Tag: Prayers

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Take Action

Lord God,
There is a time for pondering, a time for planning, and a time for preparing. As important as each of these steps are, keep me from getting so wrapped up in them that I fail to take action. Too often I overthink instead of taking action. Too often I expect to fine-tune the plan until it’s perfect. Since it never is, I get stuck in the realm of inactivity. And, sometimes it is simply my own indecisiveness or procrastination that hinders my action.

Push me to be more deliberate about taking action. Even wrong or misguided actions allow for adjustments or corrections to be made, which ultimately result in greater progress than simply doing nothing. Make me bold to fail forward instead of failing flat-footed because I refused to act. Since in Jesus we already have our perfection, we don’t need to be perfectionists; we can celebrate progress. Since progress requires action, move me to take it more often. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Those Secretly Struggling

Omniscient Lord,
There are so many who appear to be fine on the outside, but in reality are struggling mightily on the inside. Rather than facing their struggles and processing them in healthy ways, they avoid them and focus more time and energy on masquerading as if all is well. They are ensnared by addictions. They suppress past trauma or abuse. They battle depression and wrestle with suicidal thoughts. The list goes on, as do the numbers of those secretly struggling.

Be their champion. Fight for them and refuse to let Satan pick them apart and prey on them. Protect them from serious emotional, physical, and spiritual affliction. Make others aware of their internal struggles and move them to intervene with aid and support. Heal their wounds and guide them along a healthy path of recovery. Build up their resiliency so that when they face similar troubles in the future, they are well-equipped to manage them and unafraid to reach out for help. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For All the Hardship I Never Experienced

Gracious God,
In this month of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for all of the hurts and the hardships that you kept me from experiencing in my life. I naturally get so hyper-focused on any difficulties or challenges that DO come into my life that I fail to comprehend how many you’ve spared me from over the course of my life. Even when I have had bad experiences, I can always thank you that they weren’t more frequent or extensive than they were.

Thank you for the injuries I never sustained, for the sicknesses I never contracted from someone else, and the accidents I was never involved in. Thank you for the heart-wrenching conversations that didn’t ever come up, the abuse and trauma that are not a part of my story, and the time in a hospital or a prison that I didn’t have to spend. Thank you for guarding and protecting me from so much more than I could ever know, and thank you for your promise to work good even out of the bad things that have come into my life. You are always good, and always good to me. Thank you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Good Eating Habits

Blessed Redeemer,
When you paid the price to make me yours, you didn’t redeem only my mind and my soul, but my body as well. Since you paid such a great price to redeem my body, I want to take care of it properly. I want to have the physical ability to serve you and others in whatever way I am able, for as long as you extend my life here on earth. 

One of the most significant ways I can carry out this goal is by paying attention to the food I put into my body. So much of the food today that is fast, easy, and tastes good fails to provide the nutrition my body needs and also contributes to many health issues. If I do make those choices, let it be so in moderation. Curb my cravings for fatty and sugary foods that don’t serve my health goals. Guide me to make good choices and to enjoy the process of discovering food that is both healthy and tastes good. Make me mindful of my portion sizes and keep me from overeating and consuming in excess. Bless my efforts at focusing more on my diet as I honor you in caring for my body.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Struggling Congregations

Head of the Church,
There are many Christian congregations that struggling. Their struggles can be caused by many different challenges in different seasons of ministry. Some are without a pastor to shepherd your people. Others struggle to raise up strong leaders. A lack of financial support from generous offerings can limit essential ministry efforts. Declining attendance and/or disengaged members put a heavy burden on the faithful few who bear the bulk weight of congregational responsibilities. 

