1. Pray first – “I urge, then, first of all…” (1 Tim. 2:1), Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy. We, too, need to be reminded that before anything else, we need to seek God’s presence with petition, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving. That is the best start into a new day.
2. Love God – “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching…” (John 14:23). I learn to know God through the Bible. If I do what the Word of God tells me, I will recognize more and more the wisdom and power that emanates from it and grow in my trust in the Lord.
3. Mirror Image – “As God is to me, I am to you!” As men, who are esteemed and loved by God, we, too, should relate to others with appreciation and look at them as God does. This way our life becomes an invitation to know Him. We are ambassadors of Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
4. Wealth – All the splendor of this world would be His, if He would kneel down. This was how Satan tempted Jesus. Our self-worth is not based on our wealth or possessions. We would never have enough of those. “Worship the Lord, your God, and serve Him only,” was the answer Jesus gave. (Matt. 4:8-10)
5. Conjugal love – “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). The relationship with our spouse should reflect how Christ deals with us. That is the secret of a blessed marriage. Make this your goal and prayer.
6. Fatherly duty – “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). For most of us fathers it’s easier to tell our children what we expect than to educate and train them in God’s ways. Lord, help me to model to my children the love and patience you have with me.
7. Bible reading – As seed has to be planted and watered in order to grow, so reading and discussing Scripture in the family is vital for the spiritual development of our children. The commandments of God should be in our hearts. (Deut. 6:6,7) Pray for wisdom and be faithful in leading your family daily in meaningful devotions.
8. Prayer warriors – “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8). Prayer is heartfelt communication with God Almighty. Be ready to become a prayer warrior whose way is blameless and whose heart and mind are fixed on God who hears and answers prayers.
9. Be a leader – “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Tim. 3:1). The measure for a godly leader, according to 1Tim. 3:2-13, is not his intellect or theological knowledge, rather his character. Pray to be a man transformed by God who humbly leads in his family and church.
10. Be responsible – “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘of every tree in the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat…’” (Gen. 2:16,17a) God entrusted his first prohibition to the man. Friend, pray for an obedient heart and accept your responsibility as a man.
11. Show compassion – “And he arose and came to his father…his father saw him and had compassion…” (Luke 15:20). Jesus pictures before us his Father, our God, who never gives up on his children. Pray, that even when your children have gone astray, that you will still love them and receive them back.
12. Turn around – “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children…Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Mal. 4:6). Our society is decaying because of the broken family relations. Search your heart and if the relationship with your children is broken, ask God’s pardon and reach out to them with patience and love.
13. Knowledge counts – “I write you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning” (1 John 2:13). Becoming a physical father is easy, but to be a spiritual father requires work. The Apostle Paul already lamented “you do not have many fathers.” Pray to be a man approved by God who blesses the next generation.
14. To the glory of God – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). He who never knew starvation might easily forget to be thankful for the plenty he enjoys. Every blessing comes from God. Thank Him for your meals, clothing, family, friends, work, e.g. They are God’s gift to you.
15. God given skills – When God calls you to serve Him, He will provide the needed skills (Exodus 31:1-11). Thank God for allowing you to participate in the great harvest of souls, and for equipping you with the skills you need to succeed in accomplishing His plans for you.
16. Weak but strong – If you feel weak and unworthy of sharing the Good News with other people, remember Gideon. (Judges 6:14-16) God never depends on your strength – it is the other way around. Praise God that He will always give you the strength you need. (Deut. 33:25).
17. Fellowship – It is difficult to make a bonfire with only one piece of wood. In the same way, we need each other as followers of Christ to keep “on fire for Him.” Thank God for the opportunities He gives you to interact with fellow believers. (Heb.10:24-25)
18. Go tell them – You do not need a doctorate in theology to share a testimony about Christ. Just tell other people what Jesus has done for you and how you experience Him in your life. God will take whatever you sow and use it to bring other people into His presence. (Eccl. 11:1)
19. Consider – “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider…” (Eccl. 7:14) Life is unpredictable; therefore, God wants for you to think with foresightedness. He wants to lead in your decision-making so that you can be a good steward of everything He entrusted you with. Just ask Him for wisdom.
20. What are you looking at? – Dear Lord Jesus, You are the source of my faith. I praise You for initiating my salvation and I trust You to bring it to completion. Therefore, I look to You to meet all my needs. Thank You for allowing me to enjoy Your life of rest. (Heb. 12:2)
21. Made right – Heavenly Father, I recognize that Satan made me wrong, but Christ made me right. I have tried so hard to live right. Now I understand that only Christ can enable me to live right. I have been made righteous in You, so that You can live Your righteous life in me. Therefore, I trust You to do that. (2 Cor. 5:21)
22. Perfect timing – Dear God, thank you for Your perfect timing. You sent Jesus Christ into the world at just the right time. So, I am confident that Your timing for me will always be perfect. I am on Your timetable, Lord. I trust You to work through me in just the right way, at just the right time. (Gal. 4:4)
23. Live in the present – Lord, sometimes I am overwhelmed by my past faults and failures. However, You took care of my past at the cross when I was crucified with Christ. Old things have passed away and everything about me has been made new. Thank You for enabling me to now live in newness of life. (Isa. 43:18)
24. Built for greatness – Dear Lord, thank You for loving me enough to include me in Your plans. I realize that Your plans for me are always the best. Therefore, I give up on my plans, and I give myself to You. I trust you to accomplish Your perfect plans through me. (Jer. 29:11)
25. Real hope – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick. But a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov. 13:12). If you are still in the midst of the pandemic or feel desperate and sick, don’t lose hope! The Lord Almighty, your redeemer, is calling you to Himself. He can heal your body and, most of all, fill you with peace and the hope of eternal life.
26. Prudence – “Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly” (Prov. 13:16). Be always ready to carefully examine what is important and best for your loved ones. Ask the Lord to make you into a man who honors Him in who you are and in what you do. He wants to bless you and to make you a blessing to others.
27. Righteousness – “The righteous man lives a blameless life, blessed are his children after him” (Prov. 20:7). Are you, am I, a man who seeks the Lord with all his heart? “A man who is blameless and upright and who shuns evil?” His family and friends will be impacted by his life and God will use him. Let’s ask the Lord to grant us these distinctives.
28. Perfect peace – “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isa. 26:3). Our cognitive consciousness, thinking, judgment and memory as well as noncognitive aspects as emotions and instincts are faculties of the mind. Because only the Lord is totally reliable and good, pray to keep your mind focused on Him.
29. Friends – “I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my father I have made known to you” (John 15:15b). We may have many acquaintances but normally only a very few friends. A friend stays with you through “thick and thin” because he is committed to you. This is how Jesus treats his disciples. You can trust Him always!
30. Answers – “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt. 7:8). God wants to answer our prayers. But it has to be on His terms. The way and the door to arrive at the Father’s ear and heart is Jesus. Therefore, surrender to His love and lordship and experience His answer to your prayers.
