Tag: spirit

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Live Confidently in Your Power

Mighty God,
Move me to take to heart your reminder that you have not equipped me with a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). While your power and might are readily on display throughout the pages of Scripture, I forget that, by faith, I am privy to that very power. Because I know my shortcomings and am well aware of my own disappointments, any confidence I have easily dwindles. I am reluctant to speak up or take action when the opportunities arise. I let my fear of past failures prevent me from moving forward.

Direct me to look to you for strength and power – a strength and power that I could never match on my own! Where my own power would buckle and collapse, your power is strong enough to move mountains. Since you are the providing this power, I don’t have to look within myself for these qualities, but to you. Where my self-doubt has crippled me, let me act simply on faith, certain that you will provide me with the words and actions to move forward with confidence. Grant me a fearless faith that is powerfully spurred on not by who I am, but by whose I am.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Acknowledge Your Generosity (Part 2)

Generous Father,
It isn’t just the size and scale of all of the physical blessings in my life that demonstrate your generosity, but also the wealth of spiritual blessings you pour out on me. Forgiveness is not measured by the ounce, but by the gallon, gushing over me through the words of absolution and in the generous servings of your Supper. The hope I have in you is never day-to-day, but eternal, since you never fail to keep your promises. The words of peace spoken by Jesus to his disciples after he rose still apply to your disciples today, as yours is a peace that cannot be exhausted. There are also the gifts of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit, and an endless abundance of other spiritual blessings! Finally, what makes your generous treasury of spiritual gifts so certain is that they all hinge on your limitless grace, lavished freely and fully on me and on all of your followers. Thank you!

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Wisdom

Lord God,
Grant me wisdom. Each day is filled with countless decisions. While some of them are weightier than others, I want to make good decisions in all areas of life. I can acquire knowledge through books and research, but knowledge requires wisdom to apply it. The world has its own ideas about wisdom, but I desire the wisdom provided by your Spirit and guided by your Word. Enable me to walk wisely in step with your Spirit. Enlighten me through your Scriptures to acquire a wisdom like Solomon, and let the blessing of that wisdom stretch out to reach others, too. May my every use of wisdom reflect any and all glory and honor back to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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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

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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 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. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Live Godly and Holy Lives

Holy Spirit,
Thank you for interceding on our behalf when we offer up our prayers. And thank you for equipping us as we grow in faith to carry out that for which we pray. With that in mind, guide me as I seek to live in godliness and holiness. Begin by increasing in me the desire to strive for your high standards of Christian living. While protecting me from a self-righteous spirit, instill in me a genuine desire to stand out from the rest of the world by my living. Not only does that honor you, but it also serves to reflect you to others. Keep me from succumbing to any shame or ridicule from others as I look to live for you more and more. Instead, let my example of godly and holy living lead others to aspire to live more honorably as well.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Expand the Reach of My Prayer Life

Providential Father,
Not only do you invite and welcome my prayers, but you also guide and direct them, including those for whom I should pray. When I do pray, the majority of my prayers are on my own behalf or for those within my own family, social, and church circles. But you invite me to pray for all people, which exponentially expands the list of those to include in my prayers. I can bring up the needs of others with the confidence that, whether or not I even know them, you know them by name and are more qualified to address their needs than I am to ask for them. 

So I pray for the greatest need of many: their salvation. Work through your Word, proclaimed to and through your church, to reach the lost with your powerful gospel. Where other needs or concerns prohibit the gospel from being heard, address them by meeting them or removing them according to your will. In doing so, let a double measure of your goodness be known to many by your concern for both their temporal and eternal welfare. Then, as you bring them to faith, shape their own prayer lives to multiply the prayers offered up on behalf of all people. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.