Tag: guys

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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To Provide for the Poor

Compassionate Father,
There are so many in the world living on so little. In first-world countries where things like materialism and consumerism are real problems, it is easy to forget or be unconcerned about the multitudes all over the world living in poverty. When we discard more possessions in a year than some people even own, it can throw off our perspective.

Lead me to remember the poor more often in my prayers. When they struggle so much on a daily basis just to make ends meet, there is the potential for spiritual concerns to be overlooked. At the same time, not being distracted by an abundance of physical or material belongings could also provide extra focus on spiritual concerns, and could deepen appreciation for all of your spiritual blessings. So I ask, Father, that you provide what is need in both areas. Keep your word and provide daily bread to the poor so that their physical health and well-being are not compromised. But even more importantly, lead them to a knowledge of how truly rich they are in Christ, so that they are not disheartened, but encouraged and uplifted by true and lasting hope. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Handle My Feelings

Caring Father,
You have created us to feel – not just physically, but emotionally as well. Feelings are powerful and can impact us in significant ways. The passionate love toward a spouse, the elation a fan feels when his team wins the big game, the pride parents feel when their children who succeed in their endeavors – these emotions are some of the natural highs we feel in life, and they can be wonderful to experience. But we also know the other side of emotions, disappointment when things don’t turn out as we had hoped, anxiety when the problems seem to pile up, and anger when others disagree or cause hurt. These emotions can all quickly bring us down and feeling pretty low in general.

While feelings are a wonderful part of the way you created us, you didn’t create them to control us. When I feel strong emotions, therefore, help me process them in a way that I don’t allow them to be responsible for any sinful words or actions. I want to manage my feelings in a way that ensures they don’t manage me. Help me work through them, be able to recognize what they are and why I am experiencing them, and respond to them with thoughtful consideration, and guided by faith. When this happens, I can more fully appreciate the full range of emotions I feel, while also steering clear of the temptation to use them to justify my sinful reactions. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Make the Most of My Mind

Holy Father,
You created mankind with a mind that affords us the unique abilities to think critically, to reason, to create, and to dream. Truly we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Through these gifts of intellect and imagination, you have ushered in countless advancements and blessings that have served us in all walks of life. While these gifts have also been abused and utilized for evil purposes, I pray that you frustrate and prevent all such efforts in the future.

Ironically, many of those same blessings and advancements that were created by brilliant and creative minds can also hinder and suppress creative and critical thinking. Keep me from being sucked into scrolling on my screen and soaking in mind-numbing content. When I choose to watch something, let it be constructive, edifying, or with purpose, or at least limit whatever is nothing but pure entertainment.  Compel me to be deliberate about how I manage my time, so that I allow margin to simply think and dream. Curb any mindless behaviors in my life so that I maximize my mind’s mental capacity to the fullest. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Who Are Weak in Their Faith

Patient Father,
Send an extra measure of your Spirit to all who are spiritually weak. Provide whatever is lacking to strengthen their faith. Regardless of the cause of weak faith, your Word is always the solution. Where faith is weak as a result of sheer neglect of your Word, bless the weak with fellow believers who are persistent in their encouragement to prioritize the Word. Where one’s faith is weak because it has been battered by trial and testing, grant them relief and redirect their focus away from their struggle and toward their Savior. When temptation is the culprit, either preying on weakened faith or causing it, keep your promise and provide a clear way out, not allowing the temptation to exceed what one can bear. Wherever souls and eternities are at stake, Lord, intervene and come to the aid of the weary and weak, and use me whenever possible on that rescue mission. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be Mindful of What I Eat

Providential Father,
Food is a blessing from you, not only to provide fuel for our bodies, but also to be enjoyed. Yet, just as we do with so many of the good gifts you give us, we can abuse them or take them for granted. Help me take to heart the significance of praying for my daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer – to see the wisdom in your promise to provide exactly what I need. That way, I neither over-indulge in gluttony, nor despair of starvation.

