Youth Prayer: Praying For Youth And Teaching Its Importance

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Young people today are going through an extremely difficult time in this dark world. Their pure hearts are often led in multiple different directions, searching for power and meaning in their lives. They are led to believe that they are accidents, that nothing really matters, and that nobody is listening to them.

The youth leader who teaches youth prayer has the opportunity to truly change their life, as they learn about a Father who loves them, cares for them, and is willing to meet their needs (Matthew 7:7-11). They will learn that they have a purpose and they have a chance to effect real change in the world, by simply talking to their Creator about what needs doing. What a terrific responsibility that youth leaders have! To teach a child how to pray is to teach them how to truly live abundantly.

What Is Prayer?

The Bible describes us as branches on a tree (John 15:1-5), powerless to produce anything from ourselves. 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:1-5 NIV

All of our power comes from the tree trunk (or vine). Because of this, we need to spend time with Christ Jesus and His Father in prayer, asking them to work through us, since they are the only ones with the capacity to do anything in the world. It is only through prayer that we can make a difference, asking Jesus and His Father to step into our situations and help us. Although it may seem like a small task, it is the most significant thing we can do.

Why We Should Be Praying For The Younger Generations

Our youth groups and those in the younger generation are going through extraordinary confusion by what they have been taught in society around them. However, the Holy Spirit has the power to heal that confusion and grant them a renewed mind, one that is at peace and joyful.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

It is incredibly important that we pray to Jesus and His Father to send this Spirit to make the changes necessary for them to live fulfilled lives full of good works, and that only happens through prayer. Just as Jesus needed to ask the Father to send the Spirit on us, we need to ask for this Spirit to come upon them (John 14:16). Prayer is a powerful tool, and there are many terrific resources available to help guide you through this process: one of my favorites is Praying The Psalms by Daniel Henderson.

Teaching Young People The Power of Prayer

One of the easiest ways that I’ve found to teach young people about powerful prayers is by using something that they are all familiar with, a cell phone. By bringing in your cell phone and charger, you can explain where the power in prayer comes from. The cell phone on its own battery can last for a little while, but eventually will be useless unless it gets plugged back into the “power source” (i.e. outlet). In a similar way, unless we tap into our “power source” (God) through our charger (prayer), we will be unable to handle what life throws at us.

Why Should Today’s Youth Care?

Today’s youth are prone to care about the needs of others, seeing the atrocities that exist within our world (famine, injustice, etc.). Although they may not see the need for change within their own lives (yet), they certainly are aware of the need for something to happen to alleviate suffering in this dark world. By tapping into the power of prayer, they should understand that they are calling for divine intervention, not simply wishful thinking or good thoughts. What they are seeking in prayer is for the Creator of the Universe to do something about whatever situation is on their hearts.

Like the prophet Elijah calling down fire from heaven in prayer (1 Kings 19), the person praying is calling on the Lord of the heavens to interact with this world He created, in response to what His children are asking from Him. Unfortunately, most people, in general, think of prayer as simply sending up “positive vibes” into the universe, hoping that something happens. Youth leaders are in a terrific position to teach today’s young people that prayer is so much more. It is the belief that God can do something supernatural in our natural world, out of love for His children.

5 Tips On Teaching Your Youth Prayer

1. Effective Prayer Begins With Our Own Compatibility With God

Just as you must have the correct charger to be compatible with our phones in order for it to charge, we must align our hearts correctly with the God of the Bible before we can be charged with His power. An iPhone charger will not work in a Samsung device, and in a similar way, we cannot expect God to work with us if our hearts are drawn to something besides Him. Effective prayer begins when we develop a personal relationship with God and His Son, allowing ourselves to be transformed by His word instead of this world (Romans 12:2). 

If we truly want to make a difference in the world through the power of prayer, we must first align ourselves with the only one who has ultimate power. In order to address this need, a youth leader may direct their youth group towards The Sinner’s Prayer, pointing out that everything we have and are is only because God loves us deeply and saved us through Jesus Christ. We owe it all to Him.

2. Create Prayer Lists To Check-Off

Many of us are results-driven, and part of the reason that many are unaware of the power of prayer is that we don’t track our prayers. By creating a list of your prayers, you are able to see that God does answer them, even if they aren’t immediate. It would be helpful for youth leaders to have their youth group sit down and list 5-10 prayer items on a piece of paper. Have them hang them up on the wall in their bedroom, and tell them to check off when a prayer gets answered.

