Tag: speech

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For the Confidence to Have the Difficult Conversation

Dear Jesus,
Today I pray for the courage to finally have a difficult conversation I’ve been avoiding for too long. I’ve played out how the conversation could go so many times in my mind, and I’ve allowed my fear of the possible outcome to paralyze and prevent me from actually initiating it. I know avoiding it is not the solution; it only prolongs the burdensome weight of unnecessarily carrying the extra emotional baggage around. Give me a spirit of self-discipline to lay out the steps necessary to finally have this conversation, and the humble confidence to patiently, lovingly carry it out. Guide me to trust you to provide the words I need, give me grace in speaking them, and grant that what I say is heard and received in a healthy way and with understanding. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

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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To Speak Respectfully

Loving Savior,
How I speak to and about others matters. When I speak negatively about someone to others, I am influencing their opinions about that person’s reputation. While there may be a time and a place for this when safety concerns or dangerous risks may potentially be associated with someone, more often than not, that isn’t the case. I am either speaking carelessly or thoughtlessly without any regard for the impact my words have on someone else’s reputation. Or, I am deliberately disparaging others with malicious intent. Forgive me, for I know that if the tables were turned and I discovered others speaking similarly about me, I would not stand for it. Don’t, therefore, allow me to be involved in any way with such talk of others.

Instead, lead me to speak respectfully of others, even when I disagree with them. Let my words be positive and encouraging, always seeking to build up the reputation of others or come to their defense. The world’s words aim to tear down and divide. May my words instead heal, restore, and unify whenever and wherever possible. May my words be worthy of your name that I bear and may they always honor you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Grace-Filled Speech

Dear Lord,
The gift of speech comes from you. As you demonstrated at the Tower of Babel, you are more than capable of correcting us when we take your gift of speech for granted or use it to defy or oppose you. At Pentecost, you also proved that language barriers and speech itself will not keep your work from being carried out as you determine. 

Speech can be used to destroy and tear down or to defend and built up. Help me to be thoughtful in my speech, pausing first to consider whether my own motives are pure or not. Then, help me discern how my words may be received by others before I open my mouth. Remind me that my comments or responses are not always necessary, and if they aren’t constructive or beneficial, it may be best simply to leave some things unsaid.  Direct me to speak well of others and to speak kindly, and let my words be a blessing to others. Guide my speech so that it is always marked by positivity and grace.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Actions That Amplify My Words

Heavenly Father,
Words are powerful. Help me use them frequently to offer encouragement, support, and kindness to others. Words build up and spur on others.

Nevertheless, there is a reason we say actions speak louder than words. The power of words is multiplied when supported by actions. So I ask that as you help me make the most of opportunities to speak words that uplift and empower, you also make me mindful of how my words can be amplified by my actions. Love verbally expressed can be physically shown. Sympathies offered can be accompanied by thoughtful gestures. Cheers of encouragement can be stretched even further by acts that demonstrate genuine belief in others. Let my words speak loud tones of positivity, but may my actions support them and help ensure that they hit their mark in serving others.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Speak Well of Others

Loving Lord,
Gossip is all around us. We live in a culture that effortlessly tears down, assumes the worst, and passes along negative information about others that may not even be true. I have been guilty of such speech and I have been on the receiving end of hurtful comments. We need to see that the problem isn’t only with the other person. Determining whether they did or didn’t do something in the first place or if they did, debating if it’s as grievous as charged, isn’t the only issue that needs attention.

The other part of the problem is my heart.

That’s the part of the issue I want to control. The way to keep my lips from malicious speech toward others is to guard my heart and mind from malicious thoughts. Regardless of what someone else did, I want to be aware of my own intent before I comment or share an opinion. Lead me always to assume the best of others and keep me from spreading slander and vitriol. Even when others have done wrong, let me see the wisdom in giving thoughtful consideration before offering any response. Help me to be quick to defend and speak well of others whenever possible and do not allow me to swim in the cesspool of society’s shocking speech. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Use Words Wisely

Spirit of Wisdom,
There is a time to listen and a time to speak, and I pray for the wisdom to know the difference. The wisdom of Proverbs and the warnings of James highlight the damage the tongue can do when words are spoken carelessly. In order to ensure that my speech honors you, blesses others, and upholds my reputation, make me quick to listen and slow to speak.

Keep my pride in check, for it desires to manipulate conversations and somehow make them about me. Fill me with the humility to hear others out before I insist on being heard. Give me ears that seek to understand. When I am quick to speak, may it be to ask questions that bring forth clarity in my assessment of a situation. Let thoughtfulness, charity, and wisdom accompany my words, so that my speech builds up others with courage and confidence, uplifts and comforts those who are hurting, and appropriately rebukes and admonishes those who are in the wrong. Use my ears and my lips to produce a harvest of righteousness in your kingdom. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.