PRAY LIKE A MAN: A Book of Prayers for Men

7/29/2019 PRAY LIKE A MAN: A Book of Prayers for Men

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Copyright 2013 by Justin J. Camp

ISBN-10: 098998480X

ISBN-13: 978-0-9899848-0-5

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoeverwithout the express written permission of the authorexcept for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Gather Ministries

280 Second Street, Suite 280

Los Altos, CA 94022

www.gatherministries.com

PRAY LIKE A MANA BOOK OF PRAYERS FOR MEN

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3/16

A PRAYER OF DEPENDENCE

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Father God . . . I need you; Jesus, my King . . . I need you; Holy Spirit, my Counselor, my teacher . . . I need you.

Jesus, your story is the greatest the worlds ever known. Its the story of a father and a son, working togetherthrough the

power of the Holy Spiritto do massive, miraculous things. Its my story too. I confess, though, I try to live another story all

together . . . one in which the son tries to live by himself, separate from his father. I confess I try to be self-sufficient, strong,

on my own. I confess I try to live so that I dont need anyone else and so that I dont need you.

I confess I try to live this way so that I am able to get credit, merit praise from other men for my accomplishments . . . on my

own, for myself alone. I confess I do this so I can think well of myself and so others will think well of me. I confess I seek vali-

dation apart from you.

Right now, right here, I repent of that way of thinking and that way of living. I am awed that you, God, who could write any

story, would want to write one in which you love me, teach me, walk with me, work with me, work inme. I choose that story.

I declare my total dependence upon you. I declare, apart from you, I can do nothing. I recognize you know me better than I

know myself. I recognize I will make a mess of my life without you. I renounce my attempts at separateness. I renounce my

attempts at self-sufficiency. I renounce my attempts at life alone. I choose a life with you.

Amen


4/16

A PRAYER OF ACCESS

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God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor .

. . I give you access to the deep reaches of my heart, my

mind, my body, my soul, my spirit, my will. I confess appre-

hension. I confess that there are places within me that Id

rather keep secret, keep hidden, keep dark. I repent this

reluctance nevertheless; I turn my back on the reluctant

man. I do not want to be that man anymore. I trust you; I

want to trust you more.

I pray that everything I do, everything I think, everything I

am, remains in your light. I pray that you shine your light

even into the deepest places within me. I give myself over

to you. I give you access to all of me . . . to continue the

work in me that youve already begun.

Amen.


5/16

3

A PRAYER FOR MOREGod, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I have experi-

enced your presence. I have experienced your love. I have experienced your

voice. I have experienced what it is like to live according to your truth. I have

experienced what it is like to do your work.

And . . . I choose more. I plead for more . . . more love from you, my Father

God; more of your presence. I plead for more truth from you, Jesus, my King;

more of your leadership. I plead for more counsel from you, Holy Spirit; more of

your voice. I pray for more.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR LESS

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God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I confess

that I have experienced the ways of the world. I confess that I have lived

according to the culture of this world. I have experienced what it is like to

ignore your love, ignore your presence, ignore your voice. I have experi-

enced what it is like to work for myself.

And . . . I choose less. I choose less of the world. I repent my attempts to

look for love apart from you, Father. I repent my attempts to look for truth

apart from you, Jesus. I repent my attempts to listen to counsel from

worldly sources, not from you, Holy Spirit. I now align myself, my life, with

you, God.

Amen.


6/16

A PRAYER FOR LEADERSHIP

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Jesus, I surrender my life to you . . . to your leadership. You are my

King. I pledge my life and my allegiance to you and you alone. Igrant you unrestricted and unconditional authority over me . . . in all

respects. I give you my heart, my mind, my body, my soul, my spirit,

my will. I give you my family, my friendships, my job, my career, my

rest, my recreation. I am grateful for, and awed by, your absolute

goodness.

I ask that you, Holy Spirit, guide me, guide my life, give me counsel

and teach me to follow Jesus ever more closely. Show me how to

become a man who engages in nothing for which I cannot ask for

the blessing of the Father, nothing for which I cannot invite the in-spection of Jesus.

Jesus, I stand with you. I stand under leadership. I agree with you. I

want to make my life all about you.

I will to go where you go. I will stay where you stay.

I will receive what you give. I will do without what you take away.

I will do what you require. I will be the man you want me to be.

Amen.


7/16

A PRAYER OF DESCENT

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Jesus, my King . . . I confess that so much of my

life has been about my own ascentmy ascent

in school, my ascent in my jobs, my ascent in my

career, my ascent in my social standing. I con-

fess that ascent has become too big a thing in

my life. I confess that ascent has become too

important to me. I repent, right now, of my striv-

ing to ascend. I turn my back on the old man

with a striving heart. I do not want to be that man

anymore.

Jesus, you show me how to descend, how to live

a life of descent. You teach me that it is bet-

terbetter for us, better for others, and better for

you-if we live lives of descent. You teach me

that . . . to give, to serve, to see, to notice, to

care, to love, to offer my strength to others, tolive for others . . . is what brings purpose, fulfill-

ment, joy to my life . . . not my own ascent.

Jesus, I trust you. I choose a life with purpose,

fulfillment, and joy. I choose a life of descent.

Amen.


8/16

God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I

need men in my life. I know its not good to be isolated, no mat-

ter what my instincts tell me. Ive turned my life over to you, and

I need men in my life who are willing to do the same. I need to

know other men, and I need men who know me . . . truly knowme. I want to commit myself to other men, and I need other

men who are willing to commit to me . . . to make me a priority

in their lives. I want to be honest and transparent, and I need

men who are also willing to do the same. I need men in my life

to whom I can confess . . . and they to me. I need men who will

encourage me and help me to keep focused on you . . . fueled

and aflame. I need men who will stand with me through hard-

ship . . . and I with them. I need men with whom I can search

for my true identity . . . the one you dreamt of, so long ago. I

need brothers.

