Thank you for praying for The Mix 2023!
The most effective and powerful way to pray is to ask according to the Father’s will and in Jesus’s name (Matthew 7:7-8, John 16:23-24, 1 John 5:14-15). We know His will by tapping into His word and asking the Holy Spirit to teach and help us (John 16:13-14, Romans 8:26). Praying God’s promises and the prayers of the Bible are a sure way to increase the effectiveness of our prayers; so, please use the scriptures noted in this guide (and others He may lead you to) and allow the Holy Spirit to take you from there!
This prayer guide is simply a tool and launching pad to help you engage with God in intercession for students across the Athens area. Use the Scriptures and prompts to assist you in following the Holy Spirit as you pray. If you are in the prayer room, use the names of churches and students posted around the prayer room to agree with God’s promises for each student by name. If you are praying from afar, pray for the students, leaders or pastors you know by name or by family. God has been at work preparing the way for students to turn to Him in repentance, surrender and salvation, let’s partner with Him to see each work in each student brought to completion!
The Mix is a weekend-long experience centered on worship, growth, relationships and meeting Jesus. It is made up of churches from all over the Athens-area, many different denominations united under the banner of seeing students call Jesus the Lord of their life. The primary purpose is for churched kids to invite their unchurched friends to come to amazing weekend experience, meet Jesus and get plugged into their group!
A thankful heart prepares the way
Spend a few minutes praising God for the work He has already done to bring each student to this moment – aligning schedules, permission from parents, internet connections working, friendships, even in brokenness, frustration, doubt, etc. God has been working. Thank God for preparing good works beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). Ask Him to receive our worship and praise and hear our cries as we pray for The Mix.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 MSG
So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn’t slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God’s Message to you, defiant of the opposition. God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you, we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you. Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t standoffish with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
Take a moment to thank God for the people who work all year to make The Mix a safe and simple place to grow in relationship with Jesus.
- The Mix Leadership Team – Making decisions, building curriculum, promoting the event, organizing all the details and logistics, this team ensures that each student spends the weekend in a Jesus-centered, safe, relevant, high-energy, Spirit filled context getting to know Jesus and finding community. Thank God for the work they have done to lay the foundation for students and leaders to encounter God this weekend. Let’s ask God to strengthen and safeguard them in every area of battle for these students, this weekend, and their own relationship with Jesus, pray they would each experience God’s approval this weekend.
- Home Church / Friend – However students find their way to The Mix, thank God for extending the invitation and making the relationship safe enough for a “yes.” Ask God to bless and defend the relationships that will strengthen, encourage, and disciple each student during and following this weekend.
- Parents – Sending their student off for the weekend requires much trust and faith. Thank God for the way parents are releasing their students this weekend. Ask God to increase the confidence parents have in Him and His Church to love, disciple and protect their student.
- Volunteers – Small group leaders, meal servers, drivers, host homes, technology teams, The Mix doesn’t happen for any church without a bunch of volunteers. Ask God to bless the work of each volunteer, that they would see their work as unto the Lord and not in vain or as a waste of time.
Prepare the Way
Throughout this weekend, we need the Holy Spirit to prepare students to recognize and respond to the move of God. Let’s ask God to prepare them practically and spiritually, making straight the path for each student to take steps with Jesus.
Isaiah 40:3 AMP
A voice of one is calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness [remove the obstacles]; Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
Practically, ask God for every student and leader to be awake, engaged, and undistracted. Ask God to make all the equipment work, internet connections remain strong, and students arrive and depart without confusion or harm. Ask God to clear distractions, settle chaos, resolve conflicts, and clarify confusion; ask that nothing of this world occupy students’ minds in opposition or competition with God’s message.
Spiritually ask God to open eyes, soften hearts, ready minds; clearing out wounds and fears to make room for the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:19). Ask God to remove every distraction, obstacle, comparison, self-assessment, idol, crush, or heaviness that would obstruct a student’s path to Jesus. Cry out that every argument, all arrogance, every lie, fear or accusation, everything raised against the knowledge of God would be fully destroyed (2 Corinthians 10:5). Ask Jesus to make Himself known, to bring salvation and redemption so students can build lives of obedience into maturity in Christ.
