DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Courage to Do the Right Thing

Mighty God,
I regularly find myself in situations with the opportunity to do the wrong thing. I am invited to join in the gossip. I am nudged to have one more drink than I should. I am pressured to misuse your gift of sex. The list goes on. I don’t pretend that all of these are someone else’s fault, either, as I am well aware that I am only tempted by them because of my own sinful inclinations. As much as possible, therefore, give me the wisdom to avoid putting myself in those situations in the first place. Nevertheless, when I do face them, give me the courage of faith to do the right thing. Help me control my thoughts and desires. Curb any sinful urges within me. Provide a way out, as you promise to, and open my eyes both to see and to seize that way out. Create in me the genuine desire to be more eager to be a good and godly influence than to allow myself to be negatively influenced and misrepresent you. When I fail, be there with your grace to turn my forgiven failures into the motivation to do right the next time.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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

To Keep From Coveting

Holy Father,
When your Ten Commandments expose my sin, they leave me without excuse and unable to find anywhere to hide. Nevertheless, the sinner in me still tries! I still try to justify or downplay my wrong, quickly pointing out the times that I didn’t actually say or do anything wrong, but merely hid evil thoughts or desires inside my head and heart – or so I thought!

But when you forbid me even to covet, to refrain from having unholy desires in my heart, you call me out. In fact, in doing so you really lay bare the starting point of all sin: my heart. Every word or action that breaks any of your commandments is first conceived in my heart. So I ask you not only to guard my heart from external influences, but also to create holy desires within me. Cause me to crave what is noble and good and pleasing to you, and fill my heart with pure thoughts so there is no room for sinister desires to take root. Replace covetous desires with contentment and gratitude, satisfying me with every good gift you’ve already granted me.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.