Tag: guys

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Have Compassion for Others

Caring Savior,
When our own personal lives are filled with so many stories of those who are struggling and suffering, we can easily become cynical. We tune out others and their problems because we have enough of our own to focus on. Over time, unchecked cynical attitudes can turn downright calloused toward others.

Keep me from that extreme. Place me back among the crowds who followed you while you walked the earth, those who chased after you with all of their hurts and needs. That way, I can see clearly what compassion and care look like when perfectly carried out. You took time for others. You met their needs. You always cared, and you still do – for others, for me, for everyone. Move me to demonstrate the same genuine care and compassion for others.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Listen Attentively to Others

Gracious Lord,
You are never too busy to listen to my prayers. No matter how distant or persistent I may be, your ears are always open. You hear my requests and answer them in the way that is best for me. I pray you never turn your ear or your face away from me.

Let your willingness to listen to me spur on my willingness to listen to others. No matter how busy I may be, keep me always willing to listen attentively to others. So many wish to talk, but so few can patiently and properly listen, too. Use me as a sounding board for others to share and open up, and as I actively listen, make me aware of opportunities to love and serve my neighbor in their need. When so many in today’s world are hurried and rushed, let me stand out by slowing down and listening to others.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Enter the Narrow Door

Lord Jesus,
Only through you can anyone enter heaven. There is no other way. You warn us that the door is narrow, but it is, nevertheless, open to all people. It is wide open to all who cling to you by faith for salvation. It is only narrow to those who insist on any other entryway into heaven. No other god or religion, no good intentions or works of righteousness, and no affiliations or previous relationships will suffice. Thank you for carrying out and completing the work of my salvation in its entirety. Thank you for the gift of faith to believe it. Help me let others know and believe, that multitudes may enter the narrow door through faith in you as well. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Grace to Abound

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. As so many all over the world gather together in your house, they bring so many different experiences and emotions to worship. Nevertheless, we all have one need in common that unites us: grace. What we cannot find anywhere else apart from your Word and Sacrament, pour out in abundance to all. Let it not be subtle or hidden, but rather preached clearly and sung loudly for all to hear.

Since we could have no relationship with you apart from grace, nor would we have the guarantee of a place in heaven without it, let it abound. May it wash over hearts heavy with guilt and shame. Use your grace to stir up passion and zeal among believers to carry out your mission and ministry with relentless fervor. Through us all, flood the earth with your grace.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Eagerly Serve My Home

Selfless Savior,
Just as you gave Adam the responsibility to lead his wife and family in the home, so you call all men to do the same. But, since we cannot possibly measure up to this calling on our own, we need you to lead us and equip us. For any man to lead successfully in his home, he must first be willing to be led by you. 

When men see their marriage, family, or home as something from which they need to escape or avoid, correct their view. Whatever challenges they face in any of those situations, you have also placed them there to address those issues and take the lead in working through them, rather than ignore them. Bring repentance where needed, and gospel restoration to redirect and strengthen them for the road ahead. Be their guardian and guide, providing an example of what sacrificial service for others looks like, and also compelling them by your grace to imitate you in their marriage and home. Use them to build strong and sturdy homes, solidly grounded on the powerful promises of your Word. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Eagerly Serve My Neighborhood and Community

Selfless Savior,
The entirety of your law is summed up in one word: love. We know full well that we are called to love you above all else. We easily forget, however, that our love for you is also expressed in how we love our neighbor. While anyone in need is included in the category of neighbor, let us not overlook our literal neighbors – those living next to and around us in our neighborhoods.

Help us to love our neighbor and our community as you have loved us. Let us never become weary of carrying out good works on their behalf. Whether those works come in the form of informal service to a neighbor in an unexpected or sudden moment of need, or through formal volunteer service in community organizations and efforts, use believing men everywhere to build up and bless their communities. In these ways, let not only your goodness, but also your gospel, spread and be known. Make me the kind of neighbor that everyone wishes would live next door. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Eagerly Serve My Church

Selfless Savior,
While most people think of Sunday morning worship when they think of church, the local congregation is really about so much more. Yes, worship is the highlight of the believer’s week, serving us Word and sacrament, and providing a foretaste of what awaits us in the future, but you build up the body of Christ is in so many other ways, too. Churches carry out your work through schools, Bible studies, and various other ministries and acts of service both internally and externally.

