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 whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Gather Ministries 280 Second Street, Suite 280 Los Altos, CA 94022 www.gatherministries.com
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A PRAYER OF DEPENDENCE
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-sufcient, 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 validation 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 in me. 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-sufciency. I renounce my attempts at life alone. I choose a life with you. Amen

A PRAYER OF ACCESS
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 apprehension. 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.

A PRAYER FOR MORE

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

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 experienced 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.

A PRAYER FOR LEADERSHIP

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. I grant 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 inspection 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.

A PRAYER OF DESCENT
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 confess 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 striving 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 betterbetter 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, to live for others . . . is what brings purpose, fulllment, joy to my life . . . not my own ascent. Jesus, I trust you. I choose a life with purpose, fulllment, and joy. I choose a life of descent. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR BROTHERHOOD

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 matter 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 know me. 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 aame. I need men who will stand with me through hardship . . . 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 RESTORATION

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 exhausting 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 nd love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Bring me home. Amen.

A PRAYER OF WORSHIP
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 awesome 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 always 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.

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A PRAYER OF CONFESSION & REPENTANCE

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 selsh, self-centered, self-serving, self-indulgent, self-promoting, and that I try desperately to be self-sufcient. 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 trying to reect 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

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A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

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 protection 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 protects 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.

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A PRAYER FOR COUNSEL

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

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A PRAYER FOR ADVENTURE

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 unknown . . . 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 excited for the road ahead. I cant wait for unforgettable days with you on great mountains . . . the mountains you choose. I cant wait to have stories to tell. I will follow your lead. I trust you. I will go and not turn back. Amen

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A PRAYER FOR UNIFICATION

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 of purpose. Simplify it. Focus it. Focus each moment 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.