As a grass roots movement of people praying for this city, we love to share and find out what’s happening in our city. See all that God is doing, and join with each other praying for this city that God has given us.
The old cliche “The Children are our future” is true. I’ve heard a quote a few times recently about a visitor to a village that was well known because of it’s great men, but when he he arrived, he just saw a simple village full of ordinary folk looking a bit run down. He walked up to a local and asked “what happened here, weren’t many great folk born here? The replied, nope the only people born here were babies!” People aren’t born great but their environment and the people around them coupled with their achievements make them great.
There is a dedicated group of people who gather together regularly to pray for the young people of this city as well as those involved in youth work across the city. If you have a heart for the young people of this city please feel free to join the on the 2nd and 4th Friday’s every month at Anazao Tea Rooms from 8.45-9.15 am.
For more info contact Julie Beckett or pop along to Anazao Tea Rooms.
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EricDunbar.com is setting aside the month of October to pray for our young people. Please show your support for our youth by standing with us in prayer, beginning October 1 through October 31.
Everyone is asking, “What’s happening to our young people?” This is a well-merited question and we have good reason to be concerned for our youth.
Our Youth are Hurting
Overcome by lack, depression, drugs, sexual promiscuity and violence, young people are suffering. News headlines remind us every day of the suffering of our young people.
It’s not always young people who are committing crimes against each other. We commit crimes against them too. On September 26, a 29-year-old mother in Fort Wayne, Indiana murdered her two children ages 6 and 7. She smothered them to death. Unfortunately, these two children will never have children of their own. Their mother did not encourage them, she murdered them instead.
On September 29, an armed teenager drove to Townville Elementary School in South Carolina. He fired his weapon into a school door to open the door. Three people were shot, including a 6-year-old boy. The boy sustained brain damage from losing such a tremendous amount of blood.
On September 30, a 14-year-old boy arrived for class at Sycamore Middle School in Ashland City, Tennessee with a .45 caliber handgun. He said he wanted to kill teachers and a police officer. A school counselor averted tragedy by talking the boy out of his deadly plan. In no way does our youth deserve to suffer violence.
What Has Happened to Our Young People?
I refuse to talk about the more serious violent acts committed by and to our youth; it only glorifies the problem. We must own up to this simple fact: we are responsible for what our young people are becoming. To blame our youth for their shortcomings is a terrible injustice to them.
We accuse young people of not listening, of being arrogant and irresponsible. Which one of you were born with the ability to be responsible? We have become a nation of finger pointers, gossipers, social media, and lovers of reality shows. Unwittingly, we have created a reality that only we can change–our young people.
Parents rush their kids off to school in the morning and expect them to learn without teaching them how to learn. We expect them to succeed without mentoring them. Everybody fails at something. In the case of our youth, does failure merit such harsh criticism?
Social Media
Many of the problems that young people contend with run deep. Violence is just one of many fruits; the result of seeds we have sown. Violent behavior is a fruit; rejection is the root of an emotional wound. Of all emotional wounds, rejection is the most common. Social media and dating apps pose the biggest threats to their emotions. Thanks to modern technology young people are connected to thousands of people.
When people ignore their posts, texts, or dating profiles it gives birth to rejection. Rejection in any form always hurts, and more than we can imagine.
We Must Pray
It’s time to stop finding fault with this troubled generation. In addition to good parenting and mentoring, we must pray. During the month of October, we ask that believers nationwide pray this prayer every day for one month:
“Dear God, we pray that every young person in America would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened so they may know their calling. We pray young people all across America would understand the richness of their heritage in Christ. We stand in agreement and declare that our youth will have the courage of Joshua, that they may be fearless in the face of perversion. Keep them, Father, from being discouraged by criticism and negativity. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.”
Eric Dunbar is CEO of Sea Breeze Records, the Author of Believing Faith Speaks and Editor of ERICDUNBAR.COM | Books
www.ericdunbar.com
One of our biggest responsibilities as adults is to teach and train our kids core principals from the Bible to give them a solid foundation in Christ as they grow. You don’t have to walk very far to see how important it is to pray right now. It seems like each generation gets a little more out of control than the last one. Here are 7 prayers you can pray for young people (ages 20 and under) and the next generation.
