Tag: lies

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Strive for Truth and Love

Loving Savior,
You direct us in your Word to speak the truth in love. While this should go without saying, it quickly becomes clear to me how difficult it is when I deliberately try to apply it! I have spent endless time and energy in my own mind trying to massage and bend the truth to suit my own purposes. Other times, I circumvent the truth to avoid difficult or uncomfortable conversations. While I consider myself an expert in telling when others are lying, I gloss over my own expertise in lying and deceiving. 

All of this also exposes my shortcomings in the second part of the command, for if love always directed my words and speech, the truth would never be in question. Instead, either selfishness replaces love, resulting in half-truths and white lies, or I am too eager to speak the truth because I know it will negatively impact someone else’s reputation. For all of this, I thank you for speaking the truth in love to me by being blunt about what my lies and lack of love really deserve from you, but also for being relentlessly devoted to making sure I know and believe the truth of how covered in your grace and forgiveness I really am. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Honesty

God of All Truth,
When I speak, whether it’s an internal dialogue in my mind or an external conversation with others, let me always speak the truth. Honesty is a dying virtue as many deem truth to be relative. We settle for “half-truths,” and “untruths,” which are just nicer sounding terms for lies. If my word is going to matter, my reputation is going to remain intact, and I wish to be trustworthy, then honesty is not an option, but a necessity. 

Guard me from any temptation to lie or be dishonest, especially when I am tempted to justify it in response to others who may lie or slander my name. If you are the way and the truth and the life, then as your follower, I want to reflect that in my life and speech. Give me the courage to have honest conversations when they are needed, and the wisdom to be clear and direct so that the truth is not hidden or blurred. Let honesty always win out, out of love for you, love for others, and love for my own spiritual health.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Doubting Their Faith

Loving Lord,
The devil never tires of sowing seeds of doubt to spring up and choke out our faith. Whenever questions or doubts arise, direct those wrestling with them to your powerful Word. From there, send your Spirit to counter all doubts and combat all lies with the truth. Guard and protect those doubting from the presence of negative influences that would reinforce doubt and steer them away from your Word. Activate fellow believers to surround and support those struggling and to keep them in their prayers. Bring them clarity and understanding, and although Satan’s desire is for doubt to morph into unbelief, use such seasons of testing to strengthen and fortify the faith of the doubting instead. Manipulate Satan’s schemes to serve your eternal purposes, and by doing so, bring encouragement through such occasions to others when doubts arise in the future.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Speak Well of Others

Holy Father,
The Ten Commandments are intended to be a blessing, not a burden. In the Eighth Commandment you command us to speak the truth, especially regarding our neighbor. Falsehood and gossip can do great damage to others that is not easily undone. Lies bring into question the reputation and character of others that can ruin their good name.

When I lie, when I am dishonest, when I slander others, how I need the truth of your forgiveness! Cleanse not only my lips, but my heart as well, which is the spring from which my words flow. May my mouth always speak the truth, and always in love. Let my speech be useful in building others up rather than tearing them down, in defending others rather than defaming them, and in forgiving rather than fault-finding. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.