Tag: excuses

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Eliminate Excuses

Gracious God,
There are many variables that affect productivity and personal development. When I fail to make progress or get traction, or when goals go unmet, there are often legitimate and valid reasons. However, it’s also easy and convenient for me to blame others or to make excuses. And, I can often craft excuses so well, that when it comes to underachieving or falling short, I have a hard time distinguishing the legitimate reasons from the excuses.

Help me know myself better, so that I am aware of when I am mentally preparing excuses – whether those excuses are intended to assuage others or myself when I know I am falling short. Lead me to take ownership for my own failures so that I can grow from them, rather than excuse them and continue failing in the future in the same ways. Use others to call me out when I need it, but also to encourage me if I’m being too hard on myself. Instill in me the desire to eliminate excuses from my life and be genuine when I fall short or fail, so that I lean more on you and your grace, while also maturing through my mistakes. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Own Up Entirely to My Wrongs

Patient Father,
When I wrong others, sometimes I fail to take full ownership of my words and actions. When I deflect or diminish my behavior, I am not only downplaying my own role, but also diminishing the damage sin causes. Moreover, it is amazing how exceptional I become at crafting words to sound apologetic, while managing to avoid a genuine apology the whole time. Finally, when I avoid taking full responsibility for my sin, it’s as if I am communicating that grace isn’t really all that necessary, or at least not for “the little things,” as I imagine them to be.

Let your Law do its work and expose the ugly and condemning reality of my sinful wrongdoing. Let it leave me with no place to hide so that I have no choice but to come entirely clean. Let me do so because I have complete confidence in the gospel, which assures me that not only have my sinful wrongdoings been forgiven, but so also have my half-hearted and incomplete confessions. Create in me a pure heart that recognizes both how much my heart needs purifying, and how completely you have purified it by your perfect sacrifice.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.