs of some, such as challenges to hearing or seeing. If language barriers limit the understanding or comprehension of your Word, equip us to address these accordingly. Where temperature and other worship conditions deter worshipers, enable those issues to be addressed as much as possible as well.

Help parents to realize when active children might be a distraction, and move others to lovingly and patiently offer assistance. If a pastor or another worship participant’s mannerisms cause challenges to listening, provide alternate ways for those present to engage and worship actively. Do whatever is necessary so that your Word can not only be proclaimed, but also heard and received as well.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Those Going Through Change

Dear Jesus,
Be with those going through a major change in their lives right now that involves a new vocation or responsibilities. Single men who are becoming husbands will require added grace to sacrificially love their wives as Jesus loved the church. Those who were previously husbands, who for one reason or another find themselves returning to single hood, may need support and friendship to counter feelings of loneliness. And, where divorce is a factor, protect their hearts from impenitence and refuse to allow bitterness take root in them. 

Remove any fear and insecurity from those preparing to become fathers, and replace it with the Spirit-led confidence that you will equip them with what is needed for that role. Where others are transitioning from years of schooling into the workforce, or simply adjusting to a career change, bless them with a positive outlook, keep them eager to learn, and grant them the determination to be committed coworkers and work to hard to do their job well. Guide all others enduring change to faithfully lean on you throughout it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Believing Men Choosing to Be On Their Own

Faithful Father,
You call us to grow in grace. That growth cannot happen apart from your Word. While we have unlimited resources available to us to be in that Word on our own, you never intended for us only to be in your Word alone. You call us to gather with other believers and brothers in the faith. When men confess the Christian faith, but neglect meeting together with other Christians for worship, Bible study, or even fellowship, we are right to be concerned. Satan knows there is strength in numbers within the body of Christ, so he is much more likely to ambush and attack men who insist on going it alone.

Give me the godly courage to express my concern to them with the confidence that your design for growing together is more suitable than their insistence that they are just fine on their own. Move them to see the strength found in the support, encouragement, and accountability of community with brothers in Christ. Call them out of isolation and into the transformation that the Holy Spirit works as your Word pours into us and through us together, shaping us into the men of God we want to be and you call us to be.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Appreciate Extroverts and Introverts

Wonderful Father,
Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. That means we are not clones of each other, sharing the same personalities, abilities, and interests. Some of us are very outgoing extroverts, while others are keep-to-ourselves introverts. Rather than being frustrated by these differences, help us to embrace them and even celebrate that uniqueness.

You often use the outgoing nature of extroverts to make new introductions and connections with people. Introverts, on the other hand, while not eager to step out of their comfort zone to make those initial new connections, can be amazing at developing those one-on-one relationships more deeply. Extroverts may unintentionally speak without considering how their words might be received by others, while those who are more reserved may have more of a knack for reading the room and being socially aware. While we understand that these generalizations can’t possibly apply to everyone in the same way, they help us to appreciate that you have wired us differently. Rather than seeing these differences as deficiencies, help us to marvel at how you can use everyone in specialized ways to bless and build up each other. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Be More Kingdom-Minded With My Possessions

Loving Savior,
You praised the shrewd manager who made the most of his situation and worked it to his own advantage. Your praise, though, is not intended to compel us to follow in his footsteps concerning his pursuit of personal gain. Rather, we can imitate his shrewdness in a spiritual sense as we consider how our station in life and the connections we have could be advantageous to the kingdom.

You place worldly resources all around us that can certainly be used in support of gospel ministry. Grant me greater awareness of my own personal connections and the resources at my disposal that can be utilized in kingdom-minded ways. Expand my view beyond the local ministry of my own congregation to also consider how I might be in a position to help facilitate the ministry of other congregations or organizations, on a larger scale or in different ways. Shift my perspective more and more to see all that you have entrusted to me as a means by which your gospel reach can be extended.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Support Kingdom Work with My Gifts

Gracious Gift-Giver,
All that we have is yours. All that you have entrusted to us is intended to be a blessing to us and/or to others. Help me see all the ways I can use all that I have for good in this world and for your kingdom. When my hands and heart are inclined to clutch on to my belongings as if they’re mine, let your grace loosen my grip. Guard my heart from greed by filling it with a spirit of generosity. Move me to eagerly help and support others when I have the means to do so. Lead me to regularly reflect on the offerings I give back to you, and open my eyes to see how I can facilitate and support the work of your kingdom. Grant me the joy of seeing how generous giving can enrich and extend your kingdom, and use the gifts of your people to seek out the lost and serve the found.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.