1. We can talk – We can talk with the Lord about everything! “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
2. Always joy – Paul writes from prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4)! When I am connected with God, my situation changes because I have the Most High as my friend. How many times has the Almighty already helped me.
3. Goodness – “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5)! The joy of the Lord causes an inner serenity which also expresses itself in gentleness and friendliness toward others. Jesus wants to be part of it all.
4. Contentment – Paul writes: “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil. 4:11). My self-worth doesn’t depend on the things I have. I can enjoy the good things the Lord entrusted me with and use them to serve others. But independent of whether I have much or little, I can receive everything with thanksgiving.
5. Appreciation – Let’s learn from Jesus how He treated others, e.g. women, and express genuine appreciation to the people we meet. This way we will also be culturally sensitive. (Cor. 9:20) CA.
6. Wrath – „For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God“ (James 1:20). We see the devastating results in politics, society at large and family when men are filled with wrath and hate. Resist the devils attempts to get you to act with emotions of revange and bitterness. Pray for God to give you the attitude of Christ.
7 God loves you – You might have wondered if God has forgotten you or thought that He does not actually care about you. If so, please remember what He has said about you: “Even if a mother may forget her baby at her breast, I will not forget you” (Isa. 49:15). Praise God and give Him thanks for His love for you!
8. God knows you – Thank God that He knows you better than you know yourself. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. (Luke 12:7) He also reminds you about His own scars that constantly remind Him about you: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16).
9. God cares for you – Thank God that He cares for you, and that He has promised to protect you no matter what happens in your life. He has not promised to spare you of all kinds of hardships, but He has promised to be there together with you whenever the storms of life hit you. (Psa. 91:11-12)
10. Fellowship – During the pandemic many of us have been deprived of fellowship with other believers and have been reminded of the importance and value of meeting together. Pray that faith in Christ will prevail and mature also in believers who are suffering due to loneliness. (1 John 1:7)
11. Share the good news – Have you experienced God in your life recently? Do like King David – tell others about it. (Psa. 26:6-7) Thank God and give Him praise – the King of Kings is worthy of your worship!
12. Be prepared – Because sickness, accidents and even death are unpredictable, we men should have our house in order. (Isa. 38:1) Lord, help us to be aware of the brevity of life so that we might live wisely in our family, church, society and business.
13. Conviction – We live in a society thatrejects the principles and values of the Bible. Lord, help me to be like Gideon and to make decisions in my family according to your will and in exclusion of anything that hinders an intimate relationship with You. (Judg. 6:25)
14. Teaching – It is our privilege and responsibility as parents to teach our children about what really matters in life. Sometimes this is not an easy matter. Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment, and be a good example. Sometimes deeds speak louder than words. (Eph. 6:4)
15. Wife – Lord, I desire from the depth of my heart that my prayers be acceptable to You. (1 Pet. 3:7) Therefore, please help me to honor and care for my spouse as the daughter of the King and the weaker vessel to the point that it reflects the love Jesus has for His church.
16. Advice – We men have difficulty opening our hearts and asking for advice. Pray for a sensitive heart ready to ask for advice in matters related to your family, finances and when in difficulty. “Without council, plans go awry, but in multitude of counselors they are established” (Prov. 15:22).
17. Balance – Money is good and helpful for the welfare of the family when properly applied. But greed will cause problems and make men turn away from God. (1 Tim. 6:10) Let’s pray for a balanced life as we first care for the needs and wellbeing of our family, but also be attentive and ready to help others in need.
18. Trust – Dear Lord, I have tried to do good but it has not done me any good. I realize that my good works will never be good enough. You alone are the source of all true goodness. I give up and refuse to trust in my good works. I trust You to accomplish Your good works through me. (Psa. 37:3)
19. Your heart’s desire – Oh Lord, I have sought after many things in my lifetime. But now, I see that only one thing is needful – You! Therefore, I now seek You with all my heart. Furthermore, I love You with all my heart. You, Lord, are all I need and all that I want. I trust You to give me the desires of my heart. (Psa. 37:4)
20. In His presence – Dear Lord God, sometimes the circumstances of my life seem unbearable. Humanly speaking they are, but that’s why You are here. You are the burden bearer. Thank You for Your indwelling presence to sustain me. I praise You for causing me to experience Your joy even in the worst of circumstances! (Psa. 16:11)
21. Meaningful relationship – Dear God, I am astounded that You would desire a relationship with me. In humility, I acknowledge my total weakness and need of You. Thank You for making Yourself available to me by imparting Your life to me. I trust You to cause me to do justly and love mercy as I walk in union with You. (Mic. 6:8)
22. Seeking God’s face – Dear Lord, I have sought after so many things, but it’s all been in vain. I realize now that You are the only thing that really matters. And when I have You, I have everything I want. When I am content with You, then You graciously give me everything I need. Thank You, Lord, for supplying all my needs! (Psa. 27:8)
23. Praise – Self-promotion comes naturally for those who are ambitious by nature. Pray to know how to balance healthy self-esteem with the importance to be true and humble. “Let others praise you and not your own mouth, an outsider and not your own lips” (Prov 27:2).
24. The heart counts – If you desire to be a man God uses, don’t trust first your intelligence and abilities. For God doesn’t necessarily call those who are able, rather He enables those He calls and humbly submit to His will. “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
25. Others first – Christianity is counter-culture. When you surrender your life to God and become a disciple of Christ, He will pour His love into your heart and enable you to love others. “Do nothing for selfish or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3).
26. Be a minister – “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). It was God’s amazing love and mercy that prompted Him to give his Son for our redemption. If you are redeemed through faith in Jesus, be ready to allow God to love and minister to others through you.
27. Judgment – “The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them” (Gen. 6:13). Because God is holy, He cannot tolerate evil. Because He is just, He must condemn the guilty. But God so loved the world, that He sent Jesus to take our punishment. Thank God for salvation through faith in Jesus.
28. Covenant – “The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth” (Gen. 9:16). Nobody must be hopeless. God is love and wants to save. His rainbow is the reminder of His grace for all who wholeheartedly seek Him.
29. End Times – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves…” (2 Tim. 3:1,2). Self-realization and “my way” and “my truth” are the bywords of the day. But the Bible states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Be counter-culture and allow for God to rule your life.
30. Endurance – “But you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Mark 13:13). A Christian identifies with Christ and His teachings and doesn’t conform to the relativistic mindset of the world. Ask Christ to live in and through you. Be a witness for Him. He grants endurance.
31. Never alone – “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The good news of the Gospel is the only message of eternal salvation for a lost world. Pray to be a disciple of Christ and teach through words and deeds. He is with you!
