1. Oh Lord, so many of us pray one way but then live another way. Your word commands us to live a life of love, which means we must do right by others. Such love is the fulfillment of all your commands. But this love is available only as a fruit of your Spirit. Please fill me with your Spirit and cause me to love others unconditionally. (Rom. 13:8-10)
2. Lord Jesus, when I received you, you changed me. Now that you live in me, I have a new heart and want what you want. Therefore, I delight in you and your will. Because you are within me, your law is now a part of me. And that means I trust you to fulfill your law in me as you live your life through me. (Ps. 40:8)
3. Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the law to instruct us in the best way to live. You have blessed us with a guidebook for living. Thank you for also giving us a guide, the Holy Spirit, to indwell us, direct us and empower us to live right. Cause me to live in total dependency upon your Spirit so that your righteous purposes can be fulfilled in my life. (Rom. 7:12, 14; 8:4)
4. Dear Lord, I have tried to make myself righteous by keeping the law. I realize now that this is impossible because Christ alone is righteous. You put an end to the law when you declared, “It is finished!” Therefore, I refuse to try to make myself righteous anymore. Since you live in me, I believe that you are my righteousness and that you will perform your righteous deeds through me. (Rom. 10:4)
5. Make it a habit to review your own life on a regular basis, and ask God to reveal whatever is not in accordance with his will and therefore must be dealt with. If you find it difficult to do so, ask the Lord for help (Ps. 139:23).
6. The Bible tells us that sin is much more than obvious trespasses like stealing, lying and killing. King David learned that lack of trust in God is also a sin (2 Sam. 24:10). Invite God today to let his light shine into your life, revealing whatever must be dealt with.
7. God’s word says that if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7). What a wonderful life that is!
8. During how much of the day do you give God your full attention? Can you afford to give him at least 1 percent of your time? One percent of 24 hours is a little less than 15 minutes. This would be – without any doubt – a vital investment! (Matt. 6:33)
9. The world seems to become increasingly chaotic in many ways. But our future is in God’s almighty hands. Keep praying that his name will be glorified. And remember that worrying doesn’t change anything. Trusting in God, however, changes everything! (Ps. 118:8-9)
10. As men approach middle age, they often begin experiencing crises of identity involving money, appearance, accomplishments, and so on. Pray for men to find their identities in their heartfelt pursuit of Christ and in becoming more like him no matter what age they are. (1 Pet. 2:9, 1 John 3:1, John 1:12)
11. Lord, enable us as men to be so anchored in your love that we find our identities in you. As the apostle John did, help us to see ourselves as “the disciple whom Jesus loves” (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7, 21:20).
12. As the culture around us is competitive and vain in flaunting material possessions and success, pray for men to define true success as having peace with God and becoming more like Christ. (Ps. 1)
13. Lord, as we live and move in the society around us, may we never give in to the temptation to mea-sure our importance by worldly standards but instead to mold ourselves to your standards. (Josh. 1:8-9)
14. Men can become disillusioned through the media, thinking they must have the things featured there to feel successful or accomplished. Pray that we as men will not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Rom. 12:1-2)
15. Men can feel pressured to spend beyond their means for holiday gifts and celebrations. Pray that husbands and fathers will model sound biblical principles with their holiday spending. (Matt. 6:19)
16. Next month is one of the busiest of the year for divorce filings. In Western society, most divorces are filed by women. Pray that God will move on men’s hearts to treat their wives as precious jewels. (Prov. 31:10)
17. Children disciplined in love can bring peace and delight to their parents. Pray that fathers will discipline their children consistently with biblical love. (Prov. 29:17)
18. Pray that God will draw men’s hearts to follow Christ and seek him in their work and homes so their wives and kids will have a Christlike model to follow. (Matt. 16:24)
19. Year-end reflections on unmet goals can cause men to feel inadequate. Feelings of inadequacy often lead to anger. Anger wounds wives and children. Pray that these men will find their adequacy and strength in Christ. (Phil. 4:13)
20. Any athlete knows of the importance of personal discipline. Pray to be willing to accept God’s discipline. “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11)
21. The Lord Jesus made it very clear that the first and greatest commandment is to love our God with all our hearts, souls and minds (Matt. 22:36-38). Be ready to evaluate your priorities and ask the Lord to teach you how to love him more.
22. Pray for the Lord to transform your heart through meditation on his Word. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
23. God promised to bestow prosperity when we speak and meditate on his law day and night and commit to doing it. Pray for the discipline to spend quality time in his Word and learn how to listen to his still, small voice. (Josh. 1:8)
24. Jesus said to his disciples, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). If you are ready to trust Christ all your life and become his disciple, this promise is for you as well.
25. God knows and cares. You can come to him with all your doubts and problems. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6).
26. Pray to be a man who has the discipline of a spiritual warrior, who knows his Bible and who practices what he knows. “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourself” (James 1:22)
27. We shouldn’t be surprised that biblical truth is being opposed by all kinds of secular ideologies. This is one of the signs of the end times (2 Tim. 3:1-7). Pray to be ready to speak up and live out the hope that is in you before a watching world.
28. Praise the Lord, the October field testing in Brazil of Every Man a Warrior material went very well. Discipleship groups are forming, and a coordinated support system is being formed through TWR Brazil. Pray for the Lord to move in many hearts and for Christian men to grow in their love and service of him.
29. Pray for Lonnie Berger, the global director of TWR men’s ministry, as he oversees the development of Champions Arise and Every Man A Warrior and encourages men everywhere to base their lives on the first and greatest commandment of Christ. (Matt. 22:37-38)
30. Men are key in blessing the family and influencing a culture for God. Pray for a moral and spiritual revival among Christian men. Pray for a hunger for truth and a thirst for a deep personal relationship with God in your own life. (Jer. 29:13)
31. As 2017 comes to a close, take time with your family to reflect on the blessings and lessons of this year. “You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way …” (Deut. 8:2). Pray for a sensitive heart and a walk with him in faith and trust into 2018.