Proverbs 3:6 AMP
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 MSG
The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
Isaiah 57:14-15 AMP
And it will be said, “Build up, build up, clear the way. Remove the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.” For the high and exalted One, He who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy says this, “I dwell on the high and holy place, but also with the contrite and humble in spirit in order to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].
Words of Spirit and Life
With many different churches and expectations, let’s ask God to unite us all in the Truth of His Word – the Bible, and the testimony of Jesus. Ask God to shepherd each student to Himself, that no one would be put off or distracted by the different means of teaching or worship but be captivated by the message of God. Ask God to silence the flesh and make clear the voice of spirit and life to and through each student and leader. Ask God to speak identity and belonging to each student in the specific area they are questioning. Pray for each student to see and believe God is bigger than they knew, that their faith would expand and their appetite for God increase as they hear and see the word of God on display.
John 6:63 NASB
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
John 19:35-36 HCSB
He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: not one of His bones will be broken.
For the speakers
Clayton and Jacob King will be speaking at the sessions throughout the weekend. Ask God to demonstrate His power through their words, examples, and analogies. Ask God to move in power that not a single student would praise the Kings, but praise God alone. Ask God to prepare the soil or readiness of each student’s heart and sow His Word into the life of each student. Ask that every word shared, prayer prayed, and question asked would yield the fruit of the spirit in students’ lives.
1 Corinthians 2:3-5 NASB
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
John 15:4-8 NASB
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
Mark 4:20 HCSB
But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.
Worship as Warfare
The Passion Band will be leading worship this year. Ask God to grant each worship leader discernment to know where students are and wisdom to know how to lead them into the presence of God. Ask God to fill the room with His Presence where there is fullness of joy – joy with the power to overwhelm anxiety, fear, and all darkness. Ask God to use these songs and moments to set students free and break off the sin, fear, shame, accusation or lies that have in any way held them back from more of God. Ask God to turn every heart toward Him as music engages students minds and bodies – that each one would offer themselves to God for whatever He desires, demolishing altars of self-image letting God renew their minds. Ask Jesus to draw near and bring peace in every place of striving, uncertainty or distance – breaking off competition and comparison to put to death enmity and envy for the sake of unity and reconciliation.
Romans 12:1-2 NASB
Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 2:13-22 NASB
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Psalm 16:11 ESV
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Small Group Times
Ask God to prepare students to hear, process, discuss and apply the session teachings in small group times. As groups share, ask God to show each student how to take the next step in relationship with Him and in the community He placed around them. Ask God to protect the time spent in small group, to provide a holy covering that nothing can penetrate. Ask the Holy Spirit to foster safety that allows vulnerability and honesty as students share, confess, encourage, and strengthen one another. Pray for students to have grace and hunger to engage and focus in these concentrated times of processing. Ask God to stir questions that lead to deep revelation, the way Jesus did. Deny gossip and accusation any access to these groups, their time, or students’ minds.
Job 40:6-7 NLT
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
Matthew 22:41 NASB
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?
James 5:16 HCSB
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect
Leaders
Ask God to grant leaders discernment and wisdom as they facilitate discussion. Ask that each leader would have spiritual sight and sound to sense the heart/root of student responses and direct them to Jesus for all they need. Pray for deep, genuine connection to outweigh relevance and approval between students and leaders. Ask God to move among leaders to stir a greater fear of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:8, Proverbs 1:7), awareness of the weight of this calling of leadership (Hebrews 13:17), and greater integrity moving forward in discipleship with Jesus. Ask God to stir in leaders a deeper love for Jesus than love for being liked, that each one would make much of Jesus and His work this weekend over just having a good time or building friendship. Ask that God be glorified in each moment – in car rides, music choices, outfit choices, conversations, jokes, rest and meal times. Ask God to grant each leader a sense of being present with their students. Ask God for stamina and alertness while they are together.
Ask God specifically to renew hope in areas where leaders or students have become frustrated or begun to “check out” or “mail it in” with moments or members of the group. Ask God to grant them a heart of mercy and hope that God will move and bring life even from what is or seems dead.