Rather than filling me with more than I need, fill me with self-control, so that my cravings are curbed and I can appreciate in moderation even the joy and pleasure of finer food and drink. In gratitude for the gift of life and the body you’ve given me by which to enjoy it, lead me to show my heart-felt thanks by being sensible about what I put into my body, without becoming pharisaical or legalistic about it. And finally, keep me from being wasteful with food, while also being generous to others with it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Living in Fear

Faithful Father,
So many people live in fear. Some may deny it or try to hide it, while others are more open about it. The sources of their fear vary widely. Financial fear of being let go at work and/or falling behind on bills and piling up debt. Physical fear of sickness, injury, or death. Fear of being found out as a fraud or a fake in some area of life. The fear of not being good enough. Fear of letting others who are depending on you down. Fear of the government. We face so many fears that we have specific names for them all!

Yet repeatedly throughout your Word, you implore us not to be afraid – and with good reason! You promise us your peace in the place of any trouble we could possibly ever face. Our hearts need not be troubled, for you have overcome the world. Whatever fear we face – it will pass. Even a worst-case scenario as long as you are by our side is manageable. For those who do not know you, lead them to you so that they can experience a life free from fear. For those who know and believe in you, yet are still crippled by fear, draw them closer to you and to your promises so that you can fill them with the faith needed to deflate their fears.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless First-Time Visitors in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. However, there are many throughout the world setting foot inside your house for the first time ever who don’t know that. Thank you for their willingness to take this courageous step, and for whatever took place in their lives to prompt them to seek something in worship. Regardless of what it is they’re looking for, show them Jesus and the salvation that comes through faith in his name.

Remove any roadblocks or hindrances that could sour their experience, and see that they are warmly welcomed and looked after. Bless their worship and grant them such a favorable experience that they are eager to return. As you did on the first Pentecost, send your Holy Spirit and work on their hearts to open their eyes to the joy of forgiveness and the certainty of their salvation.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Put an End to Abuse

Caring Father,
No matter the nature of the relationship – parent/child, boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, or any other – I pray for those in any relationship where abuse exists. Whether that abuse is expressed physically, emotionally, or in any other sense, it has no place in any relationship. A close relationship is meant to be a source of safety and security, and when anyone takes advantage of the trust that is given to facilitate abuse, the results are devastating.  Defend and protect any victims from serious harm or injury. Give them the courage to speak up for themselves and seek help as soon as possible. Open the eyes of friends or family members nearby to be able to identify any signs of abuse, and give them the courage to intervene. 

Be also with the abuser in any way that puts a stop to the abuse and gets them the help that is needed to address its root cause. Work the fear and trepidation of the law into the hearts of any responsible for abuse, ultimately leading them to contrition and remorse for their actions. Then, grant forgiveness to those who are guilty, and the ability to forgive to those who are victims. Put an end to abuse everywhere, and through the power of your gospel work reconciliation and restoration in those relationships damaged by abuse.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Good Governments

Heavenly Ruler,
You established governments to lead and rule and to be a blessing to the nations and people under them. Through them you intend to establish peace and order that contribute to the well-being of their citizens. Because their decisions and actions affect so many, surround those in government with the wisdom and counsel of many advisors. Grant humility to those in positions of authority. Lead them to be willing to listen to those around them and to weigh all the pertinent considerations when establishing policies and laws. Protect their hearts and minds from ungodly and corrupt influences, and let your Spirit guide them in any and every way possible.

Reward good and commendable governments with supportive citizens who honor and respect their leaders. In this way, let them be a blessing to each other for the greater good. Curb crime, disobedience, and disorder everywhere, allowing governments to give the bulk of their attention to how best to serve. When tensions rise between governments, provide peacemakers on all sides who are committed to avoiding any hostilities or military conflicts. Let them be encouraged to go to great lengths to establish and maintain peace, so that during such times, your Church might diligently carry out her work of seeing the gospel spread rapidly to the ends of the earth. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.