Tag: sanctification

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Those Faithfully Serving Behind the Scenes

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Thank you for those quietly serving behind the scenes. Thank you for the toilet that works because of the retired plumber who came in during the week and used his gifts to fix it. Thank you for those who attentively care for the property and landscaping so that our open door is not an eyesore on Sunday morning. Thank you for those willing to get their hands dirty for the sake of a clean and tidy sanctuary that sets the tone for worship. Thank you for those serving in a hot kitchen to bake the refreshments enjoyed by many. You provide your people with gifts to humbly serve behind the scenes, not for praise or recognition, but with faithful, gratitude-filled hearts, eagerly making the most of these opportunities to love you and us. Thank you for them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Godparents to Be a Blessing to Their Godchildren

Lord of the Church,
Godly godparents may be some of the most under-appreciated gifts you give believers. Christian parents may not always take advantage of the blessed tradition of choosing godparents, or they may not give much prayerful deliberation to their choice if they do. Godparents, too, may overlook or neglect their important roles. Nevertheless, guide your church to retain this practice, to expand its awareness, and to heighten its importance. Your little baptized saints growing up in the world today are in as much need of prayer and spiritual care as ever. Place godchildren on the hearts of their godparents regularly. Direct them to your throne of grace on their behalf, and lead them to welcome and embrace the role of helping disciple their godchildren in every way possible. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Apply Sunday’s Word During the Week

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. When we have the opportunity to receive your Word, we want it to bear fruit in our lives. So then, as your people depart worship this morning and every Sunday, keep your message from simply going in one ear and out the other. Do not allow Sunday morning to be a spiritual one-and-done for your people. Instead, fix their thoughts throughout the week on the message they received, keeping Jesus as their central focus each day. Move them to discuss your truths with others and seek ways to apply them to their lives. Create in your people a curiosity to dig deeper and search the Scriptures for further enlightenment. Having tasted that your Word is good, lead your church to hunger for more every day, all week long, and satisfy their hunger as only you can.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Be Proactive Against Temptation

Protective Father,
I am no stranger to temptation. I know how weak and susceptible I am when Satan is knocking at the door. When those moments arrive, it so often feels like it’s already too late and my self-control and determination to stand firm collapse and crumble. Since I know this about myself, give me the wisdom to get ahead of temptation instead of allowing it to grow and intensify. Keep my eyes from wandering. Strengthen me to redirect any impure or unholy thoughts and take them captive to righteousness. Do not permit me to be deceived into thinking I can put myself into known dangerous situations that will test my sanctification. I am so grateful for your promise to provide a way out whenever I am tempted, but I also ask you to give me the spiritual maturity and discipline to avoid putting myself into situations that require a way out in the first place.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Patience and Gentleness When Sharing Your Word

Wonderful Counselor,
When we feel confident enough in our knowledge of Scripture to share it, grant us also an accompanying spirit of patience and gentleness. Whether some just take longer to understand the wonders of your Word, or others are deliberately being difficult, becoming irritated or abrasive in return does not serve the gospel well, nor does it reflect well on you. Instead, make us winsome with others, willing to give them our time and attention as they think and reflect on what we share. Place thoughtful follow-up questions on our lips and lead us to listen carefully in response. Through our patient dialogue and clarity of Scripture, let your Spirit stir their spirit and awaken their hearts to the trustworthy and true promises of your Word. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Encourage More With Your Word

Sanctifying Spirit,
Your Word is filled with promises of hope. It has the power to inspire, uplift, and gladden. When my heart is heavy or my mood melancholy, lead me to turn to your Word more frequently for encouragement. Through it, provide what my spirit needs, according to your perfect knowledge. Then, as I personally experience that encouragement, make me more aware of those around me who also need it. Make me especially eager to follow up the correction and rebuke of others with the nurturing encouragement of your Word. There is so much discouragement in this world that we will never be lacking reasons to offer encouragement. And, since there is no greater encouragement than your Word, move us to proclaim it more often for that purpose. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Welcome Rebuke

Almighty God,
Ever since our rebellious fall into sin, we bristle at being rebuked. We struggle to tolerate when others call us out, on the one hand because we don’t want others to tell us we can’t or shouldn’t do something, and on the other hand, because it makes us look bad in front of others. Rather than welcoming rebuke when it is appropriate and necessary, we spin it as a personal attack and make it about the other person. Be patient with us, forgive us, and replace our stubborn spirit with humility and contrition, so that any admonishment we receive bears blessing in our lives. And, when situations call for us to be on the other side, needing to apply your Word to chastise others, make our motivations pure, fill us with confidence in the power of your Word, and let it result in a favorable outcome that ultimately honors you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Correct with Your Word

Lord God,
When you call us to proclaim your Word, it is primarily so that others may hear the good news of the gospel, since there is no other way mankind can know what you have done to save him. But your Word doesn’t only provide the gospel; it also offers correction. Help us remember to use it for that purpose and give us the confidence to do so. Guard us from both the extreme of Pharisaical piety that is too eager to correct others, and also from a timidity that avoids it altogether. Since sanctification is your work, and your work is carried out through your Word, lead us to rely on it and on you to direct us along paths of righteousness. We cannot know the right way unless we know your way, and we have no desire or ability to walk in your steps unless you work in us that desire and ability. Lead others to accept correction with humble hearts, and us to offer it with humble hearts as well. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Courage to Do the Right Thing

Mighty God,
I regularly find myself in situations with the opportunity to do the wrong thing. I am invited to join in the gossip. I am nudged to have one more drink than I should. I am pressured to misuse your gift of sex. The list goes on. I don’t pretend that all of these are someone else’s fault, either, as I am well aware that I am only tempted by them because of my own sinful inclinations. As much as possible, therefore, give me the wisdom to avoid putting myself in those situations in the first place. Nevertheless, when I do face them, give me the courage of faith to do the right thing. Help me control my thoughts and desires. Curb any sinful urges within me. Provide a way out, as you promise to, and open my eyes both to see and to seize that way out. Create in me the genuine desire to be more eager to be a good and godly influence than to allow myself to be negatively influenced and misrepresent you. When I fail, be there with your grace to turn my forgiven failures into the motivation to do right the next time.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Growth Through Hardship

Loving Father,
When adversity and strife show up, you promise to work good in my life through them. Help me to believe this, especially whenever doubts creep in and I begin to question it. Sometimes you use these challenges to draw me into a deeper trust in you, and other times to correct or admonish, but the goal is always to draw me closer to you. I am grateful that you can turn these seasons of hardship into growth opportunities. Strengthen me to embrace them as such, and provide me with the endurance necessary to ride them out. Though I may not always be able to welcome such strife with the joyful outlook you call me to have when in the thick of it, change my perspective by letting my eyes of faith consider the good on the other side of it that you could be working through it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.