Tag: communication

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Spouses to Keep Dating

Dear Jesus,
Dating is a natural part of a relationship when two people begin seeing each other. Going out together provides the opportunity for two people to get to know each other better, as well as observe one another’s social interactions and see how they treat others. Dates build connection and create shared memories together. 

After marriage, though, dating can often diminish or even cease as responsibilities pile up and schedules fill up. Nevertheless, all of the reasons for dating before marriage are still every bit as beneficial after marriage, and sometimes even more necessary. The busyness of life and challenges of managing a home and family can unintentionally result in husbands and wives becoming more distant from each other. Therefore, help married couples be intentional about continuing to date each other. Let them be determined to guard and protect time in their schedules for each other, and to prioritize date nights. In these ways, Lord, strengthen their bond of commitment to each other, bring them joy through shared experiences, and increase their affection and connection as they actively pursue each other. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Reply to Others With Gentleness

Gentle Savior,
Help me remain in control of how I respond to others. Just because our society has normalized rage-filled responses any time a person is set off doesn’t mean you permit it. Instead, let our responses be filled with gentleness and self-control. Forgive us for knowingly and intentionally allowing ourselves to be drawn into divisive dialogues that will feed our sinful desire to quarrel and fight. Guard our hearts from such temptations and grant us wisdom to avoid the allure of arguing. If my conversations are always to be seasoned with salt, dear Lord, give me the discipline to be slow to respond. Doing so will not only allow me time to carefully choose the words I use, but also to consider how my response could be taken by others. Finally, give me the discernment to know when it’s wise to avoid providing a response that I may regret, and the humility to realize that my opinion is not so valuable that I need to express it about everything going on around me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Trust in Marriages

Loving Lord,
Trust is foundational to any healthy marriage. When husbands and wives trust each other, their relationship thrives. But once that trust is lost or broken, it is not easily restored. Therefore, guide spouses to be thoughtful about how their words and actions create trust. It isn’t built accidentally or automatically, but deliberately. Steer them away from half-truths, questionable or unwise behavior, and a lack of boundaries with the opposite sex. Instill honest communication, transparency, and truth in their relationship. Lead husbands, who often tend to be light on words and communication, to consider how their lack of communication can raise doubt or uncertainty for their wife. Help wives to speak their intentions clearly to their husband and not say one thing while meaning something else, mistakenly assuming their husband can read their minds. Grant husbands and wives the continuous desire to actively pursue each other, so that as their affection and connection grow, so does their trust. And ultimately, Lord, increase their trust in you, which will also deepen their trust in each other. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Struggling Spouses to Keep Fighting for Their Marriage

Loving Lord,
When a marriage is healthy, it can stand alone as the most incredible relationship two people can experience. But when on life support, a dying marriage can feel like one of the most loathsome relationships imaginable. Today I pray for those in unhealthy marriages who are struggling so mightily that divorce seems imminent. Intervene, Lord, and in your mercy do whatever it takes to help them turn the corner. I pray that you guard and protect all marriages from the specific sins of adultery and desertion that can shatter a marriage and open the door to permissible divorce. Even when those sins do take place, though, lavish husbands and wives with an abundance of your grace to extend to each other liberally. Make them strong and willing to fight – not against each other, but for each other.  Give clarity to their communication, so they know what the real issues are, and where the real work needs to take place. Surround them with other couples in strong marriages who are willing to guide, counsel, and support them in any way. Provide them with hope and renew their love for and dedication to each other and to you, so they come to embrace their marriage as a treasure worth fighting for.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Know When to Show Up for Others

Lord God,
As a believer, I recognize the importance of social events and gatherings that provide opportunities to make new connections with others and strengthen existing relationships. This is not only valuable within the body of Christ, but also essential for those outside the Church – so that through believers, they may come to know their Savior and, Lord-willing, come to faith in him. I often struggle with being at peace over when to show up on such occasions and when it is acceptable to sit them out. Sometimes I attend out of a sense of obligation or guilt; other times I feel guilty for not attending and staying home.