Holy Spirit, lead me to the right men or bring the right men to

me. You know who they are; I do not. I trust you, not my own

worldly instincts. I pray that you build a brotherhood that will

stand apart, that will stand in your name.

Amen.

A PRAYER FOR BROTHERHOOD

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9/16

God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I come to you now to be restored, to be renewed. I confess

that Ive tried to live under my own strength, under my own power. Ive striven for validation from other people. Its been ex-

hausting and I am exhausted. Here and now, I repent of this way. I turn my back on that old man. I do not want to be that

man anymore. Please clear a path to restoration. Show me the path to becoming a new man. Teach me how you built me to

be restored, awakened and recharged, uniquely. Mend my heart, my mind, my body, my soul, my spirit, my will. Teach me

again how to find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Bring me home.

Amen.

RESTORATION

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A PRAYER FOR


10/16

A PRAYER OF WORSHIP

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God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I

worship you. You are worthy of my worship. I am devoted to you.

You are worthy of my devotion. I love you. You are worthy of my

love. I trust you. You are worthy of my trust. I fear you. Your awe-

some love and terrible power are worthy of my fear.

I am deeply grateful to have a Father who is powerful, but kind,

who loves me and never forgets me or neglects me. I am deeply

grateful to have a King who is pure and right and who is so worthy

of my allegiance. I am grateful to have a Counselor in the Holy

Spirit whose wisdom is endless and whos always near and al-

ways willing to help.

I am grateful and amazed to have a God that is so good. I do not,

and will not, take you for granted.

Amen.


11/16

A PRAYER OFCONFESSION & REPENTANCE

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God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . .

I come before you in my brokenness. I am broken-hearted. Sin

has broken my heart . . . just as, I know, it breaks yours.

Right now, right here, I confess that I am selfish, self-centered,

self-serving, self-indulgent, self-promoting, and that I try des-

perately to be self-sufficient. I have not loved you with all of

my heart, soul, mind, and strength; I have not loved others as

much as I have loved myself. I confess that, rather than tryingto reflect your love, I have been cruel, harsh, manipulative,

and demanding of others. I also confess that I have_________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________.

My sins have created what feels like distance between you

and me. I know and acknowledge that they have impacted my

ability to receive your love and power.

Here and now, I choose to turn from these sins. I ask for your

help, your grace in helping me to change my mind about sin. I

turn my back on the old man, the one who willingly engaged

in these sins. I dont want to be that man anymore. I want to be

free from the power that these sins have over my life. I pray

that you shine your light into these areas of my life. I give them

completely over to you.

Amen


12/16

A PRAYER FORPROTECTION

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God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit,

my Counselor . . . I ask for your protection

now. I ask for your protection of my heart, my

mind, my body, my soul, my spirit, my will.

Hide me from the enemy. I ask for your protec-

tion of my family, my friends, my brotherhood,my work, my church.

I pray that your light surrounds all of us. I pray

your light pushes back the darkness. I pray

your love envelops us. I pray your love pushes

back fear and anger. I pray your power pro-

tects us. I pray your power continues to defeat

all the schemes and attacks by the powers of

the kingdom of darkness. I pray you watch

over us, so we may get rest.

I declare I will not be afraid . . . no matter

where we go, no matter what we do, no matter

what happens, because you are with us.

Amen.


13/16

Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I need your help. Your wisdom and understanding, your ideas and inspiration, are so far be-

yond my own. I have come to the end of my resources. They are not enough, not even close. I declare that I need you. So,

be my guide. Search me and know me. Reveal to me where you are working and where you want to do more work. Reveal to

me where I am asleep, where you are waking me up. Reveal to me where you want my obedience. Reveal what is next.

Speak to me. Let me hear you. I quiet my mind and give it to you. Direct my thinking. Just as people can originate thoughts

in my mind indirectly, by speaking or writing, you originate thoughts directly, right into in my mind. Originate your thoughts in

me . . . thoughts of a word, of a picture, maybe. Come Holy Spirit. Come and be my guide.

Amen.

A PRAYERFOR COUNSEL

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14/16

A PRAYER FORADVENTURE

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God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my

Counselor . . . I want my heart to come alive. I

want to dream big dreams. I want to hear your

call and go. I want to head off toward something

in the distance . . . toward something good,

something worthy. I want to head off into the un-

known . . . with you . . . spontaneous and free. I

want to rely on your provision, your protection,

your comfort, not to try to devise ways to provide

for, and to protect myself.

I know the journey may be hard, with unknown

obstacles, interruptions, detours, deprivations,

and dangers. But I also know the outcome will be

good.

It is an honor to go with you. I am joyous and ex-

cited for the road ahead. I cant wait for unforget-

table days with you on great mountains . . . the

mountains you choose. I cant wait to have sto-

ries to tell. I will follow your lead. I trust you. I will

go and not turn back.

Amen


15/16

A PRAYER FORUNIFICATION

14

God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my

Counselor . . . unify my heart, my mind, my

body, my soul, my spirit, my will. Unify my gifts,

my call, my name. Give my life a singleness ofpurpose. Simplify it. Focus it. Focus each mo-

ment of my life. Bring clarity. Bring counsel.

While I can still work, while I can still do your

work, help me to discover the good works for

which you created me. I want to say yes to

those. Help me know also how to set boundaries

and to say no . . . even when it is hard. I dont

want to spend the precious moments of my life

on things for which you did not create me. I want

to do your work . . . Kingdom work. I want to

work hard for my King.

Amen.


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PRAY LIKE A MAN: A Book of Prayers for Men