Tag: discipline

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Live a Holy Life in Step With the Spirit

Holy Father,
When my life doesn’t reflect the holy life you have set me apart to live, it isn’t because I am unaware of what that should look like. And, it isn’t because you have failed to keep your promises to fill me with your overflowing grace that enables me to walk in step with the Spirit. Rather, my own lack of discipline and spiritual apathy work like quicksand to suck me into worldly living. And while it is often easier to walk in step with the world, the outcome is disappointing at best, and destructive at worst. Have mercy on me! Spur on the new man in me to consider each day what living righteously in my life looks like. Give me the determination to make the choices, speak the words, and take the actions that are in keeping with holiness. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Families with Little Ones in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. But worship is a unique challenge for parents with little children. Thank you for the Christian parents who prioritize bringing their little ones to worship. Some mornings, before they even pull into the church parking lot, they have already experienced a day’s worth of stressful wear and tear. Provide them with the strength and determination to follow through with worship, and through it, rejuvenate their spirits. Fill the members of their church families with compassion to know when to lend a helping hand to frazzled moms and dazed dads. Direct congregations to consider how they might become more family-friendly. Give parents the discernment and discipline to raise their children to view worship with reverence and respect. Through these formative years in church, lay a solid foundation in children that paves the way for a lifetime of faithful worship attendance, so their hearts remain saturated by the gospel. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Accountability and Encouragement

Lord God,
Your Spirit works in me the desire to do your will. My inability to follow through or carry out your will is my fault alone. Give me the humility to seek out a friend and brother in the faith to aid me in my walk, and to provide me with accountability and correction. Where my desire falls short or my discipline is lacking, use this individual to speak the truth in love to me. Establish a trust between us that allows him to tell me what I need to hear, no matter how difficult it may be, and give me the spiritual maturity to receive and accept his admonishment as it is intended: for my good. For such a relationship to bear fruit, I need to be honest and transparent with him. Give me the courage to consider and seek out someone who could serve in this way and bless each of us through this bond.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Lead Others Spiritually

Faithful Father,
You have made us your disciples by your grace, through your Word. Discipleship includes continuing to personally grow in that grace through your Word. And, as men, our discipleship also includes leading our wives and families in their growth, too. I have so much room to grow! Guide and direct me first and foremost to grow in my own personal faith, so that as I do, I am better equipped to lead others. Since discipling includes discipline, grant me the motivation and discipline to prioritize my spiritual leadership. Dispel my fears with faith, and fill me with the Spirit’s zeal and confidence to embrace my call to lead. Where I see my own shortcomings, help me see your strength. Where I see my inadequacy, help me see your infallibility. Build others up through me so that we all may boast more in you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be There for Young People

Son of God,
Growing up in the world today is not easy. So many kids come from broken homes and dysfunctional families. They face pressure to excel and succeed already at such a young age that they’re hardly allowed to just be kids. Parents often choose permission over discipline, leaving them ill-equipped to function in the real world, where wrongdoing has consequences. Technology and temptation often form an alliance that kids (let alone adults!) simply aren’t able to handle.

For all of these reasons, and many more, help me go out of my way to help young people in any way. Rather than just complaining about all the problems with young people today, I want to be a part of the solution. Let me take the time to do the simple things like acknowledge them, listen to them, and encourage them whenever possible. Give me discernment to know when it is appropriate to correct bad behavior and wrong choices when I witness them. Help adults to be mindful of when and where young people can be included in meaningful ways. Through these efforts, let young people know they are appreciated and cared for, not just by us, but even more importantly, by you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Strong Parents

Strong Father,
You call parents to the noble goal of not only raising strong citizens, but also strong Christians. Theirs is not an easy task in a world that is flooded with outside opinions, influences, and distractions – so many of which are negative and destructive. Purify their hearts from all selfishness that could lead them to resent their children as a bother or an inconvenience. Help them to manage their anger and frustration so that it would never be taken out on their children or put them in danger. 

Keep them focused on their parental responsibilities and provide them with necessary resources and support. Let the words that come from their lips match the behavior that is reflected in their lives, so that children are not confused, but have clear expectations and boundaries. Through the gentle patience and loving discipline of parents, establish homes that are places of safety and stability. Equip parents to put Jesus’ love on display constantly, and let your Word dwell richly in families everywhere. Bless faithful parents with the countless joys that accompany parenthood, lighten their burdens, and limit their discouragements. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Privilege of Raising Children

Gracious Father,
All good gifts come from you, and children rank near the top of the list. Because parenting can be so exhausting and require so much energy, we can overlook the blessing they are. No matter their season of life – infants, toddlers, teens, or adults – lead parents to appreciate the unique joys of each stage of raising children. Thank you for their individual personalities and the variety of gifts you grant to them. Let children see fine examples of the Christian faith modeled in their parents. Make Jesus central to the home so that the gospel plays a prominent role in their training and instruction. When law and gospel are present and grace abounds, may fruits of faith flourish in children, including loving obedience and respect toward their parents. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless My Plans and Follow Through

Heavenly Father,
Two weeks into the new year is about the time many new year resolutions have already failed or begin heading in that direction. While there is nothing special about a resolution being set and kept at the beginning of the year, your Word does encourage us both to make plans and to follow through with our commitments. So today I ask your blessing in both of those areas.

Help me to see the value of planning in my life and in the work of your church. When we don’t make plans, we easily remain stagnant and stuck. We don’t move forward or grow. Uncover any growth opportunities in my life that may not be clear to me and provide me with your direction in establishing goals and plans to achieve them. Do the same as I observe the ministry of my local congregation and my role in it. 

Then, Lord, grant me the drive and discipline to follow through with those plans. Help me avoid the pitfalls of procrastination and establish traction and built the necessary momentum to keep after my goals. When distractions or unforeseen challenges arise, give me focus and flexibility to adapt as needed and stay on track. Give me the encouragement of noticeable progress and provide whatever push I may need along the way until I finish what I started and achieve my goals. Finally, I submit all that I am asking to your will and blessing.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Appreciate Discipline

Gracious Father,
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but later on it produces a harvest of righteousness (cf. He. 12:11). When I am in need of correction or rebuke, thank you for placing others in my life who are willing to provide it. As hard as it might be to receive, help me accept it with open ears and a humble spirit. Provide me with the insight and awareness to see the good that you intend to come through it. 

When your discipline involves times of trial or testing, give me the patience to bear up under it and the perseverance to endure. When I struggle to see the potential blessings during these seasons of life, strengthen my grip on your promise to produce righteousness on the other side of such discipline. Remind me that just as a caring father disciplines his children, so do you, my loving Father, discipline me, your son. Thank you!

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To See the Blessings of Discipline

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but later on it produces a harvest of righteousness. You allow hardships and trials in my life to test and try my faith. In the thick of those seasons, faith’s vision easily becomes blurred and it can appear as if you have it out for us. Correct my vision and give me clarity to see the good you desire to work in my life through such turbulence.

Other times, when the spoiled fruit of my own sin yields unpleasant or challenging consequences, it’s easy to play the victim or to complain. Instead, lead me to own up to my wrongs and thank you for the pleasing fruit you can yield through me in repentance. Just as an earthly father corrects and disciplines his children because he loves them, so you do the same for us. With that in mind, prune and shape me even more, and give me the faith to see it and embrace it for the blessing it is.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.