Tag: sin

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Genuine Repentance

Spirit of Truth,
When I recognize both the gravity of my sin and the gravity of my Savior’s sacrifice for my sin, I realize there is no place for a casual relationship with sin in my life. Therefore, I ask you to work in me a penitent heart. Move my repentance beyond apologies to include action. Forgive me for ever trying to pass off repentance as merely uttering the words, “I’m sorry.” Let my contrition be genuine, and let it be reflected by behavior that is not quick to return to sin again immediately after my confession and apology. Instead, let my repentance be the real change you call for from your disciples. Since this doesn’t come naturally to me, cause your Spirit to dwell in me through your Word and Sacrament, stir my heart to sincere daily repentance, and my life to daily display it.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Awareness and Avoidance of Sin

Mighty Lord,
Awaken me to the lethal threat of sin in my life. Whether my attitude toward my sin becomes too casual or too calloused, either is a very spiritually dangerous place to be. When I allow that perception of my sin to prevail, I have become blind to the damaging and potentially damning nature of sin. While sin may at first pretend to permit me to be master while it plays the role of servant, it is never content to remain in that role. Rather, it intends to usurp the role of master in my life. Whenever any sin seeks to latch on in my life, or in weakness I beckon it, send your Spirit to snap me out of my spiritual lethargy and rouse me to vigilance, so that I watch and pray instead. Since you have already defeated the evil one and freed me from the chains of sin’s slavery, in your mercy prompt me to flee those chains any time I catch sight of them again.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Forgiveness to Forgive

Merciful Father,
I stand before you forgiven. Undeservedly. Unconditionally. Unquestionably. Freely. Fully.

Move me to forgive others. Undeservedly. Unconditionally. Unquestionably. Freely. Fully. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be My Brother’s Keeper

Dear Jesus,
As our world seems to increasingly call right, wrong and wrong, right, it can be tempting for believers to fall in line and keep their mouths shut – even when it comes to our responsibilities to each other. But, since you have called us to be our brother’s keeper, we care too much about those you’ve placed in our lives to remain silent when their souls are at risk. When we see the damage sin does and is doing in the lives of our brothers or sisters in faith, give us the courage to speak up. When we have reservations about how doing so may affect our relationship, open our eyes to see how much more important their relationship with you is than their relationship with us. Bless our efforts at calling others to repentance, so that their souls are restored and grace wins another victory.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Be Excited to Forgive Others

Forgiving Lord,
Make me eager to forgive. You’ve entrusted to us the authority to forgive others who are sorry for their sin, and to warn those who aren’t that they are forfeiting your forgiveness. This is no small responsibility! Neither is it optional, since you build your Church on the gracious forgiveness that you extend to and through believers. You paid for all sin, not so that we would relish the times to refuse forgiveness for those with no remorse, but to delight in the privilege of announcing forgiveness to sorry sinners. Do not let me ever be the one to clog up the funnel of forgiveness you long to lavish on all people. Instead, grant me great joy in every opportunity to announce the peace of your forgiveness.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Grow in Confession

God of Grace,
I want to more fully appreciate your gift of grace. In order for that to happen, I need to grow in identifying my sin and acknowledging it to you. Help me make this practice of confessing my sin a regular part of my life. Through repentance, not only am I forced to face the frequency of my sin, but also trained to regret the frustrating repetition of it, leading me to despise my sin as I should. Most importantly, the more aware I am of my sin, the more deeply I appreciate that your grace completely covers it. When I get better at being real about my sin, instead of excusing, justifying, or downplaying it, that is when your grace becomes more and more real to me, too. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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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

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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

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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

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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.