Teenagers Prayer to God

23 Short Prayers – Hope for Your Soul

Whether you have had a personal relationship with God for years or you are only beginning to discover who Jesus is, we all need guidance sometimes when it comes to prayers. It’s often hard to find the words to pray, that’s why we put together this collection of short prayers.

The following short prayers offer guiding words to use for praying over various topics including worry, anxiety, doubt, forgiveness, fear, and other areas of life where we need to ask for God’s help.

Please use these prayers and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you add some of your own words and personalize your petitions to God.

Prayer for Peace

Father God, my heart is filled with chaos and confusion. I feel as if I am drowning in my circumstances and my heart is filled with fear and confusion. I really need the strength and peace that only You can give. Right now, I choose to rest in You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. ~ Mary Southerland.

Prayer for the Broken-Hearted

Lord, my heart is broken but You are near. My spirit is crushed, but You are my rescuer. Your Word is my hope. It revives me and comforts me in especially now. My soul faints, but you are the breath of life within me.

You are my help, the One who sustains me. I am weak but You are strong. You bless those who mourn, and I trust You to bless me and my family with all that we need. You will rescue me from this dark cloud of despair because You delight in me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Jennifer White
 

Prayer for Perseverance

Holy Lord, Thank You for grace. Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up and give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope I run toward in Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Gwen Smith

Prayer for Self Control

Father, today I ask forgiveness of all the negative and harmful words I have spoken about myself. I do not want to abuse myself in such a way again. Transform my thoughts and let me understand how marvelously you made me. Change my habits so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon my life. In Jesus' name, Amen. ~ Sarah Coleman

Prayer for Loving Jesus

Father, I have to thank You for looking beyond my faults and for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me when I fail to love others in the same way. Give me eyes to see the needs of the difficult people in my life, and show me how to meet those needs in a way that pleases You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Mary Southerland

Prayer for God’s Direction

Lord, help me not to lean on my own understanding but in everything acknowledge You so that You can direct my words, thoughts and actions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Sharon Glasgow

Prayer For Worry

Father, I am tempted to worry about so many things. Our world is a mess! Forgive me for focusing on anything or anyone but You. Thank You for the Bible that equips and empowers me to live each day. Right now, I declare that You are my only Hope. Please help me remember that You really are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Mary Southerland

Prayer for God’s Strength

Lord, thank you for your greatness. Thank you that when I am weak, you are strong. Lord, the Devil is scheming and I know he desires to keep me from spending time with you. Don’t let him win! Give me a measure of your strength so that I might not give into discouragement, deception and doubt! Help me honor you in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Debbie Przybylski

~ Debbie Przybylski

Prayer When Feeling Inadequate

Dear Lord, Thank You for fearfully and wonderfully creating each of us. Thank You for giving us worth in Your eyes. Help us live as the one You uniquely intended us to be. Help us abide instead of strive, living peacefully and joyfully as heirs to Your Kingdom and co-heirs with Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ Julie Sunne

Prayer for Being Grateful

Father, I am so sorry for the way I complain about my circumstances. Please forgive me for my bad attitude when things don't go my way.

I want to see Your hand in every part of every day – good or bad.

Help me learn how to face every storm with confidence, knowing that You really are in control even though I cannot hear Your voice or see Your hand at work. In Jesus Name, Amen. ~ Mary Southerland

Prayer of God’s Provision

Dear Father God, Thank You for Your unfailing love for me, Your blessings, and goodness. Thank You for Your faithfulness to guide me and see me through times of uncertainty, for lifting me up, and setting me on high.

Thank You for Scripture that comforts and reminds me of Your promises, plan, and provision. Thank you for taking away my fears and worries, the what-ifs, and reminding me that my help comes from You. Help me be a good steward and to sow wisely.

In Christ’s Name, Amen. ~ Renee Davis

Prayer for Growing Faith

Dear Lord, help me – every single morning – to find faith in the midst of the chaos. Give me the desire and ability to see You, hear You, talk to You, and give thanks to You.

And as I do, I pray that I will draw nearer and nearer to You, and that my faith will multiply exponentially as I understand in new, deeper ways that You are everything I ever hoped You would be. And so much more.

Amen. ~ Kelly O’Dell Stanley

Prayer for Confidence

Lord, help me let go of my fear of failure. I know Satan wants to use my fears to hold me back from living boldly for You.