In order to maintain consistency, the youth leaders can make a second copy of each prayer list to ask the students about each week, so that the entire group can hear about how God answered someone’s prayer, and also to continually lift up those prayer needs that haven’t been met yet. 

3. Create Local And International Prayer Stations

Since young people are deeply concerned about making a difference in the world, it would be helpful to highlight areas that need specific prayers. Youth leaders can create “stations” at their church (or outside) on tables that have a picture of something local or international going on, and what specific needs that the group can pray for. For example, The Lord’s Harvest International or Compassion International have multiple areas of ministry in other countries outside the United States, providing pictures of needs that they have.

The youth leader could print out a picture of another student in Malawi or Mozambique, write on a piece of paper about their need for nourishment and education, and have the students pray that that specific student would have their needs met. Locally, youth leaders can print out a picture of an elderly person in their church or another non-profit organization, and have their needs listed on a piece of paper. (It would be helpful to have around 5 stations to pray about, with a mixture of local and international ministry needs, so that the students have some variety, but aren’t overwhelmed by all the needs out there).

4. Use the Lord’s Prayer as a Model

All of us, including our youth, should strive to live like Jesus in every area of life, including in our prayers. Thankfully, He taught His disciples how to pray effectively in Matthew 6:9-13 with The Lord’s Prayer. A helpful outline from this prayer was provided to me by another pastor who leads a weekly prayer meeting of men in our community, and I hope that it will help you as well.

Reverence: 

“Our Father…”

We begin our prayer time by recognizing and praising the majesty of our God and Father. Since He is the only one with the power to effect change through our prayers, we must honor Him first and foremost.

Response:

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done…” 

We must respond to His glory and power by asking for His ultimate purpose and will to be completed in the world (i.e. the kingdom of God), and in our own lives for today. Seeking to have His will be done on earth as it is in heaven isn’t only a hope for the future when the earth is made new, but a reality for today when we respond and align our hearts with His purposes (see Matthew 6:33).

Request:

“Give us this day…”

Only after we have properly put God in His holy place, honored Him for everything He does, and responded appropriately by aligning our hearts with His, can we then ask God for our daily needs of food and forgiveness. We notice that in this prayer, Jesus teaches us to be daily dependent on God, not asking for things tomorrow, but only for today (see Matthew 6:34). We are at the complete mercy of our Creator every single day, and that is a powerful lesson in itself to our youth.

Readiness:

“Do not lead us into temptation…”

Finally, at the end of the prayer, we ready ourselves for the fight ahead in our day. We have an enemy that is trying to attack us regularly (1 Peter 5:8), and we can only hope to vanquish him through the power of God through prayer. We must learn to pray for protection each day, as we enter the realm of battle for the spiritual lives of others.

5. Send Prayer Sheets To Those Prayed For

At our church, there is an elderly woman who makes prayer sheets that are signed by individuals and families in the church and sent to people who are being prayed for. This is a powerful reminder to the one receiving prayer that they are valuable, and it can be an easy tool for youth groups to contribute towards. All it takes is a piece of paper (preferably with a nice, simple background) with the person’s name on it. Then, have the children sign their names on it and a note of encouragement.

Not only does it teach the children that they are contributing towards that person’s well-being, but it is uplifting to the receiver (we have gotten wonderful feedback from this simple ministry at our small church). Of course, there is usually the cost of an envelope and stamp involved with this ministry, but I’m certain that someone in your church would pick up this small fee on behalf of the youth if you ask nicely. This is a neat way to have intergenerational ministry, as the elderly can help the students fulfill their prayer ministry in a small way.

Prayer Is Not Meant To Be Complicated

Prayer is a conversation with our Father, in Jesus’ name. We should always strive to keep things simple for our youth to understand, for God blesses those who are “simple” (Psalm 116:6). However, prayer can be exciting, real, and creative too, just look at all the different examples of prayer in the Psalms, with their raw honesty and intense language. As youth leaders, those who are molding the minds of the next generation, we are responsible for making our youth comfortable with this simple task of inviting God into our world. He loves us and wants to interact. The initiative is on us to ask.

You are capable of doing this, if you will stay close to Jesus and learn from Him (John 15:5). Don’t be overwhelmed by this important task, but embrace it, and enjoy yourself as you watch the wonder in a child’s eye when they see a prayer get answered. There is nothing like it!

Read More:

Prayer Stations To Celebrate Back To School 

5 Reasons Children’s Prayer Stations Are Great – Small Church Ministry 

Explore Prayer Stations For Your Small Church