Jesus is our example of a real man.  What does a real man do when he is faced with the inevitability of his death?  

Look at the way that Jesus handled His impending mission.  Jesus talked to His Father about His calling to die.  He spent significant time telling His Father how He felt about what was about to happen.  He took His best friends with Him but He didn't allow His friends to dissuade Him due to their inability to be supportive.  

The day of His crucifixion, He spent time with His followers and let them know what was going to happen.  His death was to happen during Passover.  During Passover, a tradition is to sing the Hallel Psalms, chapters 113-118.  They are to be sung as a prayer.  What is interesting is chapter 118, the last scripture that Jesus and the His disciples sang.  Jesus knew what He was going to go thru.  Look at some of the key words that Jesus sang:

What can man do to me?

I will look in triumph over my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

They surrounded me on every side but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

The LORD is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation.

I will not die, but live.  I will proclaim what the LORD has done.

This is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Give thanks to the LORD for He is good.

His love endures forever.

So, the conclusion...  When you know that you are going to face a severe trial, face it like a man.  Be like Jesus.  Spend time with your LORD and have confidence that you will emerge victorious because HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.  

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

How do you prepare yourself  for your day?  For many men, it's to hit the alarm clock and then full on until bed time again.  A real man works hard.  But a real man has to gain sustenance.  

Where do you get your strength?  I would encourage you to pray this prayer before you start your day.  Do it several days in a row until you can grasp the full meaning and meditate on it throughout the day.  You might be surprised with the results!

This is St Patrick's breastplate prayer .  It is to prayed upon starting your day and Psalm 5 is to be added.


I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

_______________________________________

* Note: "day of doom" is an Old English term meaning "Day of Judgment."