Tag: forgive

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Rest

Loving Lord,
We are always on the go. We treat every gap in our schedule as a blank space that needs to be filled. We can’t stand missing out on the experience someone else (or someone else’s kids) had. Just one more thing. Just a little bit more. We are too easily deceived by the lie that we can pack 30+ hours into a 24-hour day.

We need rest – in our body, in our mind, in our spirit. Maintaining a breakneck pace in life takes its toll on our bodies. We cut out sleep and settle for a diet that leaves us undernourished. Our racing minds have lost the ability to unwind and unravel during even the slightest bit of downtime because our screens enslave us. Spiritually, you are often the last thing we try to squeeze in, and by that time, we’ve already exhausted ourselves. 

Forgive us. Refresh us. Renew us. Reframe our thinking so that we start with you and fit everything else after, for only in you will we ever find the kind of soul rest the world simply cannot provide.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Free-Flowing Forgiveness in Marriage

Christ Our Savior,
In marriage, you bring together two people who are willing to commit to each other for life. When they exchange vows, they make promises to be faithful. However, whenever you bring two sinners together, commitments and promises are destined to be broken. For that reason, Lord, in addition to asking for your help and aid in keeping husband and wife committed to each other, equip them also to excel in the grace of forgiving. Allow your forgiveness to flow freely to and through spouses to each other, and put up your protective barrier around them to guard them from bitterness, grudges, and resentment. Finally, send your Holy Spirit to reinforce Christian marriages with a steady supply of apologies and absolution.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Take the First Step

God of Reconciliation,
Only you know how many friendships and relationships are on life support right now. While both parties in some of those situations may actually be better off by going their separate ways, many other relationships can not only be salvaged, but even prosper through reconciliation. I pray for the individuals in those situations to be open to the possibility of restoring their relationship. Free them from any bitterness or anger between them that has only hardened them even more. Burst their pride and overwhelm them with a clear sense of the magnitude of your forgiveness for them, so that they are spurred on to forgive each other. Make each party willing to make the first move, whether that includes a confession or a call to repentance. Give them a sensitivity to the hurt or pain they may have caused, and allow your gospel to take center stage as they work toward reconciliation. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Relief From Sin’s Burdens

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. When we walk through the doors of your house of worship, we bring with us the spiritual and emotional baggage we have accumulated over the course of the past week. Through confession, lead us to own up to our self-imposed burdens, the ones brought on by our own sins. Remove also the hurt from sins committed against us. By the remembrance of our baptism, lighten our load. Where your Supper is served, feed hungry souls longing for the taste of grace and your assurance of forgiveness. While we may enter your presence bearing these burdens and heavy loads, ensure that we depart empty-handed, with lighter hearts and refreshed spirits, renewed and eager to love and serve you and our neighbor. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Heal Broken Marriages

God of Marriage,
You instituted the blessed gift of marriage. Through it, you provide husbands and wives with an opportunity to experience from each other small samples of the unconditional grace and unwavering commitment that you show to believers. Sadly, when infidelity or adultery shatters a marriage, it turns one of your greatest gifts into one of the most painful hurts. Where husbands have caused this hurt, lead them to true repentance and work in them both a genuine desire to reconcile, and also a willingness to show it by their fruit. Where husbands have been on the receiving end of this hurt, heal their hearts, provide them with an abundant measure of grace and patience, and lead them on a path that arrives at forgiveness. Wherever possible, provide those involved with the strength and courage to make every effort to repair and restore the broken marriage bond, so that by your grace, it might be stronger than ever, and Satan’s plans fail miserably.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Live Daily in Confession

Gracious Father,
Although I strive to live along your path of righteousness, I cannot hide that even my best efforts leave me stumbling off that path more times than I could ever number. My own waywardness prompts not only my commitment to do better, but also my confession when I have strayed. Let it be for me a daily practice to come before you with an honest and open heart, laying before you my sins and failures. Do not allow me to deceive myself in pretending that I could hide my faults from you. Move me to come clean in your presence. Equip me with the discernment to uncover the idols hidden in my heart so that you may purify me by your grace and cleanse me with your unconditional forgiveness. Wash away my sins, renew my soul and spirit, and lead me back along your path of righteousness. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Let Your Light Shine Brightly

Light of the World,
You came into the world to shine the bright light of your glorious salvation through your holy life, your undeserved death, and your magnificent resurrection. Now, you rule over all things and work them out for the good of your church. Nevertheless, so many who are outside the realm of your kingdom still don’t know the light of salvation. Use me to light a candle and make your gracious forgiveness known. Shine the joy and certainty of salvation through me as I witness to others. No one needs to remain in the darkness of unbelief and sin, since you came to undo their permanent reign. Light up the world, and use me to do it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To See the Darkness in the World and in Me

Light of the World,
The world is a dark place. It is steeped in the darkness of sin and unbelief. I see this darkness in headlines and breaking news far too frequently. But, even more troubling than that, I see it in myself as well. I am no stranger to the shadows, since they emanate from within me. Though I am forgiven and set free by your grace, I still battle against the sinful flesh that craves to cover the world in darkness. Help me to see myself through the lens that is the light of your salvation, so that I become more and more interested not in dispersing the darkness, but in dispelling it. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Marvel at Jesus’ Baptism – and My Own

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. In many churches that follow the pattern of the church year, Jesus’ baptism will be the focus of worship today. At his baptism, not only did you voice your approval of your Son for those present to hear, but the anointing power of the Holy Spirit was also visible in the form of a dove. Armed with the strength of the Spirit, your Son set out to begin his ministry and to fulfill all that was necessary to achieve our salvation. Having accomplished all that needed to be done, he also established the blessing of baptism for us, connecting us through it to every benefit he secured for us. Let believers marvel at Jesus’ baptism, so they are led to deeply treasure their own. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Grace to Forgive Others

Forgiving Savior,
When we celebrate your arrival on Christmas, we are celebrating that you came to free us and forgive us. You did not come to condemn, but to save. Indeed, our every wrong has been washed away, and we stand faultless before you. Not on our own merits, but entirely on your efforts alone. Undeserving as we are, we are fully forgiven.

Too often, we find ourselves in situations in which we flat out refuse or are reluctant to extend that same grace and patience to others. We allow bitterness or resentment to creep into our hearts, and then, instead of getting rid of it, we nurture it and allow it to take root. Forgive us for our failures in forgiving others. Let your mercy to us be the catalyst by which we cast out whatever might be hindering us from forgiving others. Enable us to see others as you do, broken sinners in need of grace. Then, help us eagerly funnel your forgiveness to them as freely as you do to us. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.