Tag: time

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Put – and Keep – You First Daily

Greatest Treasure,
Although we so easily and regularly convince ourselves otherwise, there is never anything on our daily to-do list as valuable as our time with you. There is simply no replacement for daily time spent in your Word. No matter how packed our day may be, no matter how much we need to get done, no matter how many pressing issues we’re facing, do not allow us to deceive ourselves into believing that we don’t have time for you or that such time somehow limits what else we can accomplish. You call on us to seek your kingdom and your righteousness, with the assurance that you will take care of the rest. Help us show you that we believe your promise by giving you the first fruits of each day, every day, and not the leftovers. Then, show us how graciously and reliably you keep your promise. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Do the Work

Gracious Lord,
Each day is a gift from you, twenty-four hours freely entrusted to us to manage in a manner that shows honor, love, and respect to you and my neighbor. One of the great enemies behind the mismanagement of our time is procrastination. When I allow myself to put off certain responsibilities or delay plans until I feel like following through, it shouldn’t surprise me that such feelings almost never seem to show up. Feelings don’t fuel traction; taking action does. Grant me the self-discipline to avoid internal back-and-forth conversations debating my drive to get things done, and instead nudge me to start moving in the right direction. I have goals and plans and dreams, all of which you can richly bless as you see fit. Guide me to give you something to bless, not by putting things off, but by putting the work in. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Those Who Serve on Sundays Unnoticed

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. Many who serve on Sundays do so behind the scenes. Thank you for their willingness to give the gift of their time and talents in service to you and their congregations in various ways. Let them find a joyful reward in seeing how their service is a blessing to others. While they don’t serve for the recognition, prompt others to express their appreciation and to thank them regularly, so they feel valued. Use their service to build up others and to showcase the gospel as clearly and as beautifully as possible. Move them to always give their best, because you are worthy of nothing less. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Have and See the Blessings of Patience

Dear God,
While your timing is perfect, my patience is not. Virtually every area of life has sped up over time, meaning we are used to getting what we want almost immediately. We don’t have to wait until a certain night of the week for our favorite show – we can stream it right now. Same-day delivery means days or weeks of waiting for our purchase is most often a thing of the past. Our meals can be heated up in minutes and our phones give us instant answers and feedback on anything we want to know.

As a result, we aren’t accustomed to waiting. Having to do so can make us anxious and irritable. We struggle to wait in line or at the stop light. And we also struggle with the timing of your promises. We want you to keep them on our time, not yours. We want you to act now, not months or years from now. So I ask you to be patient with me in the midst of my impatience. Forgive me. Grant me a spirit that can slow down and wait. Let me use my windows of waiting for prayer and spiritual reflection, and allow me to see the many blessings of patience in my life and in my interactions with others. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Value Your Gift of Time

Eternal Father,
Time is one of the most precious gifts you give us. Unfortunately, it often isn’t until a significant portion of time in our lives has passed us by that we realize it. When we are young, we feel as if time is an unlimited commodity. As we get older though, and unfinished tasks pile up, the window to achieving our hopes and dreams shrinks, and we see so many other lives cut short all around us, we treasure time more and more. Lead me to set aside time each day to give thoughtful consideration to how I intend to put your gift of time to use for those 24 hours. Limit the time that is so easily lost in useless or senseless activities. Guide me instead toward a profitable and fulfilling use of time that edifies, blesses, or serves others and me, while also bringing honor and glory to you.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Bless My Downtime

Selfless Savior,
Bless my downtime. I look forward to open time on my calendar when nothing is scheduled, but I can also mismanage it if I don’t have any ideas in mind about how I plan to use that time. Then, in contrast to the eager anticipation of looking forward to that time, I look back and regret it if I feel like it was wasted.  

Using your Word as my guide, help me to establish priorities and values that can help me feel as if my downtime is managed well. Let me be OK with simply doing nothing on occasion, and allowing my mind and body to recharge and reset. This is a blessing from you! At the same time, give me the discipline to manage affairs and responsibilities so that I don’t neglect them when I have extra time to take care of things. Activities and hobbies can bring fulfillment, too, as well as simply spending unscheduled time with friends and family members. Guard me from being too rigid when managing downtime, but let my use of it honor you, bless others, and be a blessing to me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Appreciate the Gift of Time

God of perfect timing,
I frequently feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day. When I consider what is on my plate each day, what didn’t get finished yesterday, and what is still coming tomorrow and right around the corner, it can be overwhelming. I can get frustrated or anxious, feeling like I’ll never get it all done. 

Yet, both your timing and your gift of time are perfect, and in that perfect wisdom, you established seven 24-hour days to make up each week. Let me take to heart your reminder that I do not need to worry about yesterday or tomorrow, as each day has enough to worry about on its own. Grant me the resolve to trust your promise to daily provide all that I need, so that I can focus on doing what I can get done well each day – no more and no less. Lead me to a deeper appreciation of your gift of time, striving to enjoy it in pursuit of productivity and pleasure. Keep worry far from me, so that it does not rob me of the joy of the present. And, while I will never successfully get everything done, I rejoice that you did on my behalf – especially that which matters most: my salvation!  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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To Manage My Time So I Can Serve Others

Selfless Savior,
There is a much to be said for being productive and efficient, as we want to manage your gift of time well. However, if we seldom pause to reflect on why we are driven to get more done in less time, then we easily end up simply filling that extra time with more work. Grant me the blessing of setting aside margin and moments to reflect on how I might use time for more than just getting more done.

Time is one of the most valuable blessings we have, and it isn’t just about getting more done, but about what we get done in that time – and how we serve others with it. Sometimes just spending time with others who are lonely can be a tremendous gift. Serving others through acts of service that are difficult or impossible for them to carry out on their own can refresh their spirits. Taking care of mundane or menial tasks for those who are busy caring for others uplifts and encourages them. Help me then, to continue to strive for productivity and efficiency, but not for my own sake; rather, let it free up time for me to bless and serve others in meaningful ways that matter to them. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Fathers to Prioritize Time with Their Children

Perfect Father,
Rarely can it be said that fathers and their children spend enough time together. Help fathers to prioritize spending quality time with their kids. When obligations, responsibilities, and deadlines are looming, free fathers from the stress of things left undone, and help them to realize that neglecting time with their children has potentially even greater consequences than incomplete to-do lists. 

Lead fathers to seek a balance between structured, scheduled activities and free time that is not marked for anything other than just being present together with their kids. Both uses of time are valuable and are a tremendous blessing to children as well as fathers. With this time together, let fathers have not only a positive influence on their children in general, but especially a godly influence. Use fathers to model what the Christian faith looks like, not in theory, but when put into practice in real life. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

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For Flexibility

Loving Father,
While structure and routine in our lives provide stability and security, there are times and seasons in our lives that also require flexibility. Help me identify these situations when they arise, and give me both the discernment and the willingness to be appropriately flexible. Keep me from avoiding each extreme: being either too rigid with routine or too flaky in my flexibility.

Direct me also to avoid forcing flexibility on others or changing just for the sake of change. As I assess what any given situation calls for, remind me to give consideration to the needs of others who might be affected. When adaptability is called for, let me proceed with patience and caution for the benefit of those who might struggle more with any changes. Allow flexibility and adaptability to remain blessings by always being implemented lovingly and appropriately. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.