I am a man because I am free to feel…

I am a man because I know my present actions affect my future as a husband and a father…

I am a man because I realise that I am insecure…

I am a man because I lay my insecurities before The Lord…

I am a man because I see that being a man isn’t about my social status…

I am a man because I’m not afraid to confess my many weaknesses to others…

I am a man because I recognise that not everyone will have the same opinions/morals/beliefs as me and that I choose to not let that disturb me…

I am a man because I choose to not joke inappropriately…

I am a man because I’m not afraid to stand up for my faith in The Lord Jesus…

I am a man because I will obey my parents as You command me to…

I am a man because I fear not the enemy…

I am a man because I recognise that it’s my duty and responsibility to show
unlimited attention and affection to my future wife…

I am a man because I try and obey The Lord even when I disagree with Him…

I am a man because I know I need God’s grace and mercy…

I am a man because I surround myself with friends that edify and correct me…

I am a man because I am a consecrated temple;
Your eyes and Your heart will always be within me…

I am a man because I know that unholy anger is for the weak…

I am a man because I believe that You alone determine my future…

I am a man because I will run back to you when I am overcome by lust…

I am a man because I’m in love with God…

I am a man because I choose to be loyal to my future wife from now…

I am a man because I know that I am called to be like a child to enter
His Kingdom…

I am a man because my security is in Jesus, not money…

I am a man because I acknowledge that it’s my responsibility to grow in knowledge of The Church and Her Tradition from now…

I am a man because I openly show affection and love to my brothers…

I am a man because I believe that what is impossible and illogical to me, is possible in Jesus…

I am a man because I know I have to lose control…

I am a man because I choose to recognise that being older than someone doesn’t make me wiser or more spiritual than them…

I am a man because I fight for my purity…

I am a man because I know it’s not ‘feminine’ to cry…

I am a man because I believe that Prayer is practical and powerful…

I am a man because I believe that You’re able to keep me from stumbling…

I am a man because I can be a living Gospel from my youth…

I am a man because I will not hide my sins, I stand exposed before You Lord…

I am a man because I love reading Your living Word…

I am a man because I will respect my elders as You obeyed me to…

I am a man because my bravery comes from You…

I am a man because I will not blame others…

I am a man because I recognise that good leaders don’t try and make others carbon-copies of themselves…

I am a man because I recognise that younger generations look up to me…

I am a man because I will choose to not involve myself with church politics…

I am a man because I will believe even when my eyes can’t see…

I am a man because I will view negative criticism and mocking from others as
my crown…

I am a man because I believe that I can do all things through You…

I am a man because I know that my walk with You won’t be easy…

I am a man because I’m artistic and creative…

I am a man because I pray for child-like faith…

I am a man because I want to only speak edifying words to others…

I am a man because I know that I am incapable but You are capable…

I am a man because I’m happy for others to be better than me…

I am a man because I accept Your chastening…

I am a man because I know that Jesus loves all people equally…

I am a man because I know that I’m a pilgrim on a journey…

I am a man because I recognise that true beauty is within…

I am a man because I am completely dependant on The Lord…

I am a man because I will not conform to the world’s definition of ‘manhood’…

I am a man because I intercede for those who still haven’t tasted You Jesus…

I am a man because I choose to not be afraid of change…

I am a man because I know that in You I am already successful,
no job in the world can ever provide me with true success…

I am a man because I am an empty vessel desiring to be used for Your glory…

I am a man because I see that women are equal to me…

I am a man because I was created in His image and likeness…

I am a man because I will preach Your name by my actions and words…

I am a man because I recognise that every girl is somebody’s daughter…

I am a man because I believe that Jesus is Lord…

I am a man in You, Jesus.

We need to have integrity, virtue, courage, and passion!