Help me sort through the motivations of my heart in such situations. Free me from the burden of guilt that isn’t mine to carry. On the other hand, when I am being selfish or uncaring about others, expose that in me so that I see it and am aware of it. When pride and false assurance compel me to show up because I convince myself that you need someone like me to carry out the relational work that could arise in certain scenarios, let me know it. Guide me to maintain a healthy balance in discerning when it is good and right to attend such social situations, and when it is perfectly OK not to, so that my decisions and management of your gift of time honor you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Courage to Correct When Necessary

Spirit of Truth,
Give me the courage to speak up to brothers in the faith who need to be called out or rebuked for one reason or another. Whether they are stuck in sin, settling for worldly satisfactions, or lacking the desire or discipline to pursue you more deeply and faithfully, make me bold to speak up. When I am ready to say something, ensure that my heart and my attitude are grounded in pure motives and a longing for what is best for my brother(s). Break down any barriers that would hinder others from listening to correction, and use these challenging situations to foster healthy spiritual growth all around. And, when others have the courage to correct or admonish me when I need it, quiet my own stubborn spirit so that I receive it properly and take it to heart. Cause me to be grateful that you have placed godly, mature Christian men in my life who care enough to correct me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless Marriages with Healthy Communication

Lord God,
Marriage is surely one of your greatest gifts, but it requires much effort and hard work. Married couples face many unique challenges, but there is often one underlying issue behind the vast majority of them: a lack of communication. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways, but when communication breaks down, it can easily lead to other problems. Then, unfortunately, couples misdiagnose those specific problems as the cause of all their troubles, when in reality, poor communication or a lack of communication was the real culprit. Enable husbands and wives to see where their communication needs improvement, equip them with both the desire and the skills to address it, and help their marriage flourish and thrive as they grow in their ability to communicate with each other.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Have the Tough Conversations

Holy Spirit,
Prompt me to have the difficult conversations. In an effort to avoid conflict or raise tensions, I so easily believe the lie that I’m better off steering away from tough talks with others. No matter how much I try to convince myself that an issue or concern will simply take care of itself eventually, the reality more often is that putting off talking about it only makes it worse. Give me the desire to be more assertive and insistent, not so that I would steamroll others or abrasively force conversations, but simply so that I prioritize having them. When I do, open my ears to listen first, grant me wisdom to process what I hear, and give me grace and patience to respond truthfully. Bless these difficult situations with resolution, and use them to make me a better communicator and enhance my interpersonal skills.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Dealing with Difficult Family Members

Loving Father,
Family relationships have the potential to be among the most treasured connections we have, as well as some of the most challenging. Since we generally tend to be as close to our family as we are to anyone else, that tight bond can amplify both the best and the worst of any relationships. Give me the awareness to recognize family members who manipulate the shared bond and twist it to induce guilt or shame on other family members. Grant me patience with difficult family members, as well as the courage to lovingly call them out whenever necessary. Let me be unafraid to call believing family members to repentance when they have sinned, and also unashamed to evangelize unbelieving family members. While I cannot change or control the behavior of my biological family, I am responsible for how I respond to them and handle them. Let me do so with a balance of firmness and grace, seeking always to do what is in the best interest of their eternal good.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Dealing with Difficult Friends

Friend of Sinners,
Friends are a special gift through which you provide many unique blessings. They can protect us from isolation and loneliness, we can enjoy events and experiences with them, engage in rich conversation, and share a variety of passions and interests together. Thank you for all that they bring into our lives.

Friends, though, like so many others in our lives, can also be difficult. Some struggle with confidentiality, passing along to others details of conversations that were shared in confidence. At times they can be unreliable, struggling to follow through or keep their word. There are also some friendships that are challenging because they tend to be very one-sided; we invest far more into them than we get out of them. When friends maintain destructive habits, reject our advice to their detriment, put us in bad situations, or tarnish our reputation, sustaining the relationship can be difficult. Give us patience and discernment when dealing with difficult friends, to know when we can make a sacrifice on their behalf, but also to avoid enabling them. Give us also the wisdom to be aware when it might be best for us to reconsider the friendship for our own good, and maybe theirs, too. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.