Prayers for Children and Youth

The Importance of Children

Singer Whitney Houston sang “Greatest Love of All”

I believe the children are our future

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside

Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be

There is much truth in these words, the children are our future and it is our responsibility to lead them well and then let them go to be all that God has created them to be.

This morning our prayer focus turns to Children and Youth ministries, this should be of the first importance in our church as children were important to Jesus and should be just as important to our community as well.

Listen to the words of Jesus:

Mark 10:13–16 NIV

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

“..for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” within these words Jesus tells us the importance of these children. He could see more than we can and He sees the value in children that those around him could not see.

He saw that...

mark

They Reflect Our Past

They Reflect Our Past

They reflect who were are and what kind of influence we have been in their lives. When I have the honor of officiating wedding ceremonies I marvel at how the two standing before me reflect their mothers and fathers, whether the believe it or not. Going through the counseling sessions and their attitudes toward marriage are a reflection of the parents marriage. In the same way, children reflect their parents in most if not all the areas of their lives, it is imperative we remember that as we raise our children to prepare them for the future.

We should be like Nehemiah, he prayed to God then took action. We need to do the same.

They Assure Our Future

They Assure Our Future

The only consistent in life is God, He has determined that we will all live for a certain number of days and then will meet Him face to face. Within that consistence God has given us time, time keeps going, we were all children then youth and are now in various stages of adulthood. We were someone else’s future and now the children and youth of today are our future. Scary, isn’t it!? It is our responsibility to provide for their future so that our future is secured.

They Occupy Our Present

From the time they are infants they keep us occupied, we feel like we are in perpetual motion because they are.

Two puppies that have been at our house all week. All the other dogs would try to keep up with them but found it to be an impossible task. Two would not even participate and still look exhausted from watching them play. The boy and oldest one would play with them only for about 30 seconds to a minute and then have to go rest. The next youngest, a Jack Russel terrier would do the best she could but would wear out as well. The two puppies would leave the rest behind and keep running and playing until they literally fell over from exhaustion.

The Instruction of Children

The great thing about children is, contrary to what they think, they don’t know anything, they are a blank slate. It is the parents’ responsibility to teach their children, to start them off on the right path.

God tells us so in His word...

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

We are to teach them the ways, laws and promises of God.

Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

deut 6

We are teach the ways and the

Deuteronomy 11:19 NIV

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

deut 6:

The Inclusion of Children

I told you we were using Nehemiah to go through the intensive prayer commitment, because even though he wasn’t a priest he was a man of prayer. So here is where we see children in the book of Nehemiah, they were included in the work of rebuilding the walls.

Nehemiah 3:12 NIV

Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

The Increase of Children

We have seen the importance of children and the necessity of instruction for children, the last thing I want to look at in prayer of the children’s and youth ministry is the increase in children.

Listen and look at the words of Jesus when he saw all those that were lost.

Matthew 9:36–38 NIV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

matt 9:

Imagine the children and youth that are out there today that are “…like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus words still ring true today, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Be in prayer this week for our children and youth, those volunteers and pastors that devote their lives to working with them and increase in the numbers of children and youth who will come through our doors.

As Whitney Houston so beautifully sang so long ago, the children are our future.