1. Your benevolent heavenly Father – Dear God, thank You for being such a benevolent Father. You know what is best for me and You always do what is best for me. I am grateful that You have given me the greatest gift of all—Your Son Jesus Christ. Cause me to ask of You so that I may receive all You have for me. (Matt. 7:9-11)
2. A living Hope – Oh Lord, in the past I have often felt hopeless. But now that I have You, I realize that the Source of Hope is resident in me. My circumstances may look hopeless, but in You there is always hope. Thank You that You are my hope, my life, my all. Praise God, I can always be hopeful in You! (Prov. 13:12)
3. A hopeless situation – Dear God, thank you for using my stressful, fearful times to make me realize my need of You. I acknowledge that I am totally hopeless and helpless. My human unworthiness has convinced me of Your unconditional mercy and grace. I surrender myself to You. I trust You to protect and provide for me. (Gen. 32:7, 9-11)
4. No condemnation – Oh Lord, previously I thought that Satan had made me wrong as a sinner with an evil nature. Therefore, I was condemned. But now that I have accepted Christ, You restored me and made me right. Thank You that there is now no condemnation for me in Christ. I have been accepted in Christ! (Rom. 8:1, 34)
5. It all works out – Dear God, I tried so hard to live right but it never seemed to work out. Then I discovered that living right was Your responsibility. Therefore, I give up trying and trust You to do Your good and perfect work through me. Thank You for calling me to Yourself and accomplishing Your purposes through me! (Rom. 8:28)
6. Joy – Every man desires a happy life. But real joy is born in the depths of our heart when we allow God to teach us. (Psa. 119:14) In His love He provides us with pleasure (Psa. 119:24) and a relationship that nothing can compare to. (Psa. 119:162) Friend, allow the Lord to speak to you and discover joy everlasting.
7. Discernment – A man receives much advice through the influence of friends, co-workers, and family members. Psa. 1:1 tells us that the man who is not carried away by influences contrary to the Word of God is blessed. O Lord, make me sensitive to discern the voices around me and to hear what You have to say.
8. Temptation – Sin does not happen suddenly. When a man thinks that, in order not to be different from others, he has the right to justify some mistakes, getting involved with sinners, his spiritual life is in serious danger. (Prov. 1:10) Ask the Lord Jesus for a keen conscience and choose your company wisely.
9. Take a stand – A man who opens himself to the influence of the world and yields to the charms of sin ends up with a seared conscience. Such a man no longer has the fear of God and mocks the truth of Scripture. (1 Tim. 4:2) Take a stand for truth. Do not follow the advice of the wicked, do not imitate their lifestyle, and do not mock God and His teachings.
10. Time – A well-accomplished man is one who seeks to live in God’s presence. He loves the Bible and seeks to know the will of the Lord. (Psa. 1:2) The discipleship course, “Every Man a Warrior,” teaches how to walk with God and have a daily devotional time. Lord, speak to me when I read the Bible; I desire to hear and to do Your will!
11. Success – We live in a competitive society. The search for recognition and importance makes man vulnerable to many temptations. The way to safety and enduring results is to seek the presence of the Lord. Like a tree that has enough moisture and produces healthy fruit, so is a man who lives in intimacy with his Lord. (Psa. 1:3)
12. Prosperity – When a man’s focus is mainly on material prosperity and professional success, he loses sight of what really matters. The fear of the Lord and turning away from sin (Job 28:28) brings understanding of God’s gifts. Ask the Lord for real prosperity, like a harmonious marriage and children who walk with the Lord.
13. Praying with confidence – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). You can transform your challenges into prayer and be confident that God wants to answer you when you pray according to His will. He loves to help and has all the power to do so.
14. Seeking – “Seek and you will find” (Matt. 7:7). When a tree is confronted with stormy times of draught, its roots go deeper in search of stability and water. That is the way faith works. By believing God’s Word do we find stability and power to survive the tempests of life.
15. Knocking – “Knock and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). Who promises this is Jesus himself. We can trust Him. Nobody who turns to the Lord is rejected. Pray for a heart that is sensitive to the needs of others and be available to those who need help and “knock” at your door.
16. Don’t forget – “And forget none of all his benefits” (Psa. 103:2). We are forgetful by nature and need to be reminded to remember God’s blessings and the fact that God also wants to bless others through us. “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb. 13:16).
17. God’s image – “God created man in His own image; … male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). As man and woman, we are both and equally reflections of God’s glory. We are equally valuable and created to complement each other and to honor God. Pray, men, that you may reflect in your marriage the Lord’s image.
18. Trials – When life throws you into unexpected turmoil and trials, don’t despair! Cling to the Lord! He is right there with you. You can trust Him fully. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
19. War – Nothing is more devastating than war. It releases all powers of evil. King David had experienced God’s faithfulness and could testify: “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident” (Psa. 27:3). Trust the Lord; He is greater than all your problems!
20. God’s dwelling – “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling” (Psa. 27:5). If you seek the Lord with all your heart, He will answer and save you. Thank Him for the redeeming death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He bridged there the gap of separation. We can pray in confidence to God’s throne of grace. (Heb. 4:16)
21. Waiting – For most people, waiting is a pain. But patience is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Because God’s timing is perfect and under His exclusive control, don’t waver in trusting Him to answer your prayers and to act on your behalf in His time. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psa. 27:14).
22. Persecution – We pray for the authorities “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives…”; at the same time we need to be ready for persecution. “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). If needed, choose to suffer for Jesus. Don’t be “acceptable” and lukewarm.
23. Overcomer – Jesus has overcome the powers of darkness. He soon will return to make His victory final. Take heart! In Him you can already be an overcomer. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
24. Medicine – With our world in turmoil, no wonder that a majority of people suffer from anxiety. Be ready to change your focus and follow this biblical advice; it is the best medicine: “Be not anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
25. Heart and Mind – When you ask the Lord with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, He will grant you the capacity to be led by His peace and to make good decisions for your family.“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).
26. A world gone mad – Father, we pray for Your men to be so full of Jesus and His words that our abiding in Christ will be evident to an unbelieving world. May the joy of Jesus radiate through us to a world gone mad. (John 15:11)
27. An occupied mind – Lord, we ask for Your mind to so occupy our brains that we know how to give an answer to every man who asks us for a reason of the hope that is in us. (1 Pet. 3:15)
28. Witnessing – Lord, we ask for Your help in teaching us what to say and when to say it, especially in the face of an antagonistic society. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say” (Luke 12:12).
29. Growing up – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted the Lord” (1 Pet. 2:2). Lord, help us to be more intentional about our disciplines of prayer and time in Your Word in order that we may grow in Christlikeness, making a difference in this dark world.
30. Resisting – Wonderful Savior, increase my hunger for more fellowship with You in order to bring You glory and reveal the difference Christ makes in my life. Thank You that the God of peace gives us the peace of God to resist the hostile forces of darkness in this confused and suffering world. (2 Thess. 3:16)
