Tag: control

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 Practice Patience More

Patient Lord,
You praise patience in your Word. Jesus modeled it perfectly during his life and ministry. You also deal with me patiently, not treating me as my sins deserve, but mercifully forgiving all my sins – including my impatience. I ask you not only to continue to deal with me patiently, but also to grant me more patience in my life. Keep me from rash responses and immediately overreacting with my family members when what is really called for is simply patience. Enable me to remain patient when others make mistakes or disregard directions, so that I am in a proper frame of mind to offer constructive correction. Help me practice patience not just in the presence of others, but also when no one else is around. Lead me to be as patient with others as you are with me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Trust You Wholeheartedly

Providential Father,
Your promises, which are always trustworthy and true, assure me that you will provide for all of my physical and spiritual needs. But, even though I believe it, I still struggle to trust it. Doubt and worry come so naturally and so easily to me, prompting me to think I’m just better off taking matters into my own hands and controlling the outcome on my own. This usually results in my experiencing the all-too-familiar lesson of how foolish it is to pretend I could care for or provide for myself better than you. Therefore, I ask you not to improve my prowess in providing, but rather to increase my trust. Steer me away from self-reliance and toward a deeper confidence in you. Lead me to lean on you not hole-heartedly, but wholeheartedly.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Self-Control in Response to Violence

Patient Lord,
There is so much in the world that is unsettling and upsetting. Violence and tragedy, whether current or in memory, always seem to be on our minds. Bring to justice all those responsible for despicable acts of hate-filled evil, and bring comfort, peace, and closure to all family and friends directly affected. 

While I won’t ever be able to put a stop to such terrible events or keep them from happening, I pray for you to help me control what I can: my response. I never want to become comfortable with sin and unrighteousness anywhere – including my own, but neither can I allow it to justify my uncontrolled or extreme response. We too easily let acts of outrage enrage us in return, and that response is not becoming of the godly men you set us apart to be. Let me always be in control of my reactions and manage my emotional responses in ways that uphold your holy name and reputation.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Remain in Control of My Relationship with Alcohol

Lord God,
Your loving providence not only meets, but exceeds, all of our needs. Not only are our needs more than met by you, but you also generously give so many things that provide us with pleasure and enjoyment. We include alcoholic beverages among those. You point out in your Word that wine can gladden the heart and help cheer up those who are down. Jesus provided wine at Cana. Paul encouraged Timothy to drink wine to help with his health issues. Many pictures of the joys of heaven include banquets of rich food and wine. 

But when we take your good blessings too far, abuse them, or become enslaved by them, we sin. Your Word doesn’t hold back on the warnings against how dangerous and damaging alcohol can be when not appreciated in moderation. The sin of drunkenness is clearly condemned. Therefore, help me to always be aware of my relationship with alcohol, so that I don’t allow it to become a snare for me. Let me always be in control and know my limitations, so that it remains the blessing you intend it to be, and not a destructive force in my life or in the lives of those I love. Give me the ability to refrain and say no if it would ever become apparent that I might have a problem, and give others the courage to speak to me if they become concerned. I always want to honor you in all things, including my use of alcohol.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Facing Addiction

Strong Savior,
Addictions can take many different forms, but all of them are destructive. While we live in Christian freedom, that freedom doesn’t allow us to be mastered by anything. Regardless the source of addiction – drugs, alcohol, pornography, shopping, gambling, etc. – whatever we permit to enslave and control us has power over us. When that happens, we are no longer free, but slaves. 

Come to the aid of all who are ensnared by addiction. Expose whatever lies they believe that only serve to downplay, hide, or facilitate their addiction. Surround them with those who care enough to point out the truth to them, and lead them to see and own the truth about their addiction. Provide a pathway out of their addiction and the support and accountability to keep them on track. Hold them up by the power of your Word, hold your cross before them when their battle is fierce, and remind them of the price you paid to free them from sin and addiction. Let them turn to you and find in you everything their addiction could never satisfy or provide.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Handle My Feelings

Caring Father,
You have created us to feel – not just physically, but emotionally as well. Feelings are powerful and can impact us in significant ways. The passionate love toward a spouse, the elation a fan feels when his team wins the big game, the pride parents feel when their children who succeed in their endeavors – these emotions are some of the natural highs we feel in life, and they can be wonderful to experience. But we also know the other side of emotions, disappointment when things don’t turn out as we had hoped, anxiety when the problems seem to pile up, and anger when others disagree or cause hurt. These emotions can all quickly bring us down and feeling pretty low in general.

While feelings are a wonderful part of the way you created us, you didn’t create them to control us. When I feel strong emotions, therefore, help me process them in a way that I don’t allow them to be responsible for any sinful words or actions. I want to manage my feelings in a way that ensures they don’t manage me. Help me work through them, be able to recognize what they are and why I am experiencing them, and respond to them with thoughtful consideration, and guided by faith. When this happens, I can more fully appreciate the full range of emotions I feel, while also steering clear of the temptation to use them to justify my sinful reactions. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Control My Desires

Lord God,
We live in a sex-saturated society. Modesty is passé. Morality is subjective. Sexual freedom is celebrated. As Martin Luther has been quoted, you cannot keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. Guide me to tread cautiously in such a sexual society as I navigate my way. Help me to control my desires. Keep my eyes from being enticed. Close my ears to whatever would be disgraceful to your gift of sex or degrading to the opposite sex. Protect my heart from lust. Lead me to live an honorable, holy life, and to stand out as an ambassador of your good blessings of marriage and sex. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Control My Responses

Sanctifying Spirit,
While I cannot control the circumstance around me or what happens to me, I am responsible for how I respond and react. Give me the spiritual and mental composure to remain in control, even when unpleasant and undesirable things happen to me. Keep me from allowing disappointment to sow seeds of bitterness or resentment that can take root in my heart if unchecked. In every situation, direct me to align my thoughts, words, and actions with your Word and will. Remove any blindspots that would keep me from picking up on my own negative or destructive thought patterns. Guide me along your paths of righteousness and allow only what is pure and noble to reside in my heart and mind.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Curb Anxiety

All-Powerful Lord,
As Christmas and the end of the year draw closer, it isn’t uncommon for anxiety levels to rise. Deadlines loom and time-sensitive tasks need to get done. When we mix in our tendency to eliminate any margin in our lives by overcommitting and overscheduling, we have a recipe for disaster.

Some may struggle with anxiety more than others, but the remedy is the same: shifting our attention away from ourselves and/or the problem and on to you, the solution. When worry starts to set in, train us to counter it with gratitude by reflecting on your goodness to us. Grant us also the proper perspective to see where our concerns fit in over the timeline of eternity, so that we don’t inflate their importance.

Fill us with feelings of peace as we are reminded of your promise to work out all things – including that which stresses us out – for the good of those who love you. Finally, while we like to imagine ourselves at the wheel, controlling all things in our lives, remind us that you alone rule over the entire universe, from the small daily details to the less frequent large scale events. Therefore, whatever is on my plate today or any other day is never too big for you to handle.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.