- A clean heart – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10). Heavenly Father, I pray that you will help me to grow to become a man who is spiritually mature and conformed more and more to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
- God’s Word – There are still entire people groups with no access to a Bible in their language or to missionaries living among them. Lord, I pray that you will bring the necessary individuals, churches and organizations together to make Bible translation happen quickly and effectively (Ps. 67:2-3).
- Godly lives – As followers of Christ, we need each other (1 Thess. 5:11). Pray today that our Lord will use you as his servant and fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you can help other people to be inspired, encouraged and motivated to live godly lives.
- Unity – We are created for fellowship with God and with each other. When we are united as brothers and sisters in Christ, our lives are witnesses of the Almighty – the creator of heaven and Earth (1 John 4:11). Lord, help us, as followers of Christ, to live in peace and unity with each other so that people will see glimpses of you in our lives.
- You are the only one – Some people you encounter during your lifetime will probably never meet any Christian other than you. You have an impact on others even when you don’t know it. Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you, guide you and allow you to be the aroma of Christ when you interact with other people (2 Cor. 2:15).
- Dead to sin – “We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Rom. 6:1). Christ died on the cross, paying the penalty of our sin. If you are a born-again believer (John 3:3), your old sin nature died with him. You are free to live a transformed life. Pray that your thoughts, words and deeds will reflect your new identity.
- Free from slavery – “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom. 6:6). Christ’s atoning death on the cross broke the shackles of sin. Believe the reality of this, and pray to be a man who walks in the new freedom of a child of God.
- Living in Christ – “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him” (Rom. 6:8). Praise God that Christ died on our behalf and has given us his eternal life. Pray for him to help you fine-tune your perception and understanding of his presence in you and allow him to live his life through you today.
- Count on him – “In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). The victory of Christ is complete and final over the powers of darkness. Our account toward God was in debit but now is cleared and forgiven. As you count on the presence of Christ in you, the evil will have no power to overcome you.
- Instruments of wickedness – “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life” (Rom. 6:13). The pursuit of pleasure (hedonism) rules this world. Be ready to surrender your will to the Lord; live in constant communion with him.
- Free will – “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Rom. 6:12). Free will is an amazing gift we received from God. Pray to be a man of character. Be selective and wise in your decisions. Allow for the Holy Spirit to control every area of your life and resist the temptation of the flesh.
- Let grace rule – “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). The law of the Old Testament served to demonstrate the ugliness of sin. Because Christ fulfilled the law, he now provides the believer with power for living. Ask the Lord to rule in your thoughts and actions today and to let grace rule!
- Integrity – Men have been privileged to be entrusted with the role of leading their families spiritually. While this is a privilege, it also demands a deep level of personal integrity. Pray that we will learn to yield to the abiding life of Christ (John 15) and allow his life to flow into even the smallest matters in private as well as in public.
- Temptations – Temptations come in all shapes and sizes. Pray that we will be as sensitive to seemingly insignificant sins like “little lies” and “cheating on taxes” as to big ones like pornography and corporate theft. Jesus said: “He that is faithful in little is faithful in much, and he that is unjust in little is unjust in much” (Luke 16:10).
- Walk before God – True character is who we are in the dark, when the eyes of men are not watching us. Pray that we will be consistent and not be compartmentalized; rather, that we will live for the eyes of the Lord. God said to Abraham: “Walk before Me and be perfect” (Genesis 17:1), “perfect” here meaning mature or complete.
- Don’t worry – Many men worry about being able to provide for their families. They are gripped by fear as they see unemployment rates rise, inflation increase and their “golden years” approaching. Pray that we men will cultivate a strong faith in the Lord as our provider. “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life” (Matt. 6:25).
- A good name – Integrity and character are built over time but can be destroyed overnight. Value and protect the investments God has made in your life. Spend time with him through prayer and the study of Scripture. Maintain a “good name,” which is more to be valued than great riches (Prov. 22:1).
- Victorious living – 18. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Rom. 6:18). When you believed in him, the shackles of your slavery to sin were broken. Now pray for the Lord to help you break sinful habits and submit wholeheartedly to his lordship. Be a man who lives in victory over sin!
- Choose to resist – “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness” (Rom. 6:19). Dear Lord, thank you that I have a choice. In your name and the power of your blood, I resist the Evil One and submit to you, my Savior.
- Invest for eternity – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Rom. 6:22). I praise you, Lord, for choosing me to be your own. You transformed me, a sinner, into your saint. Help me choose right and invest for eternity.
- Founded on the Rock – Lord Jesus, sometimes I forget that you are the same today as when you walked this earth. Cause me to remember who you are and what you have done. Therefore, cause my heart to be established with grace so that my life will be founded on the solid rock of Christ and become truly profitable. (Heb. 13:7-9)
- Great is your faithfulness – Heavenly Father, your provisions are amazing! Just when it looks like I have nothing left, I discover that you are the source and supply of all my needs. Truly, you are my provider. Grant me the grace of faith so that I might trust you at all times. Thank you for your great faithfulness! (Gen. 22:7-8, 14)
- Grace through faith – Oh Lord, thank you that I do not have to do good things to get you to bless me. My relationship with you is not based on my works, but on grace through faith. My privilege is to trust you completely so that you can accomplish your good works through me. Thank you for leading, protecting and providing for me. (Ps. 37:3)
- My delight – Dear God, little did I know when I received Christ that I would have such a marvelous new life. My privilege is to trust you completely and to delight myself in you. You, Lord, are all I need and all I want. My delight is in you, Lord! Thank you that I am now full and complete in you! (Ps. 37:4)
- Inward man – “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Through faith in Christ, you became a new creation. Your inward man came back to life. Pray for discernment and focus on nurturing your inner man through close fellowship with the Lord.
- Godly habits – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). The essence of the Christian life is the life in the Spirit. Surrender your will and priorities to the Lord, and pray for him to generate in and through you the fruit of the Spirit.
- Absolute – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Today relativism is king, and human ideologies reign. In contrast stands the absolute truth of Scripture. Therefore, be a student of the Bible and pray that the teaching and principles of God’s Word will determine your thoughts and actions.
- The eye on the goal – “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Pet. 3:11-12). To live as a Christian requires discipline, courage and determination. Keep your eyes on the heavenly goal. Wait for the return of Christ. Pray to be sober and focused on what matters for eternity.
- Let your light shine – “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). The global pandemic spreads fear and despair. But you, a disciple of Jesus Christ, have the message of hope and love. Pray for the Lord to make you a blessing to others today.
- Godly leadership – “He has 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). Pray to be a man who acts justly, who is loving and merciful to others, and who prayerfully and from the heart submits to and obeys God’s leading.
- Prepare for action – “Therefore, prepare your mind for action” (1 Pet. 1:13). Prayer allows us to step into God’s presence and to listen to the prompting of his Holy Spirit in our hearts. Be willing to obey what you already know to be God’s will for you. Reject empty religiosity. Demonstrate in all you do that you serve the Lord Christ.
