DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Seek Your Kingdom

Christ the King,
I am a citizen of two kingdoms. I am a citizen of my earthly kingdom, determined by whichever nation I was born and/or live in. This citizenship can change, or I can even become a citizen of multiple countries, if I choose to pursue the necessary paths to do so. There are varied blessings attached to this type of citizenship, depending on the country in which we hold it.

But even the greatest of these earthly blessings will never measure up to the spiritual blessings attached to my citizenship in your kingdom. While the blessings of this citizenship are superior because they extend into eternity, they also affect me here and now as well. Keep me focused then, on my pursuit of your kingdom. Make me long for more of what your kingdom offers – an identity that is secure in you, the joy you grant in serving you and others, and the meaning and purpose attached to the work of extending your kingdom by putting your gospel to work. Let me never tire of seeking your kingdom. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Replace Unnecessary Concerns with Contentment

Loving Savior,
When you exhorted your disciples and followers not to set their hearts on earthly concerns like clothing and food, their worries at that time were of a different nature. Their concern was based on quantity – whether or not they would have enough of the basic needs of life. 

We, too, are concerned about things like clothing and food, but not for the same reasons. Very few of us have to worry about quantity – about having enough clothing or food. Instead, we focus on quality. We take for granted that we have enough and worry instead about having what is best or new or trendy. How easily we forget how blessed we are that we seldom have to worry about ever having enough! Nevertheless, when our hearts are attached to the stuff of this world, they will always find cause for concern or worry. Free me from that. Let me trust you to provide and bless me not with “more” or “newer,” but with contentment.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Grasp How Much You Treasure Me

Precious Savior,
Occasionally, I struggle with my self-worth, my value, or even my place in this world. Sometimes these feelings come as the result of my own failings or perceived inadequacies, while other times they are rooted in the opinions or comments others make about me. 

Rather than pretending I can ever really control or overcome such things, lead me instead to turn from them to the only successful and sustainable solution: remembering how valuable I am to you. Though you provide for every created thing under the sun, you yourself stated how much more valuable I am to you. Since you cannot lie, give me the trust and confidence to believe that you treasure me that much. Then, regardless of others’ opinions of me – or even my opinion of myself – I can rest at peace in your opinion of me, which carries more weight to me than all other opinions combined. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Replace Worry with Trust

Patient Teacher,
You tell me not to worry. I respond with… worry. Forgive me for not being able to take your promises to heart. Not only have you promised to provide for my daily bread – to give me all that I need for my body and life – but you also deliver. You make good on your promise. Let your promises and your favorable past be sufficient for me to take you at your Word and trust you. Free me from worry and replace my anxiety with rock-solid faith that clings to you for all that I need. Redirect my earthly concerns to spiritual ones, so that I might have complete confidence in my forgiveness and my salvation. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Renew and Refresh Me Through Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Over the course of the week, my attention and focus can so easily sway and spin like a weathervane in a storm. My devotions and prayers are a priority one day and an afterthought the next. The good and noble intentions I have as I leave your house each week fizzle and are forgotten as the week unfolds.

So again I gather with my church family in your house, not to eagerly present some proud report of all that I have done for your kingdom this week, but as a beggar, asking yet again for mercy and forgiveness. Hear my prayers again and grant me what I seek and need more than anything else: the peace and rest that go hand-in-hand with your grace and absolution. Then, having been renewed and refreshed, send me out again this week to carry out my calling as your blessed and forgiven child, and grant me the focus and discipline to follow through and carry out your will.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Put on My New Self

Loving Lord,
Only in and through you can I expect success in the war between my old and new self. I prayerfully and consciously strive to put down the old self and keep him in check. But just as important in winning that battle is my need to rely on your righteousness and the armor of God with which I am equipped for battle. In baptism, you covered me with your very righteousness, preparing me for a lifetime of conflict with the evil one. Grant me the daily confidence of the victory you already won against him, so that I can also stand against him and face him fearlessly. When my old self betrays me, let my new self courageously respond. Remind me that I never go into battle alone, but that you are always right there beside me, ultimately ensuring my eternal victory.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Put Off My Old Self

Gracious Spirit,
You have made me to be a new creation, holy in your sight and set apart for your purposes. Nevertheless, until you call me home to heaven or you return – whichever happens first – I still battle with my old self. This is a daily battle that can only be won with your strength. Clothe me, therefore, with added layers of your power so that I can daily put off the old self with its desires and inclinations.

The more you fill me, the less room there is for my old self to dwell in me. Grant me also the ability to see with physical eyes and to practically understand what this spiritual battle looks like in my day-to-day living. Make me aware when my old self takes over my thinking and my desires, so that I can call him out and silence him. Lead me away from anything that might attract the attention of my old self in order to deter his influence in my life. Give to me the necessary resilience, determination, and perseverance to never tire of putting off my old self.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Put Sin to Death

Mighty God,
It can be easy to become too casual with my sin. I know grace. I know forgiveness. Sometimes, though, I twist those blessed assurances to rationalize that my sins aren’t really that big a deal since Jesus already paid for them. 

This is foolish and dangerous. Forgive me. Don’t allow me to deceive myself into thinking that sin is a minor thing that can be entertained and kept under control. There is a reason you use such strong language and call us to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. Sin is not to be taken lightly! Strengthen me to take sin seriously, to spot the warning signs ahead of it, and to rebuke it when it entices. Give me the determination not merely to maim sin or injure it, to slow it down or sidestep it, but to kill it completely and put it to death at every opportunity. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Set My Mind on Things Above

Heavenly Father,
It isn’t only my heart – my feelings and desires – that you direct me to set on things above, but also my mind. This makes perfect sense, for you as our Creator wired us in such a way that our hearts and minds are connected. Since our feelings and desires flow from our thoughts, how important it is then that we follow your guidance and set our minds on things above!

So I ask you to send your Spirit to keep my thoughts in check, to safeguard them from the enemy’s ambushes, and to limit any mindless disengagement that could leave me vulnerable. Although your thoughts are beyond my thoughts, let my thinking imitate your thinking which you have revealed to me in your Word. Lead me to meditate on the spiritual truths of your Word and to ponder what pertains to your kingdom. May I daily consider your church and her ministry, and prayerfully reflect on where and how I fit into your designs and intentions for them. Then, when my mind is properly aligned and set on things above, ensure that my heart’s desires follow accordingly.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Create Godly Desires in Me

Heavenly Father,
You direct me to set my heart on things above. In your Word and still today, references to the heart have to do with feelings and desires. So when you call me to set my heart on things above, it really is an encouragement to focus my feelings and desires toward godly, spiritual things. 

Since it is so natural for my wants to be worldly, I need your help. Let your Spirit dwell in me richly so that the longings I have line up more and more with what you desire for me. Give me not just a knowledge or awareness of the spiritual gifts and fruit mentioned in your Word, but also the desire to pursue them eagerly. Make my wants more kingdom-minded while also detaching my heart from the temporal and worldly. Create in me desires that are more concerned with eternal outcomes than temporary pleasures and pursuits.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.