Men Praying – Active Duty
When Rick left for his second tour of duty in the Middle East, he shared some specific concerns with his wife Melissa. “I’m uneasy about some of the men in my new platoon. I don’t know them as well as the last team. Pray for us.” Like most men, Rick faces a culture that projects the misguided belief that fear equals weakness. Most men loathe admitting that they have fears—fear for their families, fear for their finances, fear for the future. Two months after Rick deployed, he woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His entire right leg was in a massive cast . . . and his left leg was missing below the knee. His captain recounted, “Following the roadside IED, Rick pulled himself from one wounded soldier to another, praying with them.” “I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). During his grueling rehabilitation Rick explained, “The difference between a coward and a hero is not whether or not you’re scared. It’s about what you do while you’re scared.”
Men like Rick understand that prayer enables us to conquer our weaknesses. The apostle Paul prayed repeatedly to God for strength to face Satan’s torments. Only when he surrendered his pride did Paul understand how his weaknesses related to Christ’s power (2 Corinthians 12:6-10). Men of prayer surrender their fears, pride, and weaknesses to the One who is in control.
Men Praying – Under Attack
At one time or another, every man faces the crushing weight of powerlessness to do anything about a health issue. Attacks upon his body and mind present themselves relentlessly. Dr. Don Colbert, physician, author, and noted speaker, observes, “. . . When come into the doctor they won’t tell you their problem — until the last minute . . . It’s sort of like how men rarely ask for help.”1
Jim’s competitive nature revealed itself as a vice president as well as in his biking and kayaking. When a non-cancer-related abnormality appeared during a routine examination, Jim tried to remain unshaken. Further tests indicated Stage D prostate cancer (sometimes called Stage IV), which is considered not medically curable. Jim resented this intrusion in his life. “I didn’t get angry, but I felt very helpless and wondered, ‘Why Lord, why?’” Even though his faith in God had remained strong for the past fifteen-some years, Jim remembered the tense moments prior to a radical prostatectomy. Just before entering the operating room, he told the orderly to stop. “I looked and pointed up and said, ‘Lord, You know me and I know You—do with me what you will.’ Once I got those words out I was so at peace and I told the guy that was pushing me, ‘Let’s go!’” Men of prayer don’t run ahead of God by trying to deal with all the endless negative possibilities facing you down the road. They are just that . . . possibilities (Mark 10:27).
Men Praying – Authentic Manhood
The average male has only two confidants, including his spouse and a family member. Since most men are overworked, over-committed, and over-distracted, they don’t always feel victorious in regards to overcoming obstacles. Therefore, it is imperative that men pray with and for one another — strengthening each other (Proverbs 27:17). Rick, Jim, and the apostle Paul all realized authentic manhood accepts the need for God’s intervention and help.
Through prayer, every man obtains a vision of biblical masculinity that relates to their own lives and issues. Through faith, God provides the practical “how-to’s” for real-life. Men of prayer:
- Accept responsibility for their actions (Psalm 32).
- Lead courageously against opposition (
- Receive God’s reward for obeying Him (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
Why Pray?
1 John DeMarco. “Live Longer and Prosper.” New Man Jan/Feb 2007: 19.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
– We have all
sinned
and deserve God’s judgment.
God
, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him.
Jesus
, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He
died
for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was
buried
, and
rose from the dead
according to the
Bible
. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your
Savior
, declaring, “
Jesus is Lord
,” you will be saved from
judgment
and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow JesusYes, I am already a follower of JesusI still have questions
www.allaboutprayer.org
A Prayer for Men
Scripture Reading:
Exodus 15:2-18, II Kings 18:1-7
Reflections of the Heart:
God loves men and He wired them for success. The enemy has been disrupting God’s preferred plans for our men through a strategy to steal, kill and destroy them. Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams noted, “Life is not fair; we only get what we are willing to fight for!” By praying for our men, boys and families we are positioned to “Fight to Win!” God used a man to redeem humankind and He continues to empower men to lead and conquer.
Scriptural Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Your majestic Name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. May Your glorious Name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! You are great and most worthy of praise! No one can measure Your greatness. Thank You, Father, for our men. Lord, we thank You for equipping our men to take their rightful place in You. Thank You for the men and boys who will join the body of Christ and glorify Your Name. Thank You, God, for restoration, reconciliation and healing in our families and communities. Thank You, for giving us everything we need to live a godly life.
Father, let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in the lives of our men on earth as it is in heaven. By faith, we call our men saved, sanctified, and filled with Your Spirit. Your Word instructs that faithwithout works is dead and useless, so we confess that our men will work to develop and demonstrate their Christian faith, daily. We declare that they will be priestly providers and protectors of their families. We confess that as they submit to Your Word, they will be transformed into new people by changing the way they think. Lord, we decree that their belief systems and behavior patterns will reflect Your righteousness in their personal and professional lives. We declare that the light of Jesus will be reflected by their actions. As they fellowshipwith one another; others will see their good works and praise You, our Father in heaven. Lord, we confess that Your favorsurrounds them like a shield. We confess that they will earn, save, spend and invest money in obedience to Your perfect plan for their lives and families. We declare that their finances are blessed and they are lenders, not borrowers. Lord, because we realize that the food we put in our bodies can impact our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual capabilities, we declare that our men will practice healthy eating practices. Above all, we confess that they are victorious in everything they do, because Your future for them is filled with hope, good and not evil.
