Tag: fruit

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Help Me Repent Rightly (Part 3)

Suffering Savior,
Since one of the themes of the lenten season is repentance, help me to repent rightly. When the law accuses and convicts me of my sin, I respond in genuine contrition, taking full responsibility for my sin. The gospel then directs me to the sweet comfort and assurance of forgiveness that are mine through Jesus Christ. Finally, repentance shows itself by the fruit that follows.

When I have wronged or harmed others, my repentant heart yearns to do what I can to make it right. While such actions on my part have no bearing on my forgiveness, which was won fully and freely by Christ, they do serve my neighbor affected by my sin. Moreover, right repentance never sees forgiveness as permission to carelessly fall back into my sin without fear, but rather the freedom from being enslaved by that sin and the motivation to press on to overcome it. So I ask you, Lord, not only to work in me the awareness of my sin and the assurance of my forgiveness, but also the awakening of my freedom from sin’s chains, which empowers me to live a changed man. In your grace, work this kind of right repentance in me.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

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To Keep Me Connected to the Vine

Lord Jesus,
You are the vine, we are the branches. When we remain in you, you promise to remain in us and bear much fruit. Keep me always connected to you through your Word and Sacrament. Then I not only have the confidence of your presence, but also the assurance that you will work through me to bless others. While there is much in life that seeks to cut me off from you, strengthen and sustain me to always abide in you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

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To Put My Faith Into Action Daily

Faith-Giving Spirit,
Your Word records many exemplary ways you used believers to carry out your work. We marvel at the trusting obedience of Abraham and the bold Pharaoh-facing confidence of Moses. The daunting threats and unique ministries to which you called your prophets would easily have turned weaker believers away. The determination and resiliency that Paul faced on his missionary journeys and the miracles that your disciples performed in your name were exemplary. 

I easily feel like my life and opportunities to serve you pale by comparison. But you don’t see things that way. Help me to realize that I can glorify you in what appear to be the daily and the mundane and the things which seem small, but which are done in faith and love for you and others. When through the lens of my faith, I consciously carry out my responsibilities as a husband or a father, as a son or a sibling, or as an employee or a neighbor, you do not view my service in your kingdom as big or small, but simply as faithful. Therefore, fill me with a godly desire simply to put my faith into action in many ways daily, so that through me you may build up your church, just as you’ve been doing through believers for generations. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Our society celebrates the pursuit of pleasure in excess and lives by an “if it feels good, do it” mantra. Yet even in Christian freedom, your Word reminds me that while everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial. When I can no longer say no to something, then I have become mastered by it.

To counter such extremes, Holy Spirit, grant me instead a spirit of discipline and self-control. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions to keep me from being enslaved by anything in this world. Lead me to pursue that which is virtuous and highly esteemed in your sight. Curb my sinful desires and strengthen me to say no when I need to. Give me the maturity to avoid whatever deceives me with the promise of instant gratification. Where I know I am weak, surround me with fellow believers who know my weaknesses and are willing to stand firmly beside me so that I do not fall. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gentleness is not typically a characteristic which our society associates with men, which makes it all the more noticeable when it is evident. Since gentleness is evidence of your work, Holy Spirit, and a fruit you desire to see in Christians, please grant me more of it. In past situations when aggression or forcefulness took over within me, have mercy on me. When I have been harsh with others, forgive me. Help me see that gentleness is not associated with weakness, but is instead a godly characteristic by which you set your people apart. Let your gentleness be evident in me whenever I interact with others. May others view me as approachable and caring because of it. Use my gentleness as yet another gateway to open up more opportunities to humbly serve my neighbor. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Let this fruit be evident in my life in abundance, I pray. Today I ask you to work goodness in and through me. 

While the whole world has been negatively affected by the Fall and sin is certainly prevalent everywhere, there appears to be a glaring absence of goodness all around. Sadly, words that used to be spoken somewhat lightheartedly, “a good man is hard to find,” are true now as much as they ever were. 

But rather than merely lamenting the lack of goodness, I want to be part of the solution. Wash away and cleanse in me all that is opposed to what is good, and replace it with a positive, gospel-saturated spirit. Bend my heart toward thoughts, speech, and behavior that is not just good for my sake, but which serves the greater good of everyone around me. Just as surely as the Good Shepherd’s goodness follows me all the days of my life, so allow that goodness to leave its mark wherever I am. Then cause it to multiply and flourish far and wide.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As I look at the ministry of Jesus, kindness and compassion ooze from his lips and his life. In his kindness, he not only met the physical needs of others, feeding the hungry and healing the sick, but he also spoke the words of life to all who would listen.

When I look at my own life, I see how sorely lacking genuine kindness is. With sharp words I tear down and belittle, rather than kindly building up and encouraging. I see other people and their needs as inconveniences rather than opportunities to put kindness into practice. Even when I am kind to others, it is too often either begrudgingly or with self-serving motivations. Instead of a heart that is naturally careless, give me a heart of kindness, and make its fruit in my life a blessing to others. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Forbearance

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In our quick-to-react, impatient, and short-tempered society, forbearance is in short supply. Too often I find it woefully lacking in myself as well. In your mercy, forgive me.

Cultivate a harvest of this fruit of forbearance within me. Produce in me patience in place of knee-jerk reactions, and restraint rather than snarky and rash responses. Along with these give me the resolve to endure seasons of suffering or hardship. Encourage me to persevere when I am inclined to give up or am tempted to turn anywhere other than to you for help. Work in me the wisdom to wait on your timing to reveal or unravel in my life anything that requires clarity. Finally, use the faithful forbearance you bring about in my life to be a blessing in the lives of others. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When I confuse happiness with joy, help me to discern the difference. Happiness is tied to my situation or to certain circumstances, which may be positive or negative. Joy however, is constant, because Jesus’ love and forgiveness are constant and unconditional.

Therefore, even after a bad day at work, I still have joy. Even when a relationship goes sour, I still have joy. Even when I receive bad news, I can take it in stride because I still have joy. When my team loses, when I forget something important, when others are inconsiderate – when anything in life happens, good or bad, I still have joy, because I still have you, Jesus. Fill my heart with the faith both to know that joy and to feel it daily. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

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For Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Make me eager to bear more of this fruit in my life, beginning with love. Since love is what spurs on the increased production of all of this fruit in my life, I want to prioritize it in my words and actions. And, since my love for you and for others ripples outward only from the center of your love for me, fill me first and foremost with your love on a daily basis. 

Open the eyes of my heart to see the endless opportunities all around me to express love to my neighbor. Lend me your loving ears to listen to others who long to be heard. Open my lips to speak loving encouragement to those who are disheartened and discouraged. Align my actions with yours, Lord, that my loving deeds of service to others would be a timely blessing to them. In all things, may this fruit of love in my life serve as a reflection of your perfect love, so that others come to know your love through mine. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.