Tag: guys

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Love Others – Even My Enemies

Lord Jesus,
My ego makes loving others a big enough challenge on its own, so when you up the ante and direct me to love even my enemies, I cringe. Honestly, I don’t want to hear it. The last thing I think my enemy deserves is anything good from me. Instead of love, I would prefer to see a heaping dose of misfortune and misery directed at him. When I find myself wishing ill will on others, then I think pretty highly of myself for not actually following through or saying the types of things that come to mind. But your charge to love my enemies means that even when I just do nothing against my enemy, I still fall terribly short! 

Love as you define it includes action. Love as you demonstrated it included action – sacrificial action that saw you hung up and crucified for me. And it might just make sense if I had done anything noteworthy for you or someone else that merited such sacrifice; but I did the exact opposite. My sin reveals my status as sworn enemy by nature, and daily I demonstrate that that enemy is still a part of me. So what did you do for the likes of me? You suffered for me. You died for me. You rose for me. You live for me. You love me.

Now spur on my love for others, even my enemies. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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Use Me to Overcome Evil with Good

Mighty God,
We are not only surrounded by evil everywhere, but as sinners we contribute to it ourselves as well. Nevertheless, when anything evil happens, you warn us not to be overcome by it. But you don’t stop there; you call us also to overcome evil with good. My sinful nature knows full well how daunting this is, for wherever evil is, there is a part of me that is drawn to it and longs to be a willing participant in it. 

Therefore, stir up in me the new man, set apart by the Holy Spirit to live a pure and blameless life. Let him win the day when evil arises, smothering wickedness with sanctified thoughts, words, and actions. Grand scale or small, may the good that comes from me bring a swift end to the fires of evil wherever they fan into flame. When gossip is spreading, let me stall and stop it. If lies catch on around me, let me snuff them out with the truth. May my righteousness overcome violence, my kindness kill cruelty, and my compassion counter indifference and animosity. You overcame the evil one by the cross; now use me as your instrument to continue carrying out your work and overcoming evil with your good. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Imitate Joseph

Forgiving Father,
When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers visiting him in Egypt, two things stood out about his handling of the situation that I want to imitate. First, even with all the traumatic experiences in his past that had taken place to get him to that point, he displayed complete confidence in your navigation of it all for the greater good. He knew you were using those seasons of adversity, during which he must have felt hopeless at times, to ultimately bless and save many lives through his leadership. Remind me during hard seasons in my life of how capable you are of bringing your blessing out of any situation imaginable, and lead me to trust that you are doing just that.

Secondly, even though Joseph was in a position to ignore, shame, severely punish, or even put to death his brothers for their past treatment of him, he harbored no ill will and showed them nothing but love and affection. How hard this is when others mistreat me! I prefer to ruminate over how poorly I was treated, bathe in bitterness, or scheme to get even in some fashion. But Joseph’s is the better way, because it is your way. You did not treat those who mistreated you the way they deserved to be treated. Instead, you forgave them; you forgave me. Give me the same spirit that is eager to forgive and reconcile, no matter the wrong carried out against me, just as Joseph and Jesus did.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless Technology in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. There are many who are involved in conducting worship, some in more noticeable capacity and others behind the scenes. Thank you for those with the technological expertise to make sure that the sights and sounds of worship amplify and exalt Christ rather than distract from him. May their gifts also be a blessing to those unable to worship in person, so that they can participate online. Let all who serve in these roles feel appreciated as they use their abilities to edify their fellow believers in these ways. Finally, guide your church as she seeks to utilize technology to extend worship and the reach of the gospel everywhere.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Spread Kindness

Kind Father,
As one who is fully aware that I am on the receiving end of your underserved and never-ending kindness, showing kindness to others should come naturally to me. But often it does not. Sometimes it may be due to my own sour spirit or mood. Other times, I am so preoccupied, busy, or focused on myself that I am not even thinking about others, let alone being kind to them. Forgive me and free me from my self-centeredness. 

