1. We followers of Jesus Christ emphasize that Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins. But we sometimes forget that he also rose again on the third day – to live in and through us. We are not supposed to live our Christian lives by our own strength. Thank God, Christ is now living in us. (Galatians 2:20)
2. God offers his followers the power to fight against our own flesh and its desires – and to win the battle. If we lack the strength to fight this war, it is actually our own fault. God is never to be blamed! Let’s pray today that the Lord will enable us to trust him for his blessings and strength so that he can have his way in our lives. (1 Timothy 6:12)
3. In his wisdom, King Solomon said: “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 15:18). Pray that God will help us all to live our lives according to this wisdom – bringing peace whenever we are in contact with other people.
4. We are easily tempted to invest time and energy debating various matters that are of little importance, at least from an eternal perspective. Pray that we will have the ability to follow Paul’s guidance and avoid foolish controversies. (Titus 3:9)
5. Little children behave as if they are the center of the world. The only thing that matters is their own well-being. They take no notice of the needs of other people. Unfortunately, some grown-ups keep the same mindset. Pray that God will equip and enable us to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:39)
6. The Bible says love and “keep no record of wrongs.” Pray that husbands will start this new year with a heart of forgiveness toward their wives and family members. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
7. Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” Pray that God will encourage husbands who have fallen in this area to admit their sin, to ask the Lord’s forgiveness and help to overcome temptation. (Proverbs 24:16)
8. Pray for God to move in the hearts of men to allow him to develop their own character and to take the lead in training their children in the ways of the Lord. (Proverbs 22:6)
9. Many men had poor role models of how a Christian husband acts. Pray that the Lord will provide godly mentors for them and some type of training in marriage relations. (Ephesians 5:25)
10. Post divorce relationships can be very difficult because of the hurts involved. Pray that God will empower divorced husbands to surrender to the Lord and to apply the fruit of the Spirit when interacting with their ex-wives and other family members. (Galatians 5:22-23)
11. Living in fellowship with God gives us confidence to claim his promises. The Lord declares, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalms 91:14,15).
12. We need to pray that men in leadership positions will promote social justice. “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? … Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am'” (Isaiah 58:6, 9).
13. When we ask help of people, they want more information about the situation. However, God knows all things: The Lord Jesus instructs, “Therefore do not be like them [pagans]. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Let’s therefore pray in humble trust.
14. Samuel is a famous example of a godly, praying man. We teach the value of prayer by our example: “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).
15. Belief in God’s almighty power gives us confidence in our intercession. The prophet Jeremiah was reassured by this direct revelation: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
16. Dear God, you alone are holy. It is the essence of your being. Even the Lord Jesus called you “Holy Father” (John 17:11). Oh, Lord God, cause me to stand in awe of your holiness. May I always reverence and embrace you as my loving and holy Father. Holy, holy, holy are you, Lord God Almighty! (Hosea 11:9)
17. Heavenly Father, you alone are righteous. That is why you are the only one who can do the right thing. Lord Jesus, you manifested this righteousness in all you said and did. I admit that sometimes I attempt to establish my own righteousness. But now I give up trying to become righteous. I now submit to you so that you might express your righteousness through me. (Romans 10:4)
18. Lord Jesus, thank you for taking my place on the cross. You made the great exchange! You became what I was – sin – in order that I might become what you are – righteousness. Therefore, I refuse to try to be self-righteous, because only the righteousness in Christ counts. I now trust you to live your righteous life through me. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
19. Oh, Lord, I rejoice in the transforming work of your death, burial and resurrection! As a result I have now been changed from a sinner into a saint. Thank you for sanctifying me! Jesus Christ is my sanctification, my holiness, my all. I love you, Lord! (Hebrews 10:10, 14)
20. Almighty God, thank you for creating me new in Christ. You are my righteousness and holiness. I refuse any lie to the contrary. I accept the truth about my new self in Christ. Therefore, by faith, I put on the new life of the person I am in Christ. Since I bear your image, I trust you to manifest your likeness through me. (Ephesians 4:24, 25a)
21. Father, we pray today for men to find their identity not in career, material possessions or status but rather in their relationship with Christ and a daily pursuit of fellowship with you. (Colossians 2:10)
22. Lord Jesus, we ask that you help men understand what it means to be “crucified with Christ,” not living unto themselves but unto you who saved us and in whom we are identified. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
23. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to the reality of your abiding presence in our lives so that Christ may live through us. Help us to die to our flesh and allow your Spirit to manifest Jesus in and through us. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
24. Abba, we ask that men might more fully enjoy what it means to be identified as your beloved child, with you as our beloved daddy. (Romans 8:15)
25. Lord Jesus, help men to live in the reality of being your family member. That makes us brothers who share the same spiritual DNA and live in the awareness of being not only a child of Abba but also a brother of Yeshua. (Hebrews 2:11)
26. The Bible challenges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Such a demand goes against our sense of self-preservation. But as we agree and surrender our natural ego that has been programmed by the world and the flesh, we learn to obey God. This way we make room for the glorious life of Christ in us. Meditate on Luke 9:23-24 and be ready to follow the master’s call as his disciple.
27. The Bible also calls us to be transformed through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Our selective memory is limited by our natural, human predicament, and we easily become products of our environment. 1Corinthians 2:14 states that we are all born spiritually dead and therefore don’t understand the things of God. Pray for the Spirit of God to illuminate your mind and to give you the will to choose God’s ways.
28. The Bible instructs us to think about ourselves with sound judgment (Romans 12:3). We easily covet the better or higher position or condition of others. But it is God who allotted to each of us specific gifts and talents so that we can serve him in dependent faith. Therefore, pray to know yourself and to be ready to contribute to the well-being of others with your gifts.
29. God created us for relationship with him and each other. Because of sin, relationships are broken. But in Christ we can experience complete restoration. The Bible says that as followers of Christ, we are one body (Romans 12:4-5). Therefore, pray to recognize the functions of others and to be sensitive and ready to play your part as a healthy member of the body of Christ.
30. “[T]he rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them. … But whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:42-43). This is the message of the project Champions Arise. Pray that many men will be impacted through the CA prayer calendar (13 languages), the CA programs and discipleship groups.
31. Pray for the Lord to awaken Christian men to assume spiritual leadership in their relationships. Pray also for Christian leaders to be made aware of the resources that Champions Arise offers for the training of Christian men as agents of peace and healing in their marriages and in their families and as intercessors for those in authority (1Timothy 2:1-3).
