- We who dwell in your shelter, Most High, will rest in your shadow. We will say of you, Lord, “You are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust.” Surely you will save us from the fowler’s snare and from deadly pestilence. You will cover us with your feathers, and under your wings we will find refuge. Your faithfulness will be our shield and rampart. (Ps. 91:1-4)
- We will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at our side, 10,000 at our right hand, but it will not come near us. We will observe only with our eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. (Ps. 91:5-8)
- If we say, “You, LORD, are our refuge,” and we make you, the Most High, our dwelling, no harm will overtake us, no disaster will come near our tent. (Ps. 91:9-10)
- For you will command your angels to guard us in all our ways; they will lift us up in their hands, so that we will not strike our feet against a stone. We will tread on the lion and the cobra; we will trample the great lion and the serpent. (Ps. 91:11-13)
- Lord, you have said that because we love you, you will rescue us; you will protect us, for we acknowledge your name. We will call on you, and you will answer us; you will be with us in trouble, you will deliver us and honor us. With long life you will satisfy us and show us our salvation. (Ps. 91:14-16)
- Men often think looking at pornography doesn’t hurt anyone, but it damages how they relate to God, which will affect how they relate to their wives and children. Pray that men will not look with approval on anything that is vile. (Ps. 101:3)
- Proverbs 25:11 says, “The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver.” Pray that men will be generous with praise and encouragement to their wives and children.
- Because of their many responsibilities, men sometimes skip dedicated time with God. Pray that men will model for their children the importance of being still before God and spending time in his presence. (Ps. 46:10)
- Divorced men face many challenges. Pray that these men will resist the temptation to take revenge or create difficulty for their ex-wives out of spite. (Rom. 12:17)
- Men have the power to build up or tear down their families with their words. Pray that God will help men to curb their anger and destructive language. (Col. 3:8).
- Our identity as men is often challenged by the culture around us, suggesting carnal definitions as to what a “real man” should be. Pray specifically for men to rediscover their God-given identity as his sons – the offspring of God living as representatives of the Father. (Acts 17:29)
- As sons of God, born of his Spirit, we can also be led by the Spirit. Pray that men will cultivate a renewed sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, resulting in victorious Christian living. (Rom. 8:14)
- Men often fall prey to the “old man,” falling back into sinful patterns and behaviors that are inconsistent with being a child of God. Pray for men to experience daily victory over the old man by “putting on the new man” created in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 4:22-24)
- Our true identity in Christ involves the new birth of the “inner man.” Pray for men to experience God’s spiritual strength in the inner man by harvesting disciplined time spent with God in his Word and prayer fellowship. (Eph. 3:16; 2 Cor. 4:16)
- As sons of God and brothers of Jesus, we have all we need for life and godliness. Pray for men to live in this identity as sons and brothers, relying upon the promises of God transferred to us by the Holy Spirit, while we add virtues to our faith. (2 Pet. 1:4-9)
- Our intercession can be informed by praying Scripture. In Colossians 1:9-10, the apostle Paul prayed for his readers: “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
- It takes spiritual strength to persevere in prayer. This ability comes as the Father elevates us, “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:11-14).
- We are motivated to pray in faith and anticipation that Christ will ultimately be victorious at his second coming. Then the Prince of Peace will reign on earth: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken” (Micah 4:3-4).
- Many in Christendom pray to God through Mary; however, we are to go directly to the throne of grace through Christ himself because of his finished work (Heb. 4:16). Mary herself was clear in her understanding of the divine authority of Jesus when she said to the servants during the miracle of Cana, “Whatsoever he says to you, do it” (John 2:5).
- Those who are afflicted for Christ’s sake often are the ones who pray most fervently. They can be assured that God will judge his enemies and reward his suffering children. The Great Tribulation will prompt this angelic praise: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You” (Rev. 15:3-4).
- One of men’s constant challenges is how to handle their role as leader with grace and wisdom and without imposing this authority in a harsh and disrespectful way. Pray that your leadership will reflect the attitude of Jesus when he washed the disciples feet: “For I have given you an example that you also do as I did to you” (John 13:15).
- As we are bombarded to buy what we don’t need and to consume what is not healthy, pray that you will be sober and discerning in your choices and priorities. “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accomplished by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Tim. 6:6-7).
- Time is a precious commodity. To plan and maintain your devotional life will require resolve and discipline. Remember: “Prayer should not be treated as the last resort, but rather as the place the work begins.” The Lord alerted his disciples, who slept when he needed them most, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).
- Paul, the dynamic and committed apostle who surrendered his life fully to Christ, worked more than anyone and suffered in the extreme for the gospel. Yet he insisted that “agape,” the love of God in us, is essential if our attitudes and actions are to truly count (1 Cor. 13). Pray that the love of Christ will fill you to overflowing today.
- As you face the challenges of today, pray that the Spirit of the Lord will rest on you, imbuing you with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. (Isa. 11:1-2)
- Lord Jesus, thank you for making it possible for me to become a part of the family of God! You have done your part; you died for my sins and arose to give me new life. But now I must do my part. Therefore, I believe you and receive you into my life. Thank you for making me a son of the true and living God! (John 1:12)
- Dear God, your plan of salvation is magnificent. You have done the work, and I get to enjoy the benefits. My privilege is to believe in my heart that Jesus Christ was crucified and raised from the dead. So I do believe in my heart, and I also confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord of all my life. Praise you, God, for your saving grace! (Rom. 10:9-10)
- Heavenly Father, I look at Abraham, the father of faith, and I am amazed at his great faith. Since you have given me that same measure of faith, I purpose to believe you. Lord, cause me to see with the eye of faith how you call the things “that are not as though they were” (Rom. 4:17). Show me how to cooperate with you by simply believing and receiving! This is the law of the kingdom of heaven – the law of faith (Rom. 3:27).
- Oh Lord, our forefathers believed and therefore spoke according to your word, and you brought it to pass. Now, in union with Christ, I have been granted that same spirit of faith. Cause me likewise to speak boldly that which you show me and will most surely bring it to pass! (2 Cor. 4:13)
- Lord, the spiritual darkness is growing around me. The worldview of most people is determined by philosophies that negate your existence. People are blind to the obvious, ignore the laws of nature and threaten those who believe otherwise. Help me to make a difference, to reflect your love and to witness for Christ, the light of the world.
- Pray for the Lord’s will to be done in your life. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
