Tag: anxiety

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Replace My Stress With Trust

Loving Father,
When I look at the week ahead and feel overwhelmed by responsibilities and pressing deadlines, remind me not to worry, as each day has enough trouble of its own. The pressure I feel stems from falling into the trap of thinking I’m the one in control, and forgetting that you oversee all things and promise to work them all out for my good. Relieve me of my stress by increasing my trust in that promise. Help me align your spiritual truths with my day and week. Do not let me believe the lie that I have too much to do that I don’t have time for your Word; instead, direct me to prioritize it, so that your Spirit can still my soul and carry me through this week.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Keep My Stress in Check

Prince of Peace,
With Christmas two weeks away, stress levels can quickly rise as each passing day means deadlines and duties become increasingly more pressing. Help me to keep my composure when others are impatient or irritated, and keep me from displaying such behavior, too. Remind me that the peace announced by the angels at Jesus’ birth is mine here and now, and in the days ahead. While it seems counterintuitive with so much that needs to get done, make time reading from and reflecting on your Word and promises a priority as much now as in any other time of the year. This ensures that I am staying prepared in the right way during Advent and Christmas. Finally, whenever possible, use me also to help others keep their stress and anxiety levels in check by pointing them to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Peace Provided by Rejoicing

Gracious Father,
When we give our attention to all of the reasons that you give us to be filled with joy, the added benefit is that we are also at peace. That peace stands like a bodyguard on watch outside of our hearts. Let it keep anxiety away and worry at bay. When we are mindful of the joyful blessings in our lives, we better appreciate how good you are to us. The peace that exists between us gives us the assurance of where we stand with you, no matter what our sinful track record looks like at any given time in our lives. Thank you for a peace that surpasses any peace the world could ever give. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Let My Worries Prompt My Prayers

Loving Savior,
It’s not always easy to know what I ought to pray for. Your Word is the best source to guide and inform our prayers. Since in your Word, you invite us to bring everything to you in prayer, help me view the things that cause me concern as opportunities for prayer. When I worry, lead me to pivot my worry into prayer. In that way, you address both my worry and my struggles of what to pray for.

My worries can – and should! – be brought to you in prayer at all times. When I take my worries to you, redirect my thoughts to you and your gracious promises. Finally, assure me that you hear my prayer and will answer my anxieties in the best way possible.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Replace Unnecessary Concerns with Contentment

Loving Savior,
When you exhorted your disciples and followers not to set their hearts on earthly concerns like clothing and food, their worries at that time were of a different nature. Their concern was based on quantity – whether or not they would have enough of the basic needs of life. 

We, too, are concerned about things like clothing and food, but not for the same reasons. Very few of us have to worry about quantity – about having enough clothing or food. Instead, we focus on quality. We take for granted that we have enough and worry instead about having what is best or new or trendy. How easily we forget how blessed we are that we seldom have to worry about ever having enough! Nevertheless, when our hearts are attached to the stuff of this world, they will always find cause for concern or worry. Free me from that. Let me trust you to provide and bless me not with “more” or “newer,” but with contentment.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Replace Worry with Trust

Patient Teacher,
You tell me not to worry. I respond with… worry. Forgive me for not being able to take your promises to heart. Not only have you promised to provide for my daily bread – to give me all that I need for my body and life – but you also deliver. You make good on your promise. Let your promises and your favorable past be sufficient for me to take you at your Word and trust you. Free me from worry and replace my anxiety with rock-solid faith that clings to you for all that I need. Redirect my earthly concerns to spiritual ones, so that I might have complete confidence in my forgiveness and my salvation. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Appreciate the Gift of Time

God of perfect timing,
I frequently feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day. When I consider what is on my plate each day, what didn’t get finished yesterday, and what is still coming tomorrow and right around the corner, it can be overwhelming. I can get frustrated or anxious, feeling like I’ll never get it all done. 

Yet, both your timing and your gift of time are perfect, and in that perfect wisdom, you established seven 24-hour days to make up each week. Let me take to heart your reminder that I do not need to worry about yesterday or tomorrow, as each day has enough to worry about on its own. Grant me the resolve to trust your promise to daily provide all that I need, so that I can focus on doing what I can get done well each day – no more and no less. Lead me to a deeper appreciation of your gift of time, striving to enjoy it in pursuit of productivity and pleasure. Keep worry far from me, so that it does not rob me of the joy of the present. And, while I will never successfully get everything done, I rejoice that you did on my behalf – especially that which matters most: my salvation!  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Anxious Preachers

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Thank you for the many preachers who bring us your Word each week. Because each of us is wonderfully and uniquely made, it is natural that you dispense a variety of gifts and interests to pastors. Some are eager and excited to preach, and doing so energizes them. Other pastors, however, are nervous and even nauseous at times, and preaching drains them. 

Be with those pastors whose anxiety levels rise as the responsibility of preaching nears, no matter how many years they’ve been serving. Calm their fears with the reminder that it is the Message – and not the messenger – which is powerful and effective in preaching. The Holy Spirit does not rely on preachers to make his Word palatable or pleasing; he simply requires proclaimers so that he can work law and gospel into the hearts of his hearers. Steer preachers away from the temptation of trying to be someone or something they’re not when preaching, and fill them instead with a simple confidence in your work through your Word. Take their timidity and transform it into a fearless faith that stirs their heart and their preaching, and bless all those listening to them. Build up your church through bold preachers. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Learn to Relax

Dear Rest-Giver,
In a culture that prides itself in productivity, busyness, and putting the pedal to the metal non-stop, some of us lack the ability to relax. We have hard-wired ourselves to either be on the go or on our phones, so that our stress and anxiety levels actually rise when we are faced with unscheduled time and/or detached from a screen. This behavior is not sustainable physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Help me break away!

You won rest for us, a real rest from the stress and worry of our wrongs and failed righteousness. Your gracious forgiveness calms us with a peace that cannot be found anywhere else. Let that peace flow into my daily routine and schedule, so that I can learn to relax in the rest I have in you. I don’t need to – nor can I! – control everything around me. Keep me from getting sucked back into the endlessly spinning hamster wheel of life, and lead me to lean into your rest and both embrace and excel in the art of regular relaxation.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Overcome My Lack of Motivation

Almighty God,
When I feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities, I sometimes feel like shutting down and ignoring them. Then, as those neglected responsibilities pile up, the burden feels even heavier. That’s when I really struggle to find the motivation to take care of the things I am supposed to be managing. I need your help, Lord.

Remind me that even when I feel anxious or stressed at such times, you are never overwhelmed, but always in control of all things at all times. When I don’t know where to start, your Word is always the best place possible! Then, reassured by your promises and calmed by your peace, make me ready to take the next step, whatever that may be. Free me from fixating on trying to determine what is the “right” or “most important” step, so that I take any step in the right direction. When that step then generates traction, grant me success with each step that follows. Let that momentum fuel my motivation to keep going, confident that you are still in control and will guide and bless my efforts.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.