Table of contents
Rise Up
Father in Heaven,
I pray that You would raise up a generation of children that would fear You greatly! Lord, I’m scared about where our country is headed. Many bad decisions are affecting our kids. Abortion is not a scary word anymore. Father, our kids need to know to fight for what’s right and I pray that You would use me to help Your cause to raise a generation of young people that will continue to fight for You! I love You! Amen
“We know what’s right! We’ll stand and fight! It’s time to rise!” (We Know What’s Right, Whitecross)
Ministry
Lord,
You know the hearts of our young kids. I pray that you would grow a desire in them that some would devote a life of service to a ministry. We need honest preachers. We need passionate worship pastors. We need men that will take hold of these desires and run with them. You can do great things, Father, through us and I pray that You will use the Holy Spirit to speak to our adolescent children to grow a passion inside of them that wants to know You more and live for You daily! I love You! Amen
“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”(Romans 10:15)
Your Own Kids
Dear Lord,
I love my children so much and I know that they are learning to love You more daily. Father, I am scared for them because everything around them says You are a lie. I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them daily to know what is right and what choices they should make. I know that they are only with me for a brief time and I pray that I would be found faithful in Your sight with how I raise them. I will continue to pray with them and encourage them to read their Bibles daily. Lord, I believe Jesus! He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) I pray that my children will grow to believe the same way. I put them in Your hands, Father. Amen
“And when you feel like giving up, I will walk you through the pain. And when you feel like life’s too much, remember Jesus is your strength always.” (Always, Seventh Day Slumber)
The Outcasts
O Father in Heaven,
My heart is breaking for the young men and women who are social outcasts. The news tells the same story every single night. Someone is being bullied or shot. Father, this is chaotic! Please, Lord, protect the ones who cannot protect themselves. Some kids are so emotionally traumatized that they have attempted to take their own lives…some have succeeded. Father, I pray that You would place men and women of faith in the paths of these kids to show them that they are special and they are loved. Until they see love they will only continue in the spiral of endless chaos. Father, use me to help in any way! I love You! Amen
“I will not turn my eyes. I will not ignore their cries…Orphans come home. The kingdom is yours.” (Orphans, Impending Doom)
Missions
Blessed Lord,
I thank You for the men and women that lead teams of missionaries to help spread the truth of the Gospel of Christ. I pray that as our church is planning its next trip that our young men and women will step up and fill the need. I have seen You move on these trips in mighty ways! Many people who needed clothes, shoes and a roof for their head have come to know and love You because of people willing to go on a missions trip. Lord, I will encourage the young people to go, just as You have told us to go in the great commission. I love You! Amen
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
In The Womb
Dear God,
I pray for those yet to be born. There are thousands and thousands of little babies waiting to be born from their mommies. I pray that these little ones will hear the truth of the Bible as they grow older. I pray for Your protection on them in the womb. Without new life, we would be extinct and children are a huge blessing. Guide, guard and direct these little ones as they grow in You. They could change the world because of You! I lift them up to You in the name of Your precious Son. Amen
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3)
Prodigals
Heavenly Father,
I pray for the young men and women who have left their faith behind to indulge in the desires of the flesh. Father, I pray that You would open their eyes to see the decay that is around them. I pray that they would understand their sin fully and repent. Lord, bring them to their knees in sadness and remorse for the terrible things they have done. Until they see the need for Jesus they are doomed for hell. Please, Father, draw them back to You. Use men and women of faith to love on them and show them truth in the midst of the deception they are living in. The devil is crafty, but You are Holy! All things are possible through You! I love You! Amen
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Conclusion
These are only 7 of many prayers you could pray for our young people and the next generation. We need to be in prayer daily for them! So, please, take just 2 minutes of your day and say a quick prayer to God for a young person you know. It may be the very thing that launches that young person into a life of service to the Lord! May God bless you as you continue to live a life worthy of the calling!
More about raising up children: How to Raise A Child in A Christian Home
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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