Tag: spiritual

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Self-Control and Maturity

Loving Lord,
When children act up, we understand that they are still learning appropriate behavior and speech in certain situations. That’s why when adults act up, we call it childish. As we grow up, we expect grown-ups to act less like children and more like adults. That line, though, is rather blurry in our world today, Lord, and yes, oftentimes even in me. Therefore, I ask you to increase my self-control. Give me not only the awareness of when I need to filter my speech or simply keep my mouth shut, but also the ability to do it. Help me know how to conduct myself in social settings, and grant me the ability to carry out that behavior. Fill me also with self-control over my thoughts and actions when I am by myself. Curb impulses to overeat or indulge excessively, or to gorge myself on entertainment – certainly regarding what is inappropriate or sinful, but even with what is not. Equip me with both the awareness to avoid being lured into temptation, and the self-control to choose paths of righteousness in those moments instead. In all of this, move me to live not just more and more like a grown-up, but more and more as a mature believer. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Look After Pastors

Good Shepherd,
Thank you for the work you do to shepherd your sheep through pastors. Keep them well fed spiritually, so that they are always faithful to your Word and dedicated to the ministry. At the same time, let us remember that since they, too, are sinners in need of a Savior, their own lives will not be without struggles. Some may be self-inflicted, while others may be the direct result of Satan’s malicious efforts. He seeks to do great damage to your church by maligning ministry, and he knows that targeting pastors is highly effective. Therefore, lead pastors to be transparent about their burdens, to lean on fellow believers for strength and support, and to do battle against their own vices through confession and absolution. Do not leave pastors isolated in ministry and do not allow them to establish the habit of forsaking regular gatherings with other pastors. Let us be vigilant in keeping our eyes open for warning signs that could indicate the need for help, and let us be deliberate about praying for our pastors. In all of this, guard, protect, and bless pastors so that they can serve you and your people well. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For More Persistence in My Prayer Life

Lord Jesus,
Help me be more persistent in my prayers. I ask this both for my prayer life in general and regarding specific prayers. You were deliberate about carving out time in your busy ministry for speaking to our Father in prayer. Shift my attitude about prayer so that, rather than squeezing in prayers here and there when I randomly think of it, I instead order my schedule around set times for prayer. And when I pray specific prayers, prompt me to revisit those same prayers until our Father’s answer is clear. After all, you repeated the same prayer three times in Gethsemane before giving your life for us. Let my persistent prayer life reflect the worth I attach to the magnitude of your sacrifice for me, which earned for me the privilege of prayer in the first place.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Healthy Outside Friendships in Marriage

Dear Jesus,
While husbands and wives often refer to each other as their best friend, we also thank you for the blessings of friendships outside the marriage. When those friends are other couples with whom each spouse gets along, bless those unique friendships with a mutual desire to support and encourage each other in marriage. Let his guy friends be a positive influence on him, serve as godly examples, and speak well of marriage and the opposite sex. Let her girl friends serve as trustworthy sounding boards, sources of edifying conversation, and those with whom to share the joys unique to wives and mothers. Use these healthy outside relationships always and only to bless and complement the friendship between spouses, rather than overshadow or replace it. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Faith-Filled Elders

Shepherd of Souls,
Look with favor on the important work of elders in their congregations. Provide churches with faith-filled elders who are eager to serve you and their fellow believers. As they work together with your pastors and undershepherds, make their spiritual care a blessing to all of the sheep of your flock. Ensure that they are well-trained and equipped for their work. Make them bold and faithful to carry out their responsibilities. Establish effective channels of accountability between pastors, elders, and members, so that support and encouragement are readily available. Through their joint efforts, as they teach, rebuke, correct, and train in your Word with your people, foster robust spiritual growth in your churches everywhere. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Spouses to Pray With and for Each Other

Dear Savior,
You command us to pray, invite us to pray, and promise to bless us as we pray. If these truths all apply to us individually, then surely any marriage will be enriched when spouses enjoy healthy prayer lives. Move husbands and wives to pray with and to pray for each other. Lead them to be open, genuine, and vulnerable with each other, fostering a close connection that allows them to build a powerful prayer life together. Build them up in their faith so that prayer becomes as natural as breathing. Through a healthy prayer life, deepen spouses’ spiritual intimacy with you and with each other, and use their prayers as a dynamic force for good in your church and in their communities. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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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

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To Faithfully Use Our Gifts

Gracious Lord,
We don’t all share the same gifts, and we acknowledge that some are more gifted in certain areas than others. Regardless of the type or quality of our gifts, though, each of us can commit to using them faithfully. Since you can use every single gift in unique ways to build up the body of Christ, every gift we have is valuable. It also means your church and the ministry are not functioning optimally when gifts go unused. Let us encourage confidence in each other and spur one another on to maximize the gifts you’ve given us. Give us the courage to call out apathy and indifference when necessary, and to restore to one another the joy of salvation, that we might be eager and use our gifts for your kingdom purposes.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Prioritize Spiritual Health in Marriage

Caring Savior,
In marriage, your intent for husband and wife is not only to bring them together physically and emotionally, but also spiritually. In fact, when they share a deep spiritual bond together with you, it sets the tone for all other aspects of their relationship. While it isn’t uncommon for spouses to feel frustrated when it comes to challenges regarding sexual or emotional intimacy, they often fail to see how much the role of spiritual intimacy plays into it. If we are not close to you, we often lack the tools necessary to cultivate deeper intimacy with each other. Understanding, patience, compassion, care, grace, selflessness – such qualities are not naturally found or fostered within us, but rather find their source in you. Therefore, help husbands and wives make their time together with you their priority. Then, as you work grace and forgiveness in them through your Word, you also equip them with what is needed to lovingly, selflessly put spouse before self, just as you, Lord, did with us. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Reply to Others With Gentleness

Gentle Savior,
Help me remain in control of how I respond to others. Just because our society has normalized rage-filled responses any time a person is set off doesn’t mean you permit it. Instead, let our responses be filled with gentleness and self-control. Forgive us for knowingly and intentionally allowing ourselves to be drawn into divisive dialogues that will feed our sinful desire to quarrel and fight. Guard our hearts from such temptations and grant us wisdom to avoid the allure of arguing. If my conversations are always to be seasoned with salt, dear Lord, give me the discipline to be slow to respond. Doing so will not only allow me time to carefully choose the words I use, but also to consider how my response could be taken by others. Finally, give me the discernment to know when it’s wise to avoid providing a response that I may regret, and the humility to realize that my opinion is not so valuable that I need to express it about everything going on around me. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.