Forgive me for not living in faith, and help me from this moment on to live with bold confidence in You. Lord, help me not compare myself to others around me.

I pray instead that I can keep my eye on You and live a life that proclaims Your excellence. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. ~ Rick Warren

Prayer for a Heavy Heart

Lord, I want to lay before you all that weighs heavy on my heart. Reveal even the sin I am not aware of, Lord. I lay these at your feet and pray your forgiveness on me. I believe you when you say that you wash us whiter than snow. Thank you Lord for your unending love for me! Help me start fresh right now to make choices that honor you. In Jesus' Name, Amen. ~ Rick Warren 

Father, sometimes it does feel that you have left us in the battle. We know that you are with us, but so are our feelings of aloneness. The Enemy seems to be taking ground. Our crying out to you seems to go unanswered. We know you are at work, but help us trust you in the midst of our questions. In Jesus' Name, Amen. ~ Ron Moore 

Short Prayer for Thankfulness

God, sometimes life gets me down and I find it hard to see things to be thankful for. Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me in my life. I’m going to start by thanking you for loving me enough to come to earth and die so we can live together forever. Amen. ~ Wendy van Eyck

Prayer for Restored Relationships

Father God, open my eyes to see the ways I’m Cain.

What conflicts am I allowing to brew in my family? What anger is bubbling into murderous rage in my relationships? Thank You for the clarity to see how hatred kills relationships.

I choose instead the way of love. Love protects. Help me to protect those I love by loving them. Your way is always best, Father. I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ James MacDonald

Which one of these short prayers spoke the most to you and how can we be praying for you? Comment below and let us know! 

This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Strength
Prayer for Protection
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
Serenity Prayer
A Birthday Prayer
Sinner’s Prayer
Prayer for Forgiveness
Prayer for Guidance
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer for Peace
Prayer for Faith
Prayer for Love

Источник: //www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/23-short-prayers.html

Give Your Teenager to God

On a warm fall day, I stood on the sidelines of my daughter’s cross-country race, cheering her on as she pushed hard to the finish line. I love watching her run, and it’s been fun for me to see her starting to make friendships on her first high school team.

After the race, I went over to congratulate her and wondered how long I should stand beside her. Was it okay for me to walk back to the water stand with her and a couple girls from the team? I’m well aware of the warnings of being a helicopter mom, but my daughter has always welcomed my presence.

She’s my oldest of four. In some ways, I feel we’ve grown up together — I’ve learned what it means to be a mom as she’s grown into a young woman. We spent four years homeschooling, which gave us extra bonding time together.

She’s the kid who still wants to run errands with me, go for a jog with me, and help me in the kitchen. She’s the daughter who has become a friend.

Perhaps this is why I felt unprepared for her response when I asked if she was ready to go home after the race.

A Chapter Closes

“Oh, Mom, the girls and I are going to go cheer on the boys’ cross-country team. But it’s going to be thirty more minutes. You don’t have to wait around for me,” she sweetly said. “You can go ahead and leave, and I’ll ride back on the bus with the team.” She gave me a smile, and I realized that was my cue to leave.

“Oh, okay. If you’re sure — ”

“I’m sure, Mom. I’ll text you when I’m back at the school.”

I watched her walk off over the hill, laughing and chattering away with her new teammates. And I walked back to the car alone.

At that moment, I felt one chapter was closing. A mix of emotions came over me, from joy at seeing her becoming more independent and making new friends, to sadness at realizing she was pulling away from me.

I got in the car and turned on the radio to hear a country song that further pulled at my heartstrings and feelings of nostalgia.

I wiped away a few tears as I called my husband to let him know I was on my way home alone. Between a few sniffles, I said, “She ran great. But I’m coming home by myself.

She wanted to ride the bus back to school with the team.” I could hear my husband smiling through the receiver.

“Was that hard for you?” he asked.

“Maybe.” Which meant yes. Sniffle. “Our little girl is growing up.”

Stay Grounded

As our children begin to spread their wings, how should we as parents respond? How do we provide the right balance of protection, guidance, and increased independence? How do we graciously and joyfully let them learn to fly, without hovering over them helicopters?

My husband and I are trying to stay grounded with a few simple tethers.

Truth

The truth of God’s word anchors us during the changing tides of the teenage years. As my heart experiences a mixture of nostalgia and joy, Scripture provides the right perspective.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

” There’s a time for our children to be right by our side in the everyday of life, but there’s also a time for parents to step back and allow our children more independence and freedom.

