When I think about the men in my life, and I think of ways to pray for them and cover them, what comes to my mind is the men of the Bible.
I love that the Bible gives us glimpses into the lives of real people all throughout Scripture to show us that, just like us, they needed to be strengthened and encouraged in the Lord.
There are plenty of examples in the bible where God spoke blessing and courage over the lives of men, but I am particularly drawn to the lives of Abraham and Joshua. Both of these men were blessed and walked in courage. However, the blessing on Abraham extends to us today by way of a covenant promise, while Joshua’s courage took the people out of the wilderness and into the promised land that the Lord promised Abraham.
When it comes to praying blessing and courage over the men in our lives, we have to know that we aren’t praying for God to give them things that are above and beyond what He has already called them to have. As a believer, it is our inheritance to walk in blessing. As a believer, it is our inheritance to be courageous.
If our men aren’t walking in blessing and courage, let’s pray that the Lord would pour out His spirit on them and open their spiritual eyes so that they may see themselves the way the Lord does. If the men in our lives are already walking in blessing and courage, then pray that a greater measure of these things would be their portion.
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A Prayer for Blessing and Courage for the Men in My Life
My Father who is in heaven, Lord I honor you and bless your Holy name. I thank you for your goodness, your steadfast love and faithfulness, and for your mighty power! Lord, I thank you for keeping your hand over my life, as well as over the lives of those I love.
Lord, I lift up the men that you have placed in connection to me. I thank you for these men. I thank you for the roles that they play in my life, and in the lives of those around them. Father, these men are wonderful in your sight. You have called them for such a time as this. The destiny and influence on their lives are so important to the Kingdom agenda on this earth! Lord, because of their importance and their relevance, I come before you requesting that you would bless them and breathe courage over them.
Father, according to your word in Genesis 12, you made a promise to Abraham that you would bless him and his descendants. You told him that you would make him a great nation! Lord, through Christ Jesus we have entered into, and are now part of, the covenant that you made with Abraham. Lord, you promised Abraham that you would bless him and that you would cause him to be a blessing to others. So, right now, I declare this same blessing over the men in my life. Lord, cause them to be both blessed, and a blessing to others! Meet their needs as they continue to meet the needs of those around them.
"Overwhelm these men with your goodness, God, so that your glory may be evident in their lives."
Lord, I speak the blessing of Deuteronomy 28 over these men’s lives. I ask that you would cause a hunger and a thirst within their hearts to please you and to faithfully obey you so that they can walk fully in the blessings you have for them. Lord, as they walk in obedience to you, bless them in the city and in the country. Bless their children, the work of their hands and all that they produce. Bless their food. Bless them as they come in, and as they go out. Father, cause all of these blessings to chase them down and overtake them. Overwhelm these men with your goodness, God, so that your glory may be evident in their lives.
God, I also pray for these men to have courage in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, reveal yourself to them in such a way that they would know in their hearts that they do not carry a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Ignite courage inside of them, so much so that they would swell with confidence in you. Not in themselves, Lord, but in you – the God who made them, walks with them, and lives inside of them.
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"I pray that they would know and be reassured that they have you, the God of angel’s armies, fighting on their side..."
Just as you told Jacob to be strong and very courageous, I pray that these men would be strong and very courageous! There is so much that you want to give your sons, Father. I ask that you would cause a boldness to rise up in them that would empower them to go and take possession of everything that you have set apart just for them. Lord, give them the tenacity to keep pursuing that which you have said is already theirs. I know that there will be enemies who oppose them while they attempt to do this. I pray that they would know and be reassured that they have you, the God of angel’s armies, fighting on their side, and that the victory is already theirs.
Lord, I worship you and I give you all the glory for blessing these men in my life and for giving them courage. I love you and honor you, and I seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Britnee Bradshaw is a free-spirited, Old Navy-wearin', coffee-shop lovin', wife and momma. She serves in the worship ministry with her husband at their home church in Glendale, AZ and writes with the sole purpose of pointing others to Christ. You can catch up with her on her blog or via social media @b_brdshw!
This article is part of our Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Serenity Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
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Prayer for Healing
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"The best thing we can ever do for the people in our lives is to pray the word of the Lord over them."
When I think about praying specifically for blessing and courage for the men in my life, I immediately think of individuals in the Word who found themselves receiving a promise of blessing and courage from God.
The best thing we can ever do for the people in our lives is to pray the word of the Lord over them. This is what 1 John 5:14-15 says about praying according to the will of God, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
When we pray the scriptures over others, we are essentially praying in direct accordance to the will of the Lord for their lives. There is no better fool-proof method for prayer. Simply pray the Scriptures.
Britnee Bradshaw is a free-spirited, Old Navy-wearin', coffee-shop lovin', wife and momma. She serves in the worship ministry with her husband at their home church in Glendale, AZ and writes with the sole purpose of pointing others to Christ. You can catch up with her on her blog or via social media @b_brdshw!
Originally published Friday, 08 February 2019.
