PRAYING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  01/14/23

With each passing year, there are more and more ungodly influences vying for the attention of our nation’s young people. Biblical values are perceived as strange and antiquated. Christian families are under attack from all sides. How will the emerging generation ever find the strength to follow God’s ways and be warriors for Christ?

Thousands of years ago, the psalmist asked the same question: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” He answered it: “By living according to [God’s] word” (Psalm 119:9).

Read Psalm 127.  Verse 3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, . . .” A heritage is a gift, and we must steward well what we have been given. This applies not just to parents but also to every member of God’s church. Each one of us is called to lift up the next generation in prayer, to train the young people in our lives in the things of the Lord, and to be an example of godliness.

Every August, just before the new school year begins, we pray for students as they head back to school. We ask God to look after our little ones starting kindergarten or returning to grade school, and we pray that He would be with high school and college students as they face a variety of academic and social pressures. But what about the rest of the year?

If we truly desire for the Lord to work in the lives of our children, we must make prayer for them a priority in our lives. No matter how busy life becomes, we must never be too busy for prayer. When it comes to our young people, it must be our first priority.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the “heritage” You have given me through the young people You have placed in my life. Help me to set aside focused time to pray for them. Thank You for the privilege of impacting the next generation for Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).