Lord, we ask that You touch the hearts of our congregation to pray for the men and boys of this local assembly. Holy Spirit, please empower us all to stand against society’s systems and structures that result in ten percent of all pre-school boys being suspended. Holy Spirit, studies show that ninety percent of all “behavioral problems” in public schools are linked to boys. Please touch the hearts of fathers (and mothers) to teach their children Your godly principles.
Father, forgive our men for sins of disobedience, selfishness, lying, pornography, fornication, adultery and for not accepting the responsibility for leadership within their families and the church. Forgive our boys for rebellion, selfishness and for accepting the negative labels placed on them by the world. Forgive our wives and mothers for being complacent. Lord, please help the men, women, boys and girls in our congregation to forgive past hurts caused by family members and loved ones. Father, heal emotional wounds caused by these hurts. Lord, remind all of us to forgive others and help us to forgive.
Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord, we praise Your Name. Your Name is very great; Your glory towers over the earth and heaven. You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory, honor and power. You created all things and they exist because You created what You pleased. You are Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Psalm 8:1, Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 145:3, II Peter 1:3, Matthew 6:10, Hebrews 11:1, James 2:17, Romans 12:2, Matthew 5:16, Psalm 5:12, Deuteronomy 28:12, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 148:13, Revelation 4:11, Isaiah 9:6
Today, I will trust God to:
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myprayerinstitute.wordpress.com
03 Mar Praying for Men
Please pray for our church to reach and disciple men of all ages. In today’s culture men face many difficult areas of life. In this fast paced life many men are on the “run”. Many men experience isolation and fears, thinking they must go it alone. Many families suffer because men have made poor choices relating to families and relationships but we have a Faithful Lord who can offer hope and peace in the midst of chaos and confusion to EVERY Man, regardless of his past.
Let’s pray that men will be
- Sincere Worshippers of Almighty God, Matt 6:33, seek the Lord early and often
- Men will seek out mentors who can disciple them with the Word of God. .. Matthew 28:18-20
- Men will learn to disciple their Families and other men by practicing the Spiritual Disciplines to transform our lives and not just behavior modification…. Romans 12:1-2
- Men will become the Spiritual leader in his family and a Servant leader in his circle of influence
- Men will develop deep and lasting friendships to share and connect. 2 Timothy 2:2
- Please pray for our ministry to men to offer opportunities for men to bring their friends to respond to the Gospel.
DANA HARDEE
www.idlewild.org
Robin J Johnson
It was suggested to me that I should be promoting prayer for both men and women. In reality I am. It is not one or the other. We are not in competition, for as men take their place it will generate a greater interest and involvement in prayer. Therefore men and women will be praying. Missiologists tell us that if you win the man (husband) you win the family. I feel the same principle applies here.
Importantly, it is the biblical mandate on which MILLION PRAYING MEN is founded.
“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.”
1 Timothy 2:8
The “men” in this verse is gender specific: “Males as distinguished from females; spoken of men in various relations and circumstances, where the context determines the proper meaning e.g. husband.” (Strongs)
Though there might appear to be exclusivity about MILLION PRAYING MEN, it is definitely not the case in my mind or practice. I am simply challenging men to stand up, firstly beside their wives and secondly alongside other godly women.
Men must take their place (if they are not already), beside the women, who in many instances have been the champions and have led the way in prayer and in many other great Gospel enterprises for such a long time. I know they will continue to do so; hopefully with more men by their side.
When the Lord first began to speak to me about MILLION PRAYING MEN one of my first responses was, “Lord I have always been an advocate, supporter and releaser of women into ministry.” I soon realised that I was not being asked to move from that position at all, but by raising men into their divinely appointed roles, this initiative will in fact actually become another liberating force for women.
I have had numerous women in many places share that same sentiment with me. Some on hearing about MILLION PRAYING MEN have breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Oh, finally we don’t have to carry the load by ourselves.”
Warriors, men and women, coming and standing together in the battle for life, seeing great and magnificent answers to prayer in the mighty name of Jesus.
I believe in women! I believe in the insight, power and authority of the Kingdom of God, which they are able to exercise and demonstrate. Joint heirs in Christ, serving through the grace of God!
Before my own conversion a teenage girl prayed for me. I have had the great privilege and inexpressible joy of being married to that amazing woman of God for well over 40 years. I believe in women praying!
Yes, there will be times when we will have exclusively “men only” events. No one has ever objected to “women only” meetings that I’m aware of. I will call the warriors together. We will pray, we will learn together and we will return to stand with our women, in Jesus’ name, taking our proper place so that together we will see His Kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is heaven.
I’m not looking for “super saints” just men with conviction and courage who will dare to believe with me, that we can, through bold prayers in Jesus’ name, see the power and glory of God revealed in this moment of time and make history together.
millionprayingmen.com