Yet when you are the Lord of the Church, the head of the body of Christ, there is always reason for hope. Answer the prayers of members in struggling churches, and do so in such radical ways that surpass even the loftiest of requests. Use their struggles to drive them into your Word and through that process draw them closer to you. Spur members on to share in the joys of ministry by inviting and engaging each other when service opportunities are available. Use them also to encourage their pastor when he is down by lifting him up with your promises. Lead them to see each and every victory you bring about in their midst, to celebrate them, thank you for them, and build on them as your grace allows. Make struggling churches into turnaround stories that become healthy, thriving congregations which are a testament to the power of your Word and the blessing of your grace. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Our Veterans

Compassionate Lord,
Sadly, on this day of remembering our veterans, we acknowledge how often and how easily they are also forgotten. Many who are struggling – often as a direct result of their service to our country – do not receive the care they need, whether it be physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Provide them with those much-need resources, as well as the knowledge and ability to access them. Extend to them the healing and support they require to overcome any struggles or setbacks they are facing. Through all of these outlets of compassion, may they know how much they are valued and appreciated.

Thank you, Lord, for the sacrificial spirit of our veterans. They stand out in a me-first society that is more inclined toward individualism than what is best for the greater good. They were and are willing to submit and follow orders that frequently result(ed) in the displacement and relocation of their families to different states and even other countries. Being deployed and apart from spouses and children meant many family milestones were missed. Finally, many also faced the cruel tragedies of conflicts and battles, and saw and experienced unforgettable anguish and trauma. May we always be grateful to our veterans for all of these sacrifices, and for so many other sacrifices they’ve made of which we are unaware. Bless them with your favor for their service today and always.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Grace Over Guilt

Forgiving Father,
Sundays are sacred. As we gather with fellow believers for worship, may we never underestimate the amount of guilt many people bring with them into your house. There are so many burdens and so much baggage that are dragged into worship on Sunday morning. For that reason, as we fellowship and connect with one another each Sunday, help me to reinforce the good news of the gospel every opportunity I get. I want to be a part of sending off my church family for another week with forgiveness on their hearts and minds. May all those who arrive guilt-ridden depart grace-filled. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Our Young People

Loving Father,
Young people today face fears and pressures to which previous generations were never exposed. Sadly, living in a society that struggles to cope in healthy ways with hardship and adversity only makes matters worse. Finally, many families have also had to deal with single or divorced parents, or grandparents playing the role of primary parents to their grandchildren. Truly the odds are stacked against our young! 

Send your angels to watch over them around the clock. Protect them from harm caused by others as well as the consequences of their own actions. When not present in their own families, place other caring adults into their lives who will pour into them, provide them with guidance, and love them enough to correct and discipline them. Lead young people ultimately to know your love and forgiveness, to find their worth in your words and promises, and to embrace your calling with energy and eagerness. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Have an Eternal Perspective

Eternal Lord,
When I become fixated on the here and now, I easily forget about how short-lived this life is. That’s when the things that should matter don’t necessarily matter and the unimportant stuff carries greater weight than it should. Help me to sort those things out. Give me discernment to distinguish the trivial and fleeting from the significant and lasting. 

In order to function this way, I have to have an eternal perspective. I have to remember not only that my ultimate home is in heaven, but also that I want to make sure it’s filled up with as many as possible. So keep me from being consumed with the things I have to do to be liked by others. Instead, let me serve them with an eternal perspective that both seeks and creates openings to bring you into the picture. Rather than chasing after success and money merely to establish a comfortable life here, help me see where such things could bless and influence others from a kingdom perspective. Remind me, as often as it takes, that I am not in this world at this time just for here and now, but to make an eternal difference. Use me to that end.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Christian Teachers

Lord of the Church,
Thank you for providing faithful teachers and professors in our Christian schools. Whether at the elementary, high school, or college level, their role in educating the next generation is pivotal. They don’t merely pass along information, but teach students to think critically and to utilize their wonderfully created minds to discover and understand the universe, the world, and all that is in it.

Additionally – and most importantly – they do all of this while not only modeling their love for Jesus, but also connecting your Word and their faith to everything they learn. Use teachers to strengthen the faith of their students, while challenging them and equipping them to be model citizens who also let the light of their faith shine brightly. As teachers incorporate law and gospel into their lessons and teaching, build up the body of Christ. Bless their classrooms and their ministry, so that they see the fruit of their labors and are encouraged and uplifted by it. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.