DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Facing Persistent Problems

Mighty God,
Now that Christmas has passed, some are stuck with the reality that their problems still persist. Having temporarily avoided them or pretending the magic of Christmas would somehow make them all disappear didn’t actually fix anything. However, what Christmas can do is change our view of the problems we face. Having been reminded that you came into this world to overcome it and to defeat the devil’s work, our problems seem so much smaller by comparison. Give strength and determination to those dealing with ongoing issues and challenges, and remind them that the Savior born in Bethlehem is the Mighty God who is strong to deliver and save. Lead them to turn to you, to lean on you, and to trust in you to guide and direct them through their troubles. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Guide Me in Self-Discipline

Sanctifying Spirit,
Along with power and love, you equip us with a spirit of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Apart from you we only know darkness and are enslaved by sinful and rebellious attitudes. Without your enlightenment, the evil one deceives us, hiding our lack of discipline behind a false freedom that convinces us we’re in control and in charge of our lives.

But, when your grace opens our eyes to see the truth, we see how blind we truly were. Only by faith do we welcome and embrace a spirit of self-discipline. We desire to turn away from temptation and go to war against wickedness. We are eager to rebuke unrighteousness in our own lives and shield ourselves from Satan. Intensify the spirit of self-discipline within us so that we are determined to establish sound spiritual boundaries in our lives to help guard and protect ourselves. Guide us to pursue what is good and pure and noble in your sight, so that we magnify you with our whole lives. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Let Your Love Flow Through Me to Others

Loving God,
Not only have you equipped me with a spirit of power, but also of love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Without first being on the recieving end of your love, I would struggle mightily to love others as you call me to. This is obvious because even with your love I have a hard time loving others well! 

Therefore, whenever I find it challenging to love my neighbor, shift my thoughts away from my own inadequacy and instill in me the confidence of your Spirit working in me. Jesus’ perfect love overcomes my lacking love. And, just as Jesus was equipped with the Holy Spirit, so am I. So let the love of both the Spirit and the Son wash over me and flow through me to others. Lead me to focus less on my flawed love for others, and more on being a conduit for your amazing love to be extended to others through me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Live Confidently in Your Power

Mighty God,
Move me to take to heart your reminder that you have not equipped me with a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). While your power and might are readily on display throughout the pages of Scripture, I forget that, by faith, I am privy to that very power. Because I know my shortcomings and am well aware of my own disappointments, any confidence I have easily dwindles. I am reluctant to speak up or take action when the opportunities arise. I let my fear of past failures prevent me from moving forward.

Direct me to look to you for strength and power – a strength and power that I could never match on my own! Where my own power would buckle and collapse, your power is strong enough to move mountains. Since you are the providing this power, I don’t have to look within myself for these qualities, but to you. Where my self-doubt has crippled me, let me act simply on faith, certain that you will provide me with the words and actions to move forward with confidence. Grant me a fearless faith that is powerfully spurred on not by who I am, but by whose I am.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Those Facing Addiction

Strong Savior,
Addictions can take many different forms, but all of them are destructive. While we live in Christian freedom, that freedom doesn’t allow us to be mastered by anything. Regardless the source of addiction – drugs, alcohol, pornography, shopping, gambling, etc. – whatever we permit to enslave and control us has power over us. When that happens, we are no longer free, but slaves. 

Come to the aid of all who are ensnared by addiction. Expose whatever lies they believe that only serve to downplay, hide, or facilitate their addiction. Surround them with those who care enough to point out the truth to them, and lead them to see and own the truth about their addiction. Provide a pathway out of their addiction and the support and accountability to keep them on track. Hold them up by the power of your Word, hold your cross before them when their battle is fierce, and remind them of the price you paid to free them from sin and addiction. Let them turn to you and find in you everything their addiction could never satisfy or provide.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Put Off My Old Self

Gracious Spirit,
You have made me to be a new creation, holy in your sight and set apart for your purposes. Nevertheless, until you call me home to heaven or you return – whichever happens first – I still battle with my old self. This is a daily battle that can only be won with your strength. Clothe me, therefore, with added layers of your power so that I can daily put off the old self with its desires and inclinations.

The more you fill me, the less room there is for my old self to dwell in me. Grant me also the ability to see with physical eyes and to practically understand what this spiritual battle looks like in my day-to-day living. Make me aware when my old self takes over my thinking and my desires, so that I can call him out and silence him. Lead me away from anything that might attract the attention of my old self in order to deter his influence in my life. Give to me the necessary resilience, determination, and perseverance to never tire of putting off my old self.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For Your Strength to Sustain Me

Almighty God,
I am not interested in pretending that my own strength is sufficient to sustain me in any way. So I ask you to strengthen me with your power, according to your might. Only then will I have the ability to patiently endure. Only then will I have any hope or chance of withstanding Satan’s attacks and defending against him in spiritual warfare. 

Strengthen me with your sacraments. Help me to embrace my Spirit-filled identity as victor, which you anointed me with through my baptism. Reinvigorate me through the Supper when my soul is weary and worn, and rejuvenate me through your body and blood to rejoin the spiritual battle with fresh vigor. Equip me with the weapon of your Word to fight valiantly, to persevere, and to confidently expect the victory you have already promised and won. When you alone are the only source of my strength, I know I will never fail. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Persevere Through Adversity

Dedicated Lord,
When faced with adversity, it’s easy to want to give in or give up. Sometimes just anticipating the extra time and effort it takes to handle certain challenges is enough to take the wind out of our sails. When such struggles also require physical pain or the emotional weight of stepping outside our comfort zone, it can feel like too much to take on.

Without your strength, these types of difficulties might overtake me; but I am not without your strength. You promise to help me navigate hard things in life. Let that be the confidence I need to persevere. Help me to look up rather than give up, and remind me that there is great blessing in simply enduring and seeing things through. Grow and stretch me through adversity, so that I may be better equipped to face the next hardship, and qualified to support others through theirs, too. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

For a Strong Heart

Mighty Lord,
A weak heart is a significant health concern. Even relatively light physical activity can be a risk. A poor diet could cause even greater damage. Things that could normally be taken for granted with a healthy heart have to be given serious consideration when the heart is weak.

What is true of a physically weak heart is also true of a spiritually weak heart. A weak heart may be easily led astray. It can drift away from God or depend on other people or things for what God promises to provide. It easily folds in the face of temptation. It questions and even challenges God. 

Grant me, therefore, a strong heart. Strengthen my heart through your Word. Build it up by increasing my faith and cementing my trust in you. Make me spiritually heart-healthy so that I cling to your promises and confidently walk in your ways. Let me be a solid example for others to follow and use me to lead and guide others closer to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

To Prioritize Physical Fitness

Mighty God,
Spiritually speaking, you are and always will be my rock and my source of strength. Whether I am struggling with weakness in temptation or wavering in trust, your strength is the solution. 

But the blessing of strength is not limited merely to the spiritual. You have also given us flesh and blood bodies capable of growing physically strong. Since we are called to take care of everything that you have entrusted to us, our physical bodies are surely included. The many benefits of exercise and physical fitness are well-documented, and since we desire to maximize the time you graciously give us here on earth in service to you and others, we therefore want to strive to be in good shape.

Make our physical health a priority for us. Help us to be disciplined when it comes to any physical activity, realizing that something is always better than nothing. Make us as willing to push our bodies as we are to pamper them. Keep us from being stationary or overly sedentary for extended lengths of time. Along with a faith that moves mountains, grant us also a body that moves as well as you designed it to.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.