DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Wonderful Variety in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Sundays are for worship. Thank you for the rich variety in worship that you have blessed your Church with for as long as your people have gathered. Never before have Christians had so many resources available to them to incorporate into worship. So many cultures have so much to offer your Church as she worships. Different seasons of the church year invite different themes and moods appropriate for their unique focus. These are reflected in diverse Scripture readings, hymnody, and artistic expression. Tradition and history anchor us to the past, while new and contemporary can provide fresh ways to connect us to the present. Each has its place, provided your Son and his work are central. Grant us patience and discernment as we utilize technology, old and new, always seeking to ensure that you are not lost in the novelty or demeaned by mediocrity. You deserve our best, having served us with your best, so let us use our finest gifts, abilities, and resources to magnify you every time we worship. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Rekindle Our Love of Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Nevertheless, it’s easy for us to approach worship with ho-hum hearts. We see the same people, sing the same songs, pray the same prayers, and hear the same Scriptures. We see it all as so monotonous and mundane.

Forgive us! How shallow we are for ever giving your Word such shabby treatment. Have mercy on us! How wrong we are to shortchange your sacraments by viewing them as nothing more than a lengthy add-on to the service. 

Rekindle in us the love of worship. Draw us to delight in being in your presence. Let our ears and our hearts perk up when your Word is read, and move our mouths to joyfully sing songs of praise. May we glorify you in a worthy manner with our worship, even as you edify and feed us through it. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For the Blessing of Music

Dear Lord,
Music plays such an important part in our lives – thank you for this special gift. You have blessed so many people with wonderful musical gifts throughout history. You have then used their gifts to extend the blessing of music to so many ears and hearts as well. During the holidays, we especially appreciate the role music can play in evoking nostalgic memories from seasons past. We are grateful for how secular and sacred music each affect us in different ways. We pray that sacred music, from classical chorales to simple hymns, will always have an important role, for through their emphasis on the coming of the Savior and his joyous birth, they beautifully proclaim the good news of salvation. Continue to use this type of music and singing to turn hearts from darkness to the light of faith for generations to come.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For the Blessing of Hymns and Songs in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. When we worship together with others, we have the opportunity to proclaim your promises and your saving acts through music and song. Thank you for the contributions of the skilled writers and composers of each generation who have gone before us and left their mark on the church. Their timeless hymns, musical arrangements, and choral pieces have edified and blessed believers in corporate worship and in personal reflection for ages. 

Let those hymns which have stood the test of time not be buried and forgotten in our generation. Continue to raise up in your church those with the musical gifts and abilities to put your Word to song, not only to move and inspire, but also to teach and instruct. Guide them to craft theologically strong and substantive hymns and songs that will feed your flock for generations to come. Let the music of worship consist of such more than catchy tunes; let it nourish souls and satisfy spirits with the timeless touch of your gracious gospel.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.