- Be truthful – Creation reveals God’s perceptible but invisible qualities, and the nature’s laws remind us of his absolute power. Ask the Lord to write his laws into your heart. Be a man who reflects God’s character in words and deeds. “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor” (Eph. 4:25).
- Be alert – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak” (Mark 14:38). Lord you know how often I fail in spite of my good intentions. Please forgive me and grant me to stay so close to you, that no sinful habits of mine, nor the attempts of the tempter, trip me up.
- Develop self-control – The porn industry targets men’s sexual vulnerability. Be honest; be a man who faces his weakness. As you surrender your life to Christ, you can pray to overcome the temptation with the help of his power. Because your old nature was crucified with Christ, you can live out of your new identity. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passion and desires” (Gal. 5:24).
- Ask for wisdom – “For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). Our world overwhelms us with information. To be intelligent and well-informed is rewarded. Pray to be a man who puts the Lord and the values of his kingdom first in everything you are and do. He will grant you wisdom to face the challenges of life.
- Model trustworthiness – Our choices determine our habits, our habits determine our character and our character determines our destiny. Pray to be a man who makes the right choices and who honors the name of Christ through his character. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little, will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10).
- Order your life – “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Cor. 14:40). Because our God is a God of peace, love and truth who is holy and perfect in all his ways, his children should reflect those qualities. Pray that your life and behavior honor your heavenly Father. Ask him to help you live an orderly life that blesses your family and friends.
- Be careful – There are so many voices and attractions in this world that compete for our attention. Take time to study God’s Word and pray for the Lord to help you apply his teachings to your daily life. Be a man who stands for truth and does what is right. “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Heb. 2:1).
- Obey in thought – Relativism opposes godly absolutes and tells you that you, or your culture, determine what is truth. Pray that you will not fall into this trap; rather, surrender your will to Christ and allow him to guide your life. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
- Practice hospitality – “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb. 13:2). The trademark of a Christian should be his love and willingness to serve others. Pray for a sensitive heart. Make yourself available to people who are in need. As we start giving of ourselves, the Lord is being honored and is ready to reward.
- Practice reverence – The lack of modesty and dignified behavior is becoming the norm in Western society. Pray to be a man who doesn’t bow to culture; rather, who has the courage to stand alone, if need be, in order to uphold the values of God’s kingdom. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord” (Prov. 23:17).
- Practice discernment – “But the Lord said to Samuel, do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). Pray to have discernment and to value what is excellent and of eternal value.
- Practice frugality – God has given us the gift of life and the gift of choice. Pray to value what really matters, asking the Lord to protect you from materialism and to make you a good steward of all he has entrusted to you. “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).
- Take initiative – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Since the fall, the prince of this world is the adversary of God and men. But because of Christ’s victory on the cross, Satan has been defeated and we can overcome evil. Pray for Christ to enable you to love and forgive rather than paying back the evil others do to you.
- Be sensitive – Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves doesn’t come naturally. Pray for a sensitive heart, and compassion. Learn to develop real interest in others so that you can be an encourager and a witness for Christ. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Rom. 12:15).
- Be sincere – As we recognize our own dependency on God’s mercy and grace, it becomes much easier to be gracious to others. Pray that God may reward your obedience to his truth by enabling you to experience genuine love in your family and friendship with others. “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22).
- Be generous – What really counts in life is not what we have but who we are. Pray that your heart will overflow with thanks for God’s love and mercy in your life so that you will be a channel of blessings to others. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).
- Be diligent – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward” (Col. 3:23). As children of God, we are his representatives, his ambassadors in this world. Pray for the Spirit of God to grant you to speak and act as a faithful servant of the King of kings.
- Hold on to faith – Faith is a gift of God that natural men don’t understand. Thank the Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who teaches you to trust God even in difficult circumstances. He only gives good gifts to his children. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1)
- Be contented – There are people who see a problem in every opportunity. Pray that you, in contrast, will experience the sufficiency of Christ in any problem. Be an encourager and lead your family with faith and trust. God is faithful and fulfills his promises. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
- Take responsibility – “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). A main reason that so many men fail is they aren’t accountable. Pray that you will be as true and honest to yourself and to the Lord in private as in public. Allow for the Holy Spirit to search you out and be transparent and honest in your dealing with others.
- Promote justice – Our world is filled with injustice and strife, but we can make a difference. Pray that you will be just and merciful in your relationships in the family and that people will recognize in you a humble servant of God. “He showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8).
- Grow in virtue – The Christian life should be a constant opportunity for growth. Pray for an obedient heart that allows for the Holy Spirit to grow you into a man of virtue. “For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge self-control, and to self-control, perseverance” (2 Pet. 1:5-6).
- Reason for joy – A disciple of Christ has reason to be joyful. His Lord holds all the power in heaven and on earth. Pray for spiritual understanding and focus on the permanent values of God’s kingdom. Deny self, and allow Christ to take control of your life. Live the victory of the cross. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Ps. 16:11).
- Be meticulous – “Life is fragile; handle it with care!” God has given you, husband and father, the responsibility to love and guide your family. Pray for wisdom and be willing to learn from your mistakes. Trust the Lord. He gives grace to the humble. “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out” (Prov. 18:15).
- Seek discretion – A wise leader tries to fully understand his options in order to make the best choices. A father needs to be aware of the dangers his children are exposed to and prepare and protect them adequately. Pray for discretion as you analyze the specific situation and take proper action. “A prudent man sees danger and seeks refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Prov. 22:3).
- Strive for punctuality – It has been said that some people have the watch and others have the time. But punctuality is not just a cultural matter. It is a means of showing respect to others as well as a sign of self-discipline. Pray for to be a gracious role model to others of reliability and punctuality. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Eccles. 3:1).
- Humble yourself – If you have a competitive temperament, humility is not your thing. There is a natural trend in all of us to seek the limelight and admiration. That is where we all have to learn from the Lord Jesus. Pray for him to change you from the inside out and then experience the joy and blessing he gives. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10)
- Have compassion – More than a billion people live under the poverty line. Pray for compassion and open eyes to see those around you in whose lives you could make a difference. Be generous and honor Christ through your good deeds. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:17).
- Be bold – The number of Christians around the world facing persecution is on the rise. Even if you don’t live in any of the difficult-access countries, you may well live in a culture where living out your faith is considered politically incorrect. Pray for boldness and be ready to stand up for Christ whenever you have an opportunity. “But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God’” (Acts 4:19).
- Stay focused – You probably know the challenges to make ends meet and to care for your loved ones. There is nothing wrong with doing your best in the marketplace. In the end you should do all, as for the Lord. But pray that you don’t lose sight of the eternal. Seek God’s kingdom first. “Set your minds on the things above, not on the earthly things” (Col. 3:2).
- Stand firm – God is looking for men who stand up for him and resist evil in all its forms. Pray that you will be a man of character who doesn’t give in to social pressure but instead is firm in his convictions and honors his word, even if it means being disadvantaged. Be a person “who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts” (Ps. 15:4).