Grant me a greater measure of your grace to be more focused on others. Reveal to me all the ways over the course of a single day that I can extend acts of kindness, both big and small, to others. Through words of affirmation, thoughtful gestures, and acts of service for others, let your kindness spread through me. Use it to bring smiles, brighten days, and broadcast joy whenever and wherever needed.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Strive for Growth in Giving

Dear Lord,
Everything that you’ve generously blessed me with is a trust to be managed. You give to me so that I can provide for my family, help others in need, and support the government. Included in all of these privileges is the opportunity to express my gratitude by returning back to you a portion of what you’ve so kindly given me.

One of the most difficult ways for us to grow in our faith is in the grace of giving. We quickly forget that all that we have is yours and apart from your gracious providence, we would have nothing to our name. Just as you have been so generous to us, so you want us to be generous in return. Help me see that generosity isn’t something that requires large sums of money, but rather a generous and giving heart. It starts not with what I might have some day in the future, but with what you have entrusted to me in the present.

Free me from any unhealthy attachment to money and possessions and open my heart to give freely and cheerfully. Not because you need it from me, but because I love you, because I want to help your kingdom come through my offerings, and because I crave your blessings that accompany generosity. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fathers to Lead Spiritually

Loving Father,
Equip fathers to be strong spiritual leaders in their homes. While it is one of the greatest responsibilities of Christian fathers, it is also among the most neglected. Many fathers struggle so much with leading themselves spiritually that they are not prepared to lead their families. Others may prioritize their own spiritual health, but lack the ability or confidence to lead anyone else.

Help fathers see how important their role is in shaping the spiritual health of their children. Children whose fathers worship with them are far more likely to continue attending church as adults, so lead dads to embrace the blessing of regular worship together and to take responsibility for leading their family to your house for worship. Make them aware of informal and unplanned opportunities to discuss your Word and their faith. Provide fathers with pastors and strong believing friends who can support them in their leadership. Move wives and children to encourage fathers in this area, and to cause their collective efforts to bear abundant fruit.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Remove Barriers to the Gospel

All-Powerful God,
When it comes to your gifts of salvation and the faith necessary to receive it, you deliver those gifts through your Word. However, you don’t only work through your Word, but oversee all things in the universe to suit your purposes, bless your people, and even serve those who are lost in unbelief.

With that in mind, I humbly ask you to arrange whatever is necessary to remove any obstacles that may be hindering the hearts of my unbelieving friends and family from hearing and believing your Word. Take away anything that might be clouding their reason, obstructing their common sense, or deceiving their hearts. While doing so won’t directly save anyone, I pray that it may clear a path for the gospel to reach their ears and ultimately their souls. Do all that is in your power to give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to transform their hearts and change their eternity.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Struggling Spiritually

Faithful Father,
Today I pray for my brothers in the faith who are struggling spiritually. Some are battling temptation or addiction. Others are wrestling with reservation and doubt in their faith and its application in their lives. Challenges to serving as the spiritual head of their household are plaguing others. 

I bring all of these men before you, Lord, praying that you don’t allow this season of adversity to drive a wedge between you and them, but rather use it to draw them closer to you. Lead them to the Word, so that your Spirit can equip them with the full armor needed to fight bravely and not give in. Surround them with other Christian brothers like me who not only pray on their behalf, but serve as spiritual allies to help them in every way possible. Do not let the evil one have the upper hand, but let your resounding resurrection victory carry the day for them, that they may find your strength to be their strength, and be emboldened to fight fiercely with the confidence that you have already won the victory for them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Word to Work Faith

Sanctifying Spirit,
The work you carry out in creating, sustaining, and strengthening faith is always tied to the Word of God. While you alone carry out that work, you entrust to us, your church, the responsibility of sowing the seeds of that Word. Since faith comes from hearing that message, let us be especially aware of our need to communicate it to those in our lives who are not yet believers. Apart from the Bible’s message of law and gospel, they are without hope. Use me to offer them hope by offering them your Word.

Let your Word also dwell richly in the lives of believers everywhere, that it might cause faith to flourish and bear much fruit. Through your Word, raise up more sowers of that good seed in your church. Carry out this work fervently through those who pursue full-time ministry, but also who embrace the privilege and responsibility of being evangelists in their day-to-day lives and vocations. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.