DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Be Real About My Sin and Your Grace

Forgiving Father,
There is no greater blessing than the assurance of salvation and knowing that it is a gift from start to finish. Sometimes, however, I allow that assurance to morph into overconfidence or arrogance, leading me to trivialize or downplay my own sin. When the certainty of my forgiveness convinces me to think that my sin is no big deal, I end up diminishing both grace and the gravity of your Son’s sacrifice for me. Let each of these be true: you loathe sin while also delighting in forgiving it. Guide me to have the same perspective, so that I despise my own sin and genuinely desire to overcome it, while also treasuring your generous, limitless grace and forgiveness.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Merciful God,
On this day, Ash Wednesday, we mark the beginning of the season of Lent. Today especially, we are reminded of the inseparable bond sin and death share. Sinners cannot escape death. I, therefore, cannot escape death. What I can do, though, and need to do daily, is confess my sins that lead to death. Lent is not a season of self-help, but a penitential season of helplessness. Grant me a humble and contrite heart, and create in me a renewed spirit as I prepare once again to see the Savior’s steps toward his ultimate sacrifice for all, including me. Only at the cross was the eternal bond between sin and death broken, so that now, in Christ, even though I die, I live. Eternally. With you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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

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

For a Penitent Spirit

Patient Father,
John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord by preaching a message of repentance. Through your Holy Spirit, work in me a penitent spirit – one that does not seek to diminish or hide my sin, but to confess it. When I come clean to you in confession, confident of your unconditional grace, your forgiveness washes over me and restores my soul. Practicing repentance regularly reminds me that I am not a slave to sin, but to righteousness, and this is not so because of anything on my end, but entirely because your atoning work completely covered all sin. Thank you for your gift of repentance. Keep me always willing and eager to take advantage of it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Be Willing to Own My Wrongs

Patient Lord,
It’s not easy to admit when I’ve been in the wrong. What is easy is getting defensive when someone points out my faults, accuses me of sin, or implies that I should have handled a matter differently. When these situations arise, so does my pride, which gets stirred up whenever it senses my reputation is in question. I then seek to defend, excuse, justify, blame, and even flat out deny the possibility of any error or wrongdoing on my part.

Instead, lead me to swap out my pride for a humble spirit that seeks first to understand the matter. Then, let me be willing to admit fault and own whatever wrong is mine to own. Finally, never let me shy away from an opportunity to apologize, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Rather than being so self-assured and confident of my own self-righteousness, grant me the self-awareness and willingness to first review my own thoughts, words, and actions with a measure of skepticism. Cause me to be open to analyzing my role from the perspective of what I could have done or said differently to avoid things ending up the way they did. Let me be so confident of your grace and forgiveness, that I never have to deceive myself or others into thinking that I am not in need of it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Battling Sexual Addiction

Victorious Savior,
Send your Spirit and strength to those battling sexual addiction. It is not a battle that can be successfully won alone. Sin of any kind is so devastating, not only because even one sin breaks the whole law and is deserving of eternal death, but also because it refuses to be content just to be something dabbled in or as an occasional passing interest. Sin wants to take over and be in control, so when sexual sins are committed, they are no different. 

Lead those with sexual addictions to acknowledge that they are no longer in control, for as long as they believe the lie that they are in control, sin will keep mastering them. When outside help, guidance, and support are brought into the battle, the tide can begin to turn. Let your grace and forgiveness completely wash over the shame and guilt of stricken consciences and contrite hearts. Open the eyes of their hearts to see that sex will never provide the fulfillment or satisfaction that only you can. Redirect their thoughts and passions away from the empty lies of sexual immorality and toward the truth of your Word and promises. Free them from slavery to their addiction, and instead let them find genuine joy and delight in being slaves to righteousness.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Put Sin to Death

Mighty God,
It can be easy to become too casual with my sin. I know grace. I know forgiveness. Sometimes, though, I twist those blessed assurances to rationalize that my sins aren’t really that big a deal since Jesus already paid for them. 

This is foolish and dangerous. Forgive me. Don’t allow me to deceive myself into thinking that sin is a minor thing that can be entertained and kept under control. There is a reason you use such strong language and call us to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. Sin is not to be taken lightly! Strengthen me to take sin seriously, to spot the warning signs ahead of it, and to rebuke it when it entices. Give me the determination not merely to maim sin or injure it, to slow it down or sidestep it, but to kill it completely and put it to death at every opportunity. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Manage My Anger

Lord Jesus,
When you saw your house being utilized as a marketplace for conducting business and carrying out transactions, rather than a place of prayer and coming into the Father’s presence, your righteous anger flared up. Such anger is truly only justified coming from you alone, as you alone are truly righteous. Therefore, your actions were not carried out in sin.

We can’t say the same. When our anger leads to sinful actions, we cannot claim any righteous anger or moral superiority. Sadly, more often than not, whenever my anger leads to sinful behavior, there’s very little room for any sort of excuse anyway (no matter how hard I might try!).

Remind me that I am the one responsible for my emotions and how I handle them. My rage isn’t permissible simply because someone else set me off. My temper isn’t anyone else’s fault but mine. Help me to control and manage my anger, to recognize when it is setting in, and to be cautious and thoughtful before allowing it to manifest into sinful words or actions. You, who had every right to direct your righteous anger toward every single sinner, chose grace and forgiveness instead. Help me choose the same.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Ash Wednesday

Lamb of God,
Today, Ash Wednesday, is much more than just the first day of the season of Lent; it is a reminder of my mortality. Anyone who has stood at the graveside of a Christian friend or family member has likely heard the eerie reminder, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust…” That reference to ashes, as well as the ashen crosses that will mark the foreheads and forearms of many today, serve as emphatic markers of my mortality. I will die. We all will die. Of this we can be certain, for death comes to all who sin. 

But the intent and purpose of this day is not to leave us woefully wallowing and dispirited by the inescapable reality of our death. No, it is a call to repentance, and yes, even a joyful confidence in confessing those very sins for which I will experience death. This confident confession that by faith turns me toward Jesus, my Savior, assures me that he was the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world – and who therefore takes away my sin.

For that reason, though I will die because of my sin, I will never be condemned because of it. Hell is not my final destination, since Jesus endured it in my place. Therefore, today and throughout this season of Lent, may I repeat the refrain on my heart again and again:

“Glory be to Jesus,
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the life-blood
From his sacred veins.

Grace and life eternal
In that blood I find;
Blest be His compassion,
Infinitely kind” (Glory Be to Jesus, stanzas 1&2). 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.