How to Pray for Youth
Young people are our most valuable natural resource. Their energy, creativity, and mission-mindedness are needed if the church is going to realize its potential and perpetuate the apostolic message. This energy must be directed constructively, which can only be done by seeking God. Satan wants to turn youthful energy into a negative, destructive force. We must, however, challenge his desire through focused intercession. As you pray for our youth, pray in these area:
1. An abiding, personal relationship with Christ.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Pray that youth would . . .
Committ their lives to Christ, be filled with His Spirit, and be baptized in His name.
Recognize that His name is above every name (Acts 4:12) and confess by a life fully submitted to divine authority that He is Lord of all (Philippians 2:11).
Learn to communicate with Christ and learn to depend on Him for everything.
Understand the depth of God’s love for them (I John 3:1).
Base their self-esteem and identity in Christ and not the standards of the world.
Know who they are, what they have in Christ, and what they can do through Him (Colossians 1:27). “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: . . . In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; . . . In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your slavation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:4, 7, 11-14).
Be blessed with the joy that comes from intimately knowing Christ and walking with Him.
Be filled so completely with the joy of the Lord that they would not pursue worldly pleasure (Romans 14:17; Psalm 16:11; Philippians 4:4;Nehemiah 8:10).
2. Moral purity
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:7-10).
Pray that youth would . . .
Develop the strength of character to remain morally pure in this permissive society.
Make right decisions about sex, drugs, and worldly pleasures. Their only true safety is abstinence.
Defeat negative peer pressure and learn to make the right choices.
Have a pure heart.
Not just keep a set of rules, but desire to please God in all they do.
Be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I have every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple . . . Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. They word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever: Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:127-130, 159-162).
That the Word of God would be instilled in their hearts and that they would choose the obedience of hating sin and loving His holiness.
3. Values and Relationships
Pray that youth would . . .
Retain the values that have made our nations and churches great. They must learn to live by the biblical principles of integrity and honesty—to be true, especially in relationships. Without these proper values, they cannot develop friendships and marriages that will last a lifetime (Titus 2:11-14).
Develop friendships based on the drawing of the Holy Spirit to righteous companions.
Pray that God would give them friends who are true, wholesome, and mutually encouraging.
Pray that they would have the wisdom to choose relationships that would honor God (Psalm 119:63; John 15:13-14).
Set their thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8; John 8:32; Romans 12:2).
4. Mission-mindedness
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).
Pray that youth would . . .
Accept their divine mission in life. They were born again to be a witness for Jesus Christ and to disciple others (Acts 1:8).
Become spiritual leaders and boldly; courageously stand up for what they believe and cherish (I Timothy 4:12).
Become the catalyst for revival in their churches, schools, and communities and accept roles of responsibility in these areas. They must show others that one can live for God in this ungodly world.
Take their place in God’s kingdom.
Produced by World Network of Prayer, United Pentecostal Church International
