21 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 12

DAY 12 – OUR YOUTH

“13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

– Mark 10:13-16 –

During the earthly ministry of Jesus, many fathers would bring their children to Jesus desiring that He might touch and bless them. However, the culture wasn’t friendly to children, thus the disciples didn’t think it worth Jesus’ time to minster to children, so they begin sending them away. Jesus immediately rebuked His disciples and instructed them to let the children come to Him, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. The youth of our nation are still despised and rejected. They are considered a nuisance by many. There are those in the church that feel the same way and hinder them from coming to Jesus. May we as a church be welcoming and honorable to our young people and allow them the room to minister in our body. After all, they are the future leaders of the church.

Pray that God would protect our young people from the traps of the enemy. Pray as they start this new school year that they would have strength to resist peer pressure and the temptations of the flesh. Pray that God would shelter their minds from the deceptive wave of liberalism sweeping our nation and making its way into our churches. Pray God would give them courage and boldness to stand up against the culture that is calling sin acceptable such as homosexuality, abortion, etc. That God would bless their spiritual heritage and reveal His unique plan for their lives. Finally, for any prodigals that have departed the faith, that God would bring them back home!

“You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.”

– Charles Spurgeon –