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How to Pray for the Youth

As Christians, we pray regarding the critical aspects of society. As the ekklesia (church) with our authority given by God, we have the responsibility to pray, intercede, and make supplications for all people, which covers the different aspects of society. That is why we pray for the government, families, schools, and the youth. 

Whenever you pray for the next generation, the essential thing that you can pray for them is that they may be discipled. That means praying that when some Christians preach the Gospel to them, they would believe the Gospel and repent from their life of sin.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

[James 5:16]

[James 5:16]Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

How to Pray for the Youth

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men

[1 Timothy 2:1]

[1 Timothy 2:1]I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men

How to Pray for the Youth

Why is it important to pray for the youth?

The Bible shows the importance of discipling or raising the youth to become a generation that knows the LORD. In the book of Judges, we see what happens when the older generation fails to disciple the next generation. A generation that does not know the LORD and walks in wickedness emerges. We can observe the same thing in the different kings of Israel and Judah. Some kings walked in righteousness, but after a few verses or chapters, you see that the sons who succeeded the righteous kings were wicked because they were not raised to know the LORD.

That is why praying for the youth is very important. If praying for the government that makes the laws and governs our nation is essential, praying for the youth is just as important. That is because the next generation will be society’s future. The future leaders of society are on the campuses right now studying. Also, the values of the youth today will be the values of society tomorrow.

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

[Judges 2:10]

[Judges 2:10]And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

How to Pray for the Youth

So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

[2 Chronicles 12:13-14]

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

[Proverbs 22:6]

[Proverbs 22:6]Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

How to Pray for the Youth

While indeed raising youth to know Christ and walk in the ways of the LORD is primarily the parents’ responsibility, we all have the same responsibility to do something to make sure that our youths become adults who know Christ. That is why we should preach the Gospel and keep praying for them.

How do I pray for the youth?

There are many different things that we can pray for the youth. But the most important among them and the end goal of everything you pray for is for youths to encounter and know Christ and commit to following Him. Praying for the youth is something we should commit to praying for, not just as individuals but also as a church community.

When praying for the youth, you can pray for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts so they may receive the Gospel and repent whenever it is preached to them. If there are youths to whom Christians have already preached the Gospel, you can pray for the seed of God’s Word to grow in their hearts. What you pray for the youth is not only limited to the youth themselves. You can pray for open doors in schools and universities to do an outreach event, boldness for the Christians in the education sector to preach Christ to the youth, and many more topics that directly affect young people.

You can also pray for the parents because, as mentioned before, the parents have the responsibility to disciple their kids. Pray that the parents shall be faithful to fulfill their mandate, which is to train their kid(s) in the ways of the LORD. If the parents are not Christians, pray that they also shall encounter and know the Lord Jesus Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

[Romans 1:16]

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

[1 Corinthians 1:23-24]

[1 Corinthians 1:23-24]But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

How to Pray for the Youth

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

[Ephesians 6:4]

[Ephesians 6:4]And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

How to Pray for the Youth

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

[Proverbs 13:24]

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

[2 Timothy 1:5]

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds

[Colossians 4:3]

Here is an example of how you can pray for the youth:

Heavenly Father, You are the God Whose heart is for the next generation. I pray that the next generation to rise in our society will consist of men and women who know Christ. I pray, Holy Spirit, that You would work in their hearts as they hear the Gospel so that they may believe the finished work of Christ and repent from their life of sin. I pray for the Christians in the educational sector that you will give them the boldness to reach out and preach the Gospel to the youth. I pray for open doors for Christian workers to be able to reach out to more students in schools and universities. I pray that a generation with godly values will rise in our nation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What is a good Bible verse for the youth?

A couple of Bible verses talk about youths in the Bible. That is why you can see there is God’s heart for the next generation and how important it is for us to raise them to become men and women who know the LORD.

A good Bible verse is from Acts 2:17 and Joel 2:28, which are actually both the same:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

[Acts 2:17]

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

[Joel 2:28] 

They pertain to God’s promise to pour out His Spirit to the young men and women so that we can claim it as we go out there and disciple the youth. 

Another one is from Proverbs 4:26-27:

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

[Proverbs 4:26-27]

It is a good encouragement for the youth to always ponder the path of their feet and their pursuit of holiness; to never swerve from it as they run the race of faith, as young as they are. 

While we should intercede and pray for the youth at all times, we should also remember that we are to preach the Gospel to them. Just as we are fervent when praying for more young men and women to know Christ, we should also be bold and courageous when it comes to proclaiming Christ to them. Praying and preaching go together.

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