Tag: Prayers

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Your Gift of Time This Past Year

Eternal Father,
Although you created time, you have no beginning and no end. Our lives on earth, however, are governed by time, by beginnings and endings. Today, another year of my life comes to a close. This transition at the close of one year and the start of another provides me with the opportunity to reflect. I look back and consider how I used the 365 days you gave me as a gift this past year. I also look back and see how good you’ve been to me over that same span. 

I am sorry for the many times I treated your gift of time like an endless commodity, wasting it on what is worthless or selfish. I thank you for the times you used me in the past year to be an answer to the prayers of others, to serve those who needed help, and to bless and build up believers. Thank you also for the time many others have committed to helping and serving me over the past year. Look on them with your favor. As this year concludes, I thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me, for guiding me through all troubles, and for faithfully and vigilantly watching over me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For My Perfect Substitute

Perfect Substitute,
We celebrate your birth at Christmas not only because you were born to suffer and die as payment for our sins, but also to live in perfect obedience to provide our righteousness. The holiness you demand of me is so far beyond my reach that I could never attain it on my own. But you did. For me.

Therefore, free from the burden of needing to secure perfection on my own, I can seek to follow in your path of righteousness not out of fear, but out of gratitude. As I strive for obedience, let it be motivated by love. As I strive to love others, including my enemies, let it be spurred on by your love for me. As I strive to follow through with my responsibilities and commitments, let it be inspired by your own resolute dedication. May my awareness and appreciation of your life of obedience as my perfect Substitute heighten my joy this Christmas season. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Continue the Christmas Celebration

Holy Father,
Sundays are sacred. On this particular Sunday, between Christmas and New Year, I carry on the joyful celebration of Jesus’ birth to close out one year and to begin another. Grant me moments of peaceful reflection on Christmas through the hymn texts and Scriptures today during worship. While the world has already moved on from Christmas, allow it to linger a little longer on my mind and in my heart. Reveal to me Christmas truths that are both new and familiar through worship, lighting up my spirit and stirring my soul. May my pondering of your Best Gift to me spur on my best gifts for you in the year ahead. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Imitate Joseph and Mary

Precious Lord,
You chose Joseph and Mary to carry out the important role of parents to the Savior of the world. In humility, they were willing to overcome obstacles and adversity, both within their own relationship as well as difficult external circumstances. On top of this they had to bear the burden of scrutiny that would come along with parenting the Savior. Their faithful servant hearts provide fine examples for us to follow.

When you call me to serve, no matter what that may look like, grant me the necessary humility to faithfully follow through. When I feel inadequate or unqualified, boost my confidence with the reminder that when you call me to serve, you always provide what is needed to carry out that service. And, as Mary took time to reflect and ponder after the birth, lead me to do the same whenever an act of service is completed. Help me to see how you used my service to be a blessing to others and to me, filling me with gratitude for the privilege of being considered worthy to serve. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Imitate the Angels and Shepherds

Dear Lord,
The angels and the shepherds played critical roles in Jesus’ birth by sharing the joyful news. The angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields, alleviated their fears, and proclaimed the good news to them. Keep my eyes and ears open and alert to those around me who are also crippled by certain fears and need to hear and believe the good news. Make me a messenger to calm their fears and reassure them with the good news of a Savior who has been born for them. Give me the wisdom to help them see how your coming into the world brings true peace for them.

The angels’ role was also important that first Christmas because the shepherds would not have had any news to spread around if they had not heard it from the angels. As it did for the shepherds, let the good news of my Savior always stir my own heart to action. Make me zealous and eager to consistently make him known to others. Fill me with persistent passion so that rather than being sporadic or streaky, my evangelism efforts are a normal part of my daily living. As you used the angels and shepherds to carry out your mission that first Christmas, continue to use me to carry it out today and always with the strength and confidence you provide. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Let the Christmas Celebration Continue

Dearest Jesus,
On this day after our celebration of your birth, much of the world sees Christmas in the rearview mirror and plans to box it up and store it away again until next year. But the season of Christmas isn’t over; it’s only just begun! Let the joy of this magnificent event linger and continue to warm my heart for days and weeks. The miracle of your virgin birth and incarnation are far too much to ponder for just one day. The significance of your coming to dwell among us deserves deep thought and reflection. Keep me from being swept up along with the rest of the world’s hurry and rush to move on to the next thing, and cause me to set aside time to ponder and pray. Let the Scriptures and songs that so beautifully detail the wonder of Christmas remain on my heart, my mind, and my lips while my joyous celebration of your birth continues.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Gift of Jesus

Christ my Savior,
To us a child is born! To us a Son is given! On this Christmas Day, I am elated to celebrate your birth, which ushered in grace that could be seen and touched in flesh and blood. Although my finite mind will never grasp the miracle of your incarnation, my heart will nevertheless ponder it in awesome wonder. 

Who am I – who are any of us – that you should willingly choose to dwell among us, the very ones who in sin daily rebel against you and reject your will for our lives? How deeply you must love and treasure us to subject yourself to such opposition, so that you might save the very ones who oppose you. Work in me such heartfelt gratitude for this gift – for you! – that my rejoicing is reflected not only in singing and song, but also in loving others as deeply as you love me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless Expectations Accordingly

Loving Father,
Christmas Eve is filled with so many expectations. Little ones have hopes of their lists being carried out and completed, envisioning the joy of unwrapping their gifts. Older children and young adults have different tastes and preferences, but the same desire to have their wishes come true. Adults also have expectations, even if they may not be based on receiving gifts. Where these hopes and expectations can bring joy and delight, grant them, Lord, according to your will. Where their impact may be more negative than positive, fulfill them sparingly, if at all. 

As we celebrate the Savior, we are reminded of how so many waited for him expectantly for so long. Thank you for making good on your promise and meeting expectations. I ask that you also take my earthly expectations and make them captive to your divine desires. When my expectations go unmet, redirect my feelings of disappointment to the satisfaction of knowing you never disappoint our eternal expectations. Make me want what you want for me. Help me let go of expectations that don’t glorify you or serve others. Let me rest in you as I wait expectantly on your timing, and pour out abundant spiritual blessings on your church as it celebrates your First Coming while waiting for your Second. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless Christmas Evangelism Efforts

Dearest Savior,
You want all people to be saved. You have carried out the work of salvation for all people to be saved. Evangelism seeks to connect those two realities by allowing people to hear that good news about what you have done for them, so that the Holy Spirit can work faith in their hearts to believe.

I ask you, therefore, to bless all of the evangelism efforts of churches and individual believers this Christmas. Thank you for working the courage in so many to invite their unchurched friends. Intervene wherever necessary to allow those who have been invited to Christmas services to attend. Work out the details so that last-minute mishaps or unanticipated issues don’t arise. Alleviate any fears that may be lingering for those planning to attend a service after being invited. Finally, let the good news of God’s gift of a Savior at Christmas be clearly proclaimed, so that visitors may hear it and rejoice. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Use Worship to Prepare Me for Christmas

Holy Father,
Sundays are sacred. On this final Sunday before Christmas, help me use worship to prepare for my celebration of your birth. May my prayers be pleasing to you as I seek to separate myself from the world’s idea of celebration and center myself more in you. Since embracing the gift of Christ at Christmas includes being reminded why I need him, reveal to me the sinful baggage I’ve been carrying around this December so that I might confess it and bring it before you with a repentant heart. Cleanse and clear out from my heart anything and everything that would cheapen Christmas or hinder my celebration of it. Grant me renewed clarity and focus to better appreciate all that truly makes your birth the special gift that it is. Let me be ready to be filled with joy and jubilation in Jesus this Christmas. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.