Friday, July 28 / 6pm-10pm
The Gallery at Athens Church
Whether they are kindergarten or college, culture is shouting at our students, “measure up and prove yourself,” fear is shouting “you can’t do it or escape it” and shame is repeating “it’s your fault; you’re excluded and alone!” This assault of lies is not new, the devil is called the father of lies (John 8:44). But God, who spoke to create the universe and to each one of us, is speaking Life at the same time. God speaks life and purpose and order. Satan has been whispering doubt and shouting accusation since the first people heard God’s words. As we lift our voices to pray for students tonight, may we partner with the Holy Spirit speaking God’s Truth and preparing the way of the Lord for our children! (Genesis 1:3, 2:18, 3:1; John 6:63, Matthew 3:3)
Take these truths that God is speaking over us and declare them over your children…
You are good. There is no flaw in your design.
God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)
You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you. (Song of Songs 4:7)
You belong. You are Mine.
But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, And He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! (Isaiah 43:1)
…and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. (1 Corinthians 3:23)
My love rescues, protects, defends, and redeems you.
In You our fathers trusted; They trusted, and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. (Psalm 22:4-5)
God is to us a God of deliverances; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death. (Psalm 68:20)
When God speaks, life is created. And when God speaks, He does what He says. Every promise in Scripture comes to pass, His word does not return void or empty (Isaiah 55:11). Every promise He makes to you will be fulfilled. He is faithful to His creative Word. And when we speak His word it is backed by His power. (Joshua 21:45, 1Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Corinthians 1:20)
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Ask God to speak to each student the promises of life and redemption they can receive in Jesus. Ask God to restore whatever hope or faith has been broken by the unfaithfulness or inability of others to keep their word. Ask God to re-create or establish trust in students who haven’t experienced His faithfulness.
In Christ, who is the Word of God, we each have the promise of life and life abundantly! Let’s use God’s Word to ask boldly to see students come out of darkness and hiding into the glorious and abundant life and Light of Christ this year. (John 6:63, 10:10)
Pray for students using John 1, using the prompts following if you want additional direction.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Ask God to make Jesus known to students as the Word of Life- to speak to them of the power of His Voice through the Holy Spirit and the Bible. As students listen to the voices around them, ask Jesus to speak Life and identity into being. (Psalm 119:81)
Ask God to reveal to each student their lives, dreams, abilities, and stories don’t originate with them, but in God. Ask God to lift the pressure of performance and snares of pride as students realize the vastness and eternity of God. Ask God to establish humility and holy brokenness to let His life flow into places formerly walled off or closed in darkness.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Wherever there is darkness, there is an opportunity for Light. Light dispels and disarms darkness. What has power and precision in the dark is blinded and disoriented by the Light. Let’s ask God to shine the Light of Jesus in each and every area our students experience darkness. Use the following fill in the blank prayer to declare God’s Light into areas you are aware of darkness. Let’s watch God confuse and displace darkness with the power of the Word.
In the darkness of _______________, release Your Light of _____________ and bring LIFE.
- In the darkness of shame release Your Light of refuge. (Psalm 25, Psalm 119:80, 2 Timothy 1:12)
- In the darkness of fear of punishment, bring Your Light of love. (1 John 4:17-19)
- In the darkness of trauma, bring Your Light of restoration. (Zechariah 9:11-12, Jeremiah 15:18-20)
- In the darkness of poverty, bring Your Light of provision. (Psalm 82:3, Psalm 68:5)
- In the darkness of loneliness, bring Your Light of belonging. (Psalm 68:6)
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
For teachers and administrative staff, ask God to empower all He has placed to be strong witnesses that all might believe through them. Ask God to protect them from spiritual attack, strengthen their hatred of sin, and deepen their love for others. Ask God to guard each one against pride, that God would get all the glory for the favor, accomplishment, and effectiveness of these witnesses. (Psalm 45:7, 1 Peter 5:8, Psalm 148:13)
As they set the culture for each school and classroom, ask God to enlighten each teacher and faculty member with His Ways and His plans for the year. Ask God to encounter each faculty member in a way that offers them security and boldness for the coming year. Ask God to establish His territory on every campus and create safe spaces and people for every single student, that they may receive Him. (Acts 4:31, Leviticus 25:18-19)
For those who are making decisions about scheduling, advising, curriculum or discipline, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to convict each one concerning sin, and righteousness and judgement. (John 16:8) Ask that each decision maker would yield to the conviction of the Spirit and make decisions in agreement with God whether or not they personally receive Him.
For families establishing routines and determining their commitment, ask for connections and decisions that will put them in the path of Christians who testify about the Light.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Ask God to prepare the way and lead many to salvation this year, that His family would grow exponentially as students hear about, receive, and believe in Jesus. Ask God to establish understanding and confidence in every student and staff who believe that they are indeed His children with every right and inheritance of Heaven.
For those who are far from God, living in a dark land, let’s ask God to open their eyes to see His great light. (Isaiah 9:2) For those who are searching for Truth, even their own truth, let’s ask God to break the yoke of their burden and rod of their oppressor- that they would be set free by coming to know God’s Truth about Himself and about them. (Isaiah 9:4, John 8:31) For those who Believe, let’s ask God to increase their gladness and His presence in their lives in a way that demonstrates the life and love of Jesus. (Isaiah 9:3, Psalm 16:11, Isiah 9:6-7)
Pray Colossians 1:9-13 for those who are or will become followers of Jesus this year.
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Thank you for praying for our students. May every word of your intercession be true in your life and in the lives of each and every student connected to you. May the increase of Christ’s government never end as you continue to give voice to His Truth and echo His voice in prayer.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
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Thank you to Kelsey Parham for crafting this prayer guide! We so appreciate your time and prayer put into this powerful guide!
Feel free to keep on praying this guide, specifically John 1, over your children, in the weeks to come. And by all means, pass the link on to other praying people!!!
Thanks again for joining us in praying for our precious children as they head back to school. The battle is real, and the enemy is vicious, desiring to kill, steal and destroy our kids. It’s time we rise up, like never before and pray for and over them!!! Bless you as you do!