The promises of God remind me that his word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11), and that he will be diligent to complete the good work he has started in our daughter (Philippians 1:6).

Trust

Our kids’ teen years shouldn’t be a time of fear, but a time of trust. As we’ve sought to diligently teach our kids biblical truth (Deuteronomy 6:6–9), now is the time to believe that those same statutes are giving our daughter wisdom and discernment when she’s our reach.

With each new endeavor or step away from home, we have an opportunity to trust that God is working in our teen’s life, maybe even in ways that we can’t see.

Engagement

As our daughter’s calendar becomes more crowded, I’ve realized the importance of seizing every opportunity I have to engage with her.

Car rides to and from practice provide quiet moments to have one-on-one conversations about her day.

Engaging in our teen’s world tells them they’re valuable to us and allows us to continue speaking into their lives in appropriate ways.

Prayer

In the midst of a season of change, countless concerns can flood a parent’s mind. Maybe your child is far from Jesus, and your heart is weighed down with despair. Our heavenly Father knows our needs before we ask (Matthew 6:32) and is shepherding us even as we shepherd our kids (Psalm 23:1). He hears us, cares for us, and delights when we bring our worries to him (1 Peter 5:7).

We continue to bring our specific requests for our children to God, trusting that as we ask, seek, and knock, he will answer with good in return (Luke 11:9–13). Jon Bloom suggests some specific prayers for our kids in his excellent article “Seven Things to Pray for Your Children.”

Under God’s Wings

Our kids’ teenage years are filled with change. Instead of wallowing in sadness at the loss of their childhood, be grateful for your sweet memories, and look to the future with joyful anticipation. The same God who gave you this precious child is guiding them to the path of adulthood.

As our children begin to spread their wings, we can find refuge under the wings of our loving God (Psalm 36:7).

Источник: //www.desiringgod.org/articles/give-your-teenager-to-god

3 Powerful Prayers Jesus Prayed To God (And You Can Too)

Prayer is a powerful tool, but sometimes we don’t even know where to start. So why not learn from the best source there is — God’s own Son? Here are 3 prayers that Jesus prayed to God in some of His most painful days on earth.

Credit: ThinkStock

The alarm clock sounds and my daily routine begins. A cup of coffee and my Bible reading plan – check. I open social media and begin scrolling through my newsfeed –check. But the prayer request I see on my computer screen causes me to stop. It reveals a heartbreaking reality.

A burden to pray begins growing somewhere deep inside. Yet as much as I long to cry out, I don't know where to begin. Words don't seem to have the power to convey the deep empathy I feel. Because I've been there. We all have – in painful times that leave us dumbfounded.

RELATED: 8 things to pray when you don’t know what to say

It's in these distressing moments we often can't find the words to pray. But Jesus shows us the power of prayers that pour out from a place of raw emotion.

Jesus understood our pain. In fact, Jesus prayed His most passionate prayers in the hardest moments. And through these prayers we find the example and encouragement we need for our own trying times. Here are three passionate prayers Jesus prayed to God.

Jesus Prayed A Prayer of Gratitude through Sorrow and Grief

Jesus heard his friend had become sick. He loved this man. The situation for Lazarus looked bleak, but Jesus showed confidence in God's plan by saying, “Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” (John 11:4). By the time Jesus arrived to see him, Lazarus had been dead four days.

Jesus revealed the magnitude of His sorrow after he came face to face with Mary. When Jesus saw her crying, He was “deeply moved” (John 11:33). Then He cried too. Jesus grieved over the loss of His friend, but He was also responding to Mary's deep anguish. As any true friend would, Jesus offered His own tears, mourning right along with her.

RELATED: 3 things to remember when life gets hard

Jesus followed the crowd to the tomb and asked them to roll away the stone. Then He prayed a passionate prayer of thanksgiving. “Father, thank you for hearing me”(John 11:41).

He didn't pray for Lazarus to wake up. He didn't pray for God to perform a miracle. He thanked His Father for always being available in times of need, for always hearing.

He prayed so others would see Him and believe.

Credit: ThinkStock

Jesus Prayed A Prayer for God's Will to Prevail

Sometimes I pray and God performs a miracle. Other times I pray, but God allows me to go through a hard situation. At those times I'd to turn and run the other direction, but I have to trust. Because facing life's hard helps me grow into the person He created me to be.

