Praying for Children, Youth, and Young Adults

Scriptures

¹⁵ But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant ¹⁶ and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”

Matthew 21:15-16 NKJV

¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

Our children are our future. Among the children, youth and young adults we interact with everyday are future Christian ministers, lawyers, doctors, auto mechanics, dentists, firefighters, pro athletes, political leaders and on and on with a huge list of possibilities. It is therefore paramount how children are raised. Our society today has gone so far away from God’s ideals for the family. Children today are being indoctrinated within the public school system to hate anything Christian. Our public education system is welcoming to anything outside the Christian faith no matter how it presents. This is not to surprise or alarm us as Jesus already made it clear that this would be the case. The church and every individual Christian have a responsibility to first pray for the next generation today. We must not wait until tomorrow. We must set the example and that way they will have a greater chance of success. Children are also called to praise God and they can indeed be extremely effective that way. Never underestimate what praying over our children, youth and young adults will accomplish.

Prayer Sample

Heavenly Father,

I thank you because you always hear me. Even when it appears nothing is happening, I know you are in charge. Thank you for your love for us and for our children, youth and young adults who are the next generation. Today, I pray for every child being raised up with Christian values. I pray that they will grow up to know Jesus personally and have you working by Your Spirit in their lives. I pray that the youth in our churches, campuses and high schools who are being overwhelmed by the culture of our day will find strength in you. As Joseph was upright in Egypt so may they be upright today. As Your Spirit worked in David giving him victory over Goliath so may they have victory over the Goliath sized lies and problems of our day. I pray for the young adults of our day that as Daniel and his friends refused to defile themselves in Babylon so also our young adults will be resolute in their faith. I pray that as Daniel and his friends were filled with divine wisdom so it will be for our young adults. Help the faith of the next generation. Give us a heart for them. Raise up leaders of faith from within Joy Fountain Church. Give our children visions and revelations of their future. I pray that those involved in children ministry will never be tired. Bless the leaders, teachers and participants in the Eagles Nest and Joseph Generation ministry at Joy Fountain Church to grow and continue to impact children for your glory.

These things I pray and receive through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

• Give thanks that the spiritual experiences of children and youth are as valid in the faith journey as the spiritual experiences of any adult.
  
• Pray for divine revelation for children and youth in Christian settings.
  
• Pray that unbelieving children, youth and young adults will begin to encounter Jesus in miraculous ways, that they have their own Cornelius moment (see Acts 10:1-8).