1 Peter 1:3-4
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
For the Students…
Salvation
Ask God to bring each student to a place of recognition that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 8:29, John 11:27), He is at work in his/her life (Philippians 2:13), and that He wants all of his/her heart (1 Chronicles 28:9, Jeremiah 24:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Ask God to stir genuine repentance in the heart and life of each student (Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:10, 2 Peter 3:9) turning from their own way or the way of the world to Jesus, the Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6). Ask God to bring students into saving relationships with Him, rescuing them from wrath and redeeming what has been stolen or lost in former living (Ezekiel 33:15).
Surrender
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead each student to name and confront the fears, lies, or facades that hold them captive. Implore the Spirit to fill each student and lead them into freedom as they choose to be slaves of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17). Ask God for the grace to lay down completely the distractions, responsibilities or lies that threaten students’ freedom. Pray for each student to see God is trustworthy and able to deliver them from every battle and handle every situation (1 Chronicles 5:20).
“Give God a Chance”
Ask God to show each student He is worth the risk of laying everything else aside. Ask God to minister to each students’ deepest need and show He will tend to all the rest.
Pray students will trust the move of God in their lives and allow this weekend to be a turning point from which they will mark and know a Christ driven direction for their lives.
Matthew 6:31-33 NASB
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Release from Fear
Ask God to release each student from fear of not being enough, not having enough, or not knowing enough. Ask God to demonstrate throughout the weekend that He is enough, has enough, and does enough to carry them in all things.
Isaiah 41:10 NASB
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Safety
Sadly, in this day there are many predators out there, as well as youthful foolishness. Please pray that each student would be safe and wise, that there would not be any accidents whether at the venue (Athens Church), or the host homes or while on the road, or during their free time on Saturday.
Psalm 18:2 HCSB
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 91:1 HCSB
The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.
Fruit that Remains
The Mix can act as a catalyst, quickening the spiritual work of discipleship that parents, leaders and student pastors foster and sow throughout the year, but that is the work of God. Let’s ask God to move in ways only He can move so that the seeds of the Gospel and discipleship can yield fruit 30, 60, 100 times. (Mark 4:20) Ask God to bring many students to saving faith through genuine repentance and response to the message that Jesus is our Savior. Ask Jesus to stir our hearts to obey the Father the way He obeyed the Father (John 5:19). Ask Holy Spirit to convict students regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8). Pray students would hear the voice of God with purity and humility, that they may walk in His ways and receive His promises in faith (John 15:15). Cry out to God for the salvation and revival of this generation- that not one would perish (Matthew 18:14), but each one come to the knowledge of the Truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Ask God to stir among these students a desperation to see on earth as it is in Heaven- true revival among their families, friends, churches, and schools (Matthew 6:10). Ask God to build momentum during the Mix that will help carry students until they have built the endurance needed to receive what was promised (Hebrews 10:36).
Please be praying for God to use The Mix as a catalyst in the churches as well as in the schools and neighborhoods where these students and leaders live and spend their time. Ask God for revival, awakening, reformation, and transformation in these churches and student ministries that will shake their churches, campuses, our city and the world.
For the Churches
Take some time and thank the Lord for each of these churches that are participating at The Mix. Ask God to bless their pastors, their student pastor and all the volunteer leaders. Ask Him that each church would be impacted by the leaders and students experience at The Mix. Pray that the groups would grow, and that parents of students would increase in involvement. Pray that the Lord would protect the seeds that were planted this weekend!
- Alps Road Presbyterian
- The Anchor
- Ashford Memorial Baptist
- Athens Church
- Calvary Bible
- Chestnut Grove Baptist
- Classic City Church
- Colbert Baptist
- Cornerstone
- East Athens Baptist
- Faith Presbyterian
- Grace Fellowship
- Harmony Baptist
- Hull Baptist
- Lexington Baptist
- Nations Church
- NCWC
- Riverside Church
- St James UMC
- Salem Baptist
- The Salvation Army
- Tuckston UMC
Thank the Lord!
Take some time to thank the Lord for doing exceedingly more than you or all those praying for these kids, than we could ever ask of even imagine! And believe me, I can imagine quite a bit!
Thank you for taking the time to pray for these students. You have planted seeds that WILL come forth in a harvest of righteousness at the due time!!!
The Mix Prayer Room will be open Friday (Feb 24) from 6 to 10pm and Saturday (Feb 25) from 9am to 10pm. If you are nearby, please join us to pray for the students at The Mix, by name!!!