Jesus walked a road more treacherous than any of us can imagine. He asked God if there was any other way, but ultimately He resolved to obey.

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine'” (Matthew 26:39).

RELATED: 31 spiritual warfare scriptures to help you face life’s battles

Being God in human form, Jesus felt the pain we feel. Hebrews 4:15 says, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” Through sorrow He chose submission. Through anguish He chose obedience, regardless of the outcome.

Jesus Prayed A Prayer for Forgiving Someone Who Hurt You

It may be my biggest challenge of all – forgiveness. After all, the person who wronged me didn't ask for forgiveness, and he certainly didn't deserve it. Yet this third example of passionate prayer by my Savior shows me how to forgive, even in the midst of deep hurt.

“Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing'” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus understood the Truth of God's Word which would one day be recorded in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (ESV). Yet He chose to be a living example of the power of forgiveness. He went through torture to show us its potential. He also offered it to each of us without condition.

RELATED: What happened the day I forgave my father

Jesus' passionate prayers all share one purpose – to glorify our Heavenly Father. “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12 NIV).

He prayed in earnest, but His focus remained constant. He did what was best for you and me. So the next time I see a prayer request pop up in my newsfeed, I'll remember the passionate prayers of Jesus. Even if I stumble through the words, God always hears.

Let's determine today to display unbridled passion in our prayer life as we face adversity. Through every loss, uncertainty, or hurt, we find hope as we call out to Him.

Kristine Brown is a communicator at heart who teaches about God's powerful, relatable Word. She is the author of Over It. Conquering Comparison to Live Out God's Plan and founder of the non-profit organization, More Than Yourself, Inc. Kristine writes about her God-story and helps others discover their own at www.morethanyourself.com.

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Источник: //www.godupdates.com/3-prayers-jesus-prayed/

Praying for Teens

Here are some tips and ideas on how to pray for teens.

1.  Don’t  try to be God.  Instead be a praying parent.

No parenting course will teach you how to save your child’s soul.  No set of rules will keep a teenager from disobeying.  And when things fall apart, all the counseling in the world won’t fix the root of the problem.

Even using your God-given talents and those of other influential people in their lives, there is simply no way to make our youth into who God wants them to be without God Himself changing them from within, bringing them to faith in Christ, and sealing them with His Holy Spirit.    Jesus is the answer.  Always.  We have been given an immense gift in that our God is listening when we pray, and He indeed works his will through our prayers.

2.  Pray because today there are serious barriers for youth coming to faith in Christ and keeping that faith through adulthood.

These barriers come in the forms of popular media such as television shows, songs, movies, and websites, which tempt young people to be selfish, rebellious, immodest, and anti-religious.

But don’t be discouraged.  Christ Himself says to take courage, for He has overcome the world! (John 16:33).  There is an enemy of our souls.  But there is also a Great and Powerful Redeemer.

  We must remind ourselves that God is patient and that His Spirit is at work, rescuing us from the domain of darkness, graciously saving all who call on His name, through faith in Christ.

(see II Peter 3:9; Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 2:8-10).

3.  Pray because youth are at a crucial life crossroads.

We must remember the particular challenges facing the younger generation.  As they reach the time in their lives they will begin to form their personal identity, become affiliated with particular religious, political, and social belief systems, and develop a worldview.

  We as the Church need to join together in prayer that our God will be magnified in the lives of our youth.  They will make mistakes.  They will need teaching and guidance, truth and grace.

  But above all, they need what we all need – a personal encounter and an abiding relationship of faith with the One True God.

4.  Don’t give up on our youth

God can take the lowest and most unly  person and make him a Christ-exalting witness to the world.  Pray that it may be so, for the youth in your life, and for youth all over the world.

5.  Pray first, seek other help second.

Don’t seek help for your child (or for anything, for that matter) from another source before going to God first and foremost.  When we trust in someone else first, we idolize them, and God is not honored.  The Christian’s search for help starts with prayer.

6.  God will help you when you don’t know how or what to pray

God has provided an Advocate for you in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:26-27: “…the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:34: “…Christ Jesus…also intercedes for us.”  Now that is good news!  God knows what is on our hearts, and He helps us pray to Him.

7.  Even though Christ knows what we need before we ask, prayer is vital…

Because God works through our prayers.  Because prayer is a path