1. The door – While many ways lead to Rome, Christ is the only way, truth and life that leads to God. Through His death on the cross He took away the sin of the world. Now, whoever believes in Him has eternal life. “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). You can trust Him and believe!
2. Hidden with Christ – In a world filled with doubts, insecurity and fear, the believer in Christ is forever secure and can rejoice in his position as a child of God. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Remember whose you are and pray to live out of your new identity by the grace of God.
3. Discipleship – The Christian life is no stroll in the park, rather daily surrender to the lordship of Christ. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Brother, you died in Christ (Rom. 6:6,7). Follow the Savior and live today by His resurrection power.
4. Suffering – Through the first Adam’s disobedience, sin, suffering, and death came into this world. Through Christ, the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), came salvation and life. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). If Christ learned obedience through suffering, let’s be men who follow His example.
5. Faith – People believe in many things, but in matters of eternity and peace with God, only faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world, counts. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5). Friend, be well-grounded in the Word of God.
6. Impossible – God’s love is for all but conditional. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Friend, pray to be a man of faith who pleases God and who is the spiritual leader in his home.
7. Self-control – “But the fruit of the Spirit is… self-control. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passion and desires” (Gal. 5:22,23). Pray to be a man who demonstrates self-control. If you are a believer, then your old nature died with Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit wants to live through you.
8. Politics – “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1,2). Practice the best form of politics. Be a man who blesses society through the testimony of an exemplary life and the earnestness of his informed prayer.
9. Anger – “God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa. 7:11). Abraham stood before the Lord pleading for mercy for Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen. 18) Let’s intercede for our generation that is throwing off all moral restraints. Christ took the wrath of God and wants everyone to come to repentance.
10. Decisiveness – ”Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matt. 5:37). If you are a man who follows Jesus Christ, then speak truth from your heart. Don’t compromise with corrupt business practices, rather stand up for what is right and honor those who fear the Lord.
11. Transparency – The media glamorizes money and fame, but God values godly character and good deeds. Pray to be a man who is transparent for Jesus, the Light of the world. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
12. Overcomer – Be a man who surrenders his will to the Lord and learns to worship Him. Then, He will enable you, like David, to overcome the giants in your life. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty” (1 Sam. 17:45).
13. Responsibility – “But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’” (Ezek. 3:27). Amazing! God wants to speak to us through His Word and Spirit and make us His mouthpiece to our family and friends. Friend, pray for a listening ear and allow Him to speak through you.
14. God’s way – “But they worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matt. 15:9). Strong personalities and brilliant minds easily get a following. This is not the way God works. He destroys the wisdom of the wise and chooses the foolish and weak. (1 Cor. 1:18-25) Be a man who submits to the truth of His Word.
15. Life or death – God wants to give you real and enduring life. Don’t just look for the immediate and material things, rather make long-term decisions. Surrender your life to God; seek Him first. “See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction…love the Lord your God, walk in His ways” (Deut. 30:15,16).
16. Foundations – God is on the throne! Even if our civilization turns its back on the Lord, rejects Judeo-Christian values and destroys its moral foundations, take refuge in Him. He promises that “upright men will see his face…even when the foundations are being destroyed.” (Psa. 11:3,7) Pray to be one of these upright men!
17. A true disciple – Lord Jesus, You are the Master Teacher. Your words are Spirit and Life. Cause me to hear the still, small voice of Your Spirit and embrace Your words of life. Enable me to walk as Jesus walked by empowering me with Your Spirit. Thank You for making me a true disciple, not just in word but in deed! (John 8:31)
18. Poor in spirit – Dear Lord, I thought I could do anything, until I began encountering impossible situations. Then I realized that I am spiritually deficient. Therefore, I confess my spiritual bankruptcy. I need Your Spirit to indwell me. Thank You for showing me that spiritual poverty is the way to divine blessings. (Matt. 5:3)
19. Meekness is greatness – Oh Lord, I thought I had to fight, push and force my way in order to succeed. But now I see Your way is the way of faith, not force. You said that those who are meek will inherit the Earth. You have shown me that true strength comes from meekness. Please guide and empower me in all that I do. (Matt. 5:5)
20. Mercy me – Dear God, I have sinned more times than I can possibly remember. But praise God, Jesus Christ had mercy on me. He died for all my sins. Christ took my punishment, my guilt and my shame. Upon receiving Christ, the merciful One has now come to indwell me. Please cause me to be merciful and forgive others. (Matt. 5:7)
21. Seeing clearly – Heavenly Father, my view of things has often been distorted and unclear. I realize that is because I have been walking by sight, based upon my human reason and natural observation. Only You can see the bigger picture. Cause me to see with my spiritual eyes, walk by faith, obey and see clearly. (Matt. 5:8)
22. Main target – Achieving success in a job or in society, acquiring possessions, and getting to know the world can take us away from the main target of our life, which is to glorify God and serve Him. To “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33) is the highest goal for man! Lord, help me not to miss the mark!
23. Table – The Gospels relate how much Jesus enjoyed sharing a meal with people. In those gatherings He taught, rebuked, and encouraged and many were impacted and changed. The rush of everyday life robs us of the preciousness of table fellowship with our family! Lord, help me to value these moments. (Psa. 128:3)
24. To serve – The Lord Jesus declared about Himself that His mission was to serve and not to be served. (Mark 10:45) As men – husbands and fathers – let’s have the same attitude and serve our wife and children with the love of Jesus. Lord, please enable me to overcome cultural barriers and my own pride, and make me a servant.
25. Planning – He who doesn’t handle well his finances sooner or later runs into trouble. In Luke 14:28-30 Jesus teaches about the importance of planning and proper cost estimating. How much more important is it to make the right investment with our life. Lord, help me to have eternity in mind when I make my choices.
26. Blessing – “He who finds a wife finds what is good; he has received a blessing from the Lord” (Prov. 18:22). Husband, accept your wife as a gift from God. He wants to bless you as you allow Christ to love her through you. Be ready to give up your rights and trust the Lord to bring, through the two of you, joy and peace into the family.
27. Relationships – Nowadays, relationships between father and children are often strained. Culture, ideologies, and technology are creating barriers between generations. Be a father who speaks into the lives of your children. “Listen my son to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.” (Prov. 4:1)
28. Storms – Raising children is a challenge for all parents. How can you, as a father, prepare them best for the world’s trouble that Jesus speaks about in John 16:33? Leaving them without limits is a tremendous risk. Raising them like a greenhouse plant, doesn’t prepare them for the storms of life. Pray for wisdom and balance.
29. Stand firm – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:13). Pray to be grounded in the Lord, who is our rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation and stronghold. (Psa. 18:2) Thank Him for hearing and answering your prayers and stand firm, no matter what!
30. Look up – “Since you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). As a believer in the redemptive work of Christ, you have become a new creation (1 Cor. 5:17) and have a new position. Don’t get lost in the temporal; rather, decide to look up to the eternal.
