Tag: spirit

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Your Strength to Sustain Me

Almighty God,
I am not interested in pretending that my own strength is sufficient to sustain me in any way. So I ask you to strengthen me with your power, according to your might. Only then will I have the ability to patiently endure. Only then will I have any hope or chance of withstanding Satan’s attacks and defending against him in spiritual warfare. 

Strengthen me with your sacraments. Help me to embrace my Spirit-filled identity as victor, which you anointed me with through my baptism. Reinvigorate me through the Supper when my soul is weary and worn, and rejuvenate me through your body and blood to rejoin the spiritual battle with fresh vigor. Equip me with the weapon of your Word to fight valiantly, to persevere, and to confidently expect the victory you have already promised and won. When you alone are the only source of my strength, I know I will never fail. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Know Your Will

Sanctifying Spirit,
Grant me the wisdom and understanding necessary to know your will. In our Christian freedom, you allow us so many daily paths to take and choices to make. And even when believers choose different paths and make different choices, they can all be pleasing in your sight. So as I seek to know your will in my life, I do not expect or anticipate some signal or sign from you regarding every single decision, since you have made no promise to provide them.

However, since you have promised to grant me wisdom and understanding when seeking your will, this I ask for boldly. Knowing also where you provide wisdom and understanding, direct me to your Word to find what I need. Help me to know you better and to seek to understand your words and actions over the course of history, which have blessed and served your people in countless ways. Then, use everything I learn about you to better guide me to carry out your will for my life. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Live Boldly in My Freedom From Self

Lord Jesus,
You have made me free! I rejoice in the eternal freedom I have from the condemnation of sin and the fear of separation from you in death. Moreover, my freedom means that my enemies – Satan, the fallen world, and my own sinful flesh – no longer have complete control over me. While each of those enemies still threatens me, lead me to a greater awareness of how dangerous my own sinful flesh is. It so smoothly prompts me to lay the majority of blame for my sin on other people or outside circumstances. Meanwhile, it is always with me, lurking about and driving my selfish desires and discontentment. So, rather than giving into those, lead me to daily know, appreciate, and exercise my freedom from self by pursuing the good fruit of your Spirit instead. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Supply What Is Lacking in My Faith

Sanctifying Spirit,
Though faith as small as a mustard seed is sufficient to cling to the work of Jesus for salvation, do not let me be content with a seed-size faith. Rather, provide for me what is lacking in my faith. Where my faith lacks knowledge, provide it through your Word. When my faith doubts and wavers, steady it with the rock-solid certainty of your promises that never fail. When I am reluctant to put my faith into action, place me in situations where I cannot help but do so. While it isn’t the size of my faith that saves, but the object – Jesus – I nevertheless pray for you to continue fanning into flame this gift of faith, so that I may be more deeply rooted in you and never shaken loose by Satan or sin. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Our society celebrates the pursuit of pleasure in excess and lives by an “if it feels good, do it” mantra. Yet even in Christian freedom, your Word reminds me that while everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial. When I can no longer say no to something, then I have become mastered by it.

To counter such extremes, Holy Spirit, grant me instead a spirit of discipline and self-control. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions to keep me from being enslaved by anything in this world. Lead me to pursue that which is virtuous and highly esteemed in your sight. Curb my sinful desires and strengthen me to say no when I need to. Give me the maturity to avoid whatever deceives me with the promise of instant gratification. Where I know I am weak, surround me with fellow believers who know my weaknesses and are willing to stand firmly beside me so that I do not fall. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gentleness is not typically a characteristic which our society associates with men, which makes it all the more noticeable when it is evident. Since gentleness is evidence of your work, Holy Spirit, and a fruit you desire to see in Christians, please grant me more of it. In past situations when aggression or forcefulness took over within me, have mercy on me. When I have been harsh with others, forgive me. Help me see that gentleness is not associated with weakness, but is instead a godly characteristic by which you set your people apart. Let your gentleness be evident in me whenever I interact with others. May others view me as approachable and caring because of it. Use my gentleness as yet another gateway to open up more opportunities to humbly serve my neighbor. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Let this fruit be evident in my life in abundance, I pray. Today I ask you to work goodness in and through me. 

While the whole world has been negatively affected by the Fall and sin is certainly prevalent everywhere, there appears to be a glaring absence of goodness all around. Sadly, words that used to be spoken somewhat lightheartedly, “a good man is hard to find,” are true now as much as they ever were. 

But rather than merely lamenting the lack of goodness, I want to be part of the solution. Wash away and cleanse in me all that is opposed to what is good, and replace it with a positive, gospel-saturated spirit. Bend my heart toward thoughts, speech, and behavior that is not just good for my sake, but which serves the greater good of everyone around me. Just as surely as the Good Shepherd’s goodness follows me all the days of my life, so allow that goodness to leave its mark wherever I am. Then cause it to multiply and flourish far and wide.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It is easy to see how these qualities would enrich anyone’s life. It is also easy to see how lacking these qualities are in my own life. I pray that you change that in me.

Work in me a genuine desire to want to bear more of this fruit in my life. Not only do these gifts honor you, but when they are present in the lives of believers, they are also a reflection of spiritual growth and maturity. Rather than stepping in sync with the world, bear this fruit in and through me, that I may walk in step with you instead. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.