While we are grateful for church workers who are called to guide and equip us for this work, help each of us to see the important roles we have in helping carry this work out. Service isn’t about official roles or titles, but about a willing spirit – a spirit willing to imitate Jesus and wash my neighbor’s feet. Move men everywhere to demonstrate servant leadership in your church, looking to serve first rather than be served. When opportunities or needs arise, grant us the faith-focused desire to get our hands dirty and eagerly jump in. Lead us to support our church workers and each other by making their work a joy and not a burden. Compel us to serve our congregations because through our service, you’re not just getting work done through us, but also in us. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Raise up Men to Lead

Lord God,
Raise up believing men everywhere to take seriously your charge to be spiritual leaders. Some are lukewarm, lazy or apathetic. Others are insecure, lack confidence, or don’t know the first step. Still others are too comfortable passing off their God-given responsibility to their wives and other women. Work repentance and renewal in the hearts of Christian men everywhere and empower them with your Holy Spirit. 

Eliminate their indifference. Replace their timidity with trust. Guide them with your Word. Place other spiritually mature men in their lives to model and mentor what godly leadership looks like when men step into the roles you created them to fill. Let their impact be felt in marriages, families, congregations, and even whole communities as you stir up in them a spiritual fervor to hold high the banner of your gospel. Bless them and produce abundant fruit through their efforts in tending to your kingdom.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Facing Addiction

Strong Savior,
Addictions can take many different forms, but all of them are destructive. While we live in Christian freedom, that freedom doesn’t allow us to be mastered by anything. Regardless the source of addiction – drugs, alcohol, pornography, shopping, gambling, etc. – whatever we permit to enslave and control us has power over us. When that happens, we are no longer free, but slaves. 

Come to the aid of all who are ensnared by addiction. Expose whatever lies they believe that only serve to downplay, hide, or facilitate their addiction. Surround them with those who care enough to point out the truth to them, and lead them to see and own the truth about their addiction. Provide a pathway out of their addiction and the support and accountability to keep them on track. Hold them up by the power of your Word, hold your cross before them when their battle is fierce, and remind them of the price you paid to free them from sin and addiction. Let them turn to you and find in you everything their addiction could never satisfy or provide.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

Multiplying Division

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(Luke 12:49-53)

Before applying the cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol to the freshly scraped knee, a mom warns her child, “this is going to sting a bit.” In trying to determine the extent of the injury, whether it’s a sprain, a break, or something else, the doctor grabs hold and twists this way then pushing that way, all the while asking his patient to “tell me if this hurts.” Days or weeks of underlying tension between a husband and wife culminate with the words, “we need to talk.” Real pain is being experienced in these examples, whether it’s physical, emotional, or even spiritual.

Yet, while none of those examples are pleasant experiences – for the person on either end – they have in common that the end result is intended to make things better. The hurt happens so that healing can follow. One of the biggest lies we tend to believe is that our problems – and the hurt that goes with them – will eventually just go away if we avoid them. Rather than bring up an uncomfortable topic that will likely involve some tension or conflict, we just avoid it and convince ourselves that doing nothing is the better way. What we’re saying is that we prefer to avoid the hurt of a challenging encounter or conversation by riding it out until things improve.

But tell me, if you can, how many times things have ever actually improved, how many times healing has actually taken place, with that approach. Almost never. This “Wounds that Heal” series may be a tough one for many, but it’s essential that we understand that even when Jesus’ words hurt, that hurt is the necessary precursor to healing. So we pray that this series will be for us like making your way into the ocean on a beach day. At first the water feels cold and uncomfortable, but once you’re in, it feels invigorating and refreshing. May Jesus’ words in this series hit us like that.

The wisdom of Proverbs also provides helpful insights to our understanding of this series. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” The words of a friend may hurt or sting, but when you consider the source, you know they are being candid with you for your own benefit. An enemy, on the other hand, will schmooze and sweet-talk all day long, not because he’s interested in building you up, but because he wants to soften you to eventually serve himself. If wounds from a friend can be trusted, let’s go into this series remembering that we have no greater friend than Jesus, and trust completely that even when he speaks words that hurt or are hard to hear, his goal is always my healing and growth. 

We start off this series with words from Jesus that will hit home for some of us a little more than others. “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (v.51). How do we handle these hard words? When we address what looks like a contradictory statement compared to the way the rest of Scripture speaks, we’ll better understand what Jesus is saying. Then, as we do, we’ll start to see how his hard words actually help and heal us. 

Let’s address some of the passages that come to mind when we hear Jesus and peace in the same sentence. Right away, many of our minds likely go to one of the most comforting lists of titles given to Jesus that we associate with Christmas. Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” It seems like even more of an odd thing for the one called the “Prince of Peace,” to say he didn’t come to bring peace, doesn’t it?

Then there are also the words out of Jesus’ own mouth that he spoke: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “In me you may have peace” sounds about as 180º from Jesus bluntly saying that he didn’t come to bring peace, but division! What gives?