I was recently incredibly blessed to meet a godly and beautiful women who shared a quote that really touched me:

“Do not settle. Love a man who loves Christ more than you – and you more than himself. Be attracted to tenderness, lowliness, self-restraint, consistency and sacrifice. Seek that man who carries the imprint of our Lord’s cross upon his life. Rather, follow that man whom comes along and resembles the unconditional grace of your Lord Jesus. I know godliness in a man is hard to find. But, find it. Otherwise, you will spend your life raising the man you thought you married. The church and this culture are filled with boys masquerading as men. Let them pass. The man you are looking for is no boy. He is a servant. He cares for your needs above his own. You should be able to recognize it when you see it. That man who will lay down his life for yours is the type of man you can easily give yours to. The man who sacrifices himself is easy to serve sacrificially.”

Lord, you said that without You I can do nothing. I need You to help me become the man You’ve created me to be. Let me imitate these men who prefigured my Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament:

Abraham – a man with a perfect faith in God. “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”” (Romans 4:3) to the point where God considered Abraham a close friend so that He said to Himself “shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” (Genesis 18:17)

Isaac – obedient to the point of death (Genesis 21:9) just like our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:8)

Jacob – one who wrestled with God and was not complacent in his spiritual growth (Genesis 32:26)

Joseph – a man blessed not by fame and fortune (although he had both) but rather by the presence of God in his life (Genesis 39:5). A man who freely forgave those who wounded him deeply, knowing that God used all things for good (Genesis 50:20)

Moses – the most humble man in all of the earth (Numbers 12:3). One who interceded for his people, spoke with God face to face, and beheld His power and glory first hand (Exodus 32:11-4, Exodus 33:11, Exodus 33:18-23)

Samson – A man who knew God would never give up on him no matter how foolish he had been. “Then Samson prayed to the Lord, Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes” (Judges 16:28)

Elijah – a man with such boldness and confidence in his God that he was able to call down fire from heaven to destroy the adversary so that the One True God was glorified (1 Kings 18:37-39)

Elisha – a man who was audacious enough to ask for extravagant things from God, expecting he would receive them (2 Kings 2:9)

Hezekiah – a man who humbled himself and made decisions with God (2 Kings 19:14-16)

Samuel – A man who reflected Christ even since his childhood (compare Samuel in 1 Samuel 2:26 with Jesus in Luke 2:52)

David – a man like no other, who had a vibrant, passionate, and obsessive relationship with His Master, Maker, Father, and Friend (1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Psalms)

Jonathan – a man who took chances on God: “Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”” (1 Samuel 14:6)

Beniah – a man who had the courage and valor to do many heroic deeds, like chasing a lion into a pit on a snowy day to kill it (1 Chronicles 11:22-24)

Solomon – a man who had a heart for his people and asked God for wisdom to lead them (2 Chronicles 1:10)

Job – one whom the Lord boasted about, who was put through severe trials and tribulations for his own good and for the glory of God (The Book of Job)

Ben Sirach – A man with a gift of explaining divine truths so beautifully:

“Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon Him and was overlooked? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; He forgives sins and saves in time of affliction” (Wisdom of Sirach 2:10)

“Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, but not into the hands of men; for as His majesty is, so also is His mercy” (Wisdom of Sirach 2:18)

Nehemiah – a man who understood the importance of balance. He worked and fought simultaneously. “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other” (Nehemiah 4:17)

Tobias – a man in the company of angels throughout his day (see the Book of Tobit)

Jeremiah – real men cry (The Book of Jeremiah, Lamentations)

Ezekiel – a man who never forgot that he was a tool in the hands of the Living God, and who did not consider himself wise in his own eyes: “Sovereign Lord, you alone know” (Ezekiel 37:3)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – men with uncompromising integrity in following after and worshiping God (Daniel 3:16-18)

Daniel – a man beloved and highly esteemed in the eyes of God (Daniel 9:23)

I feel like I should cite Hebrews 11 because there is no way to have a conclusive list:

“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of [all the other great men] who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:32-39)

Lord, I pray that You would conform me to the glorious image of the Lord Jesus Christ! Let me be perfect like you are perfect!!