The reason is really quite simple: we’re dealing with different understandings of peace. Take an example from the sporting world. Why will fans and analysts always debate about who is the greatest in any given sport? Why will that always be an ongoing debate that can never be settled? It’s because we aren’t working with the same definition of “great.” We can’t agree on a GOAT if we can’t agree on what greatness is. Does greatest mean the most championship rings, because there are plenty of players who were not superstars, but who had the privilege of being shuffled around and playing on championship teams. Does greatest mean the best statistics? If so, which statistics matter the most, and what if someone has great statistics but no rings? Does greatest mean record-holder in any given statistical category? What if a player dominates in only one statistical category, but is mediocre at best in others? And what about sports where different players play entirely different positions – a great lineman on the football field cannot be compared to a great quarterback by using the same metrics for greatness. 

Just as rabid sports fans will become rather unruly when discussing who is the greatest, should it surprise us that Jesus guarantees that division will come about as a result of the peace he came to bring? How does one define peace?

Ask yourself what most people on the planet have in mind when they think about peace. What does “peace” mean to most people? Tolerance? It means unity. It means we don’t let our differences divide us. It means we all get along. It means the absence of conflict. It means you don’t force me to share your views or opinions. You might have a few more thoughts to add to the world’s view of peace, but these about capture it, don’t they?

Now, what is God talking about when he speaks of “peace” in the Bible? We don’t have to wonder or guess, because he tells us. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 4:25-5:2). The phrase we need to hear to get to the bottom of all of this is “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s the peace Jesus came to bring: peace between God and men.

So what we’re talking about is not the same thing at all, and realizing that gives us a better understanding about the apparent contradiction in Scripture. It all depends on which peace we’re talking about: the world’s varying definitions, or Jesus’ definition? Jesus came to bring the kind of peace we need, but not the kind of peace the world thinks it needs or wants. And, sadly, until anyone sees the need for Jesus’ peace, they’ll look in vain for it everywhere else. 

Their search for peace ends up looking like a guest trying to figure out the lighting in an unfamiliar room. If you live in or have stayed in a place with a room that has outlets controlled by a light switch, that can serve to help us understand Jesus’ words this morning. If you don’t know the outlets are controlled by a light switch, think of all the steps you’ll first take to address a lamp that doesn’t turn on. First, you might check the obvious to make sure there’s a bulb in the lamp, maybe even changing it if there is. If that doesn’t do the trick, then you check to make sure it’s plugged in. If it’s plugged in and still doesn’t light up, you maybe start to wonder if the lamp is just broken and needs to be replaced. So you spend all this time on the lamp, when all you really need to do is flip the light switch when you enter the room and it gives power to the outlets, turning on the lamp.

By nature, without Jesus, we all do the same things to address division – or a lack of peace – in our lives. We try to fix all of the symptoms without realizing the real problem: a lack of peace between God and me. So I work on this symptom and that symptom. Nothing improves – and often it gets much worse! – so I try a different approach with no luck. And on and on. 

It isn’t until the light switch is flipped on – which just so happens to apply perfectly to Jesus, the Light of the World – that the peace that is lacking in my life now starts to flow from the peace I have with God into all other areas of my life. We try to manufacture a horizontal peace when the solution is the vertical peace we receive from God in Christ Jesus. Only from that peace does the world ever receive what it’s actually looking for.  

That’s the irony, isn’t it? The world would have much more of the peace it is looking for, if only it pursued more of the peace Jesus did come to bring. But until it does, there will be division. Some will long for Jesus’ peace; others will dismiss it in frustration, demanding that an all-powerful God cater to their whims and provide their version of peace. And that is the reason for the division.

But the source of that division is also the solution to it. And we have it. Yes, these wounds that heal us mean that we need to expect they’ll do the same for others, because it is an undeniable reality of the ministry of the church. We are called to bring peace, yet God prepares us for the hard work of ministry by telling us that our efforts will result in even more division. So we aren’t surprised when we see the peace we pass along result multiply division.

But there is no other way. We cannot change doctrines or teachings for the sake of getting along better with other churches who do. We cannot ignore or avoid parts of the Bible which cause people offense. There is no other way. And those who think there is are not only fooling themselves, but also compromising the real peace Jesus came to bring, the real peace every man, woman, and child, needs: peace between God and man.

Yes, it will mean that our mission will multiply division. The ministry of the church will increase division in the world. But more importantly, it will also increase the number of souls that are saved. It might hurt to share it, but the best kind of healing will follow: the kind that provides the permanent peace our hearts crave, and can find nowhere else but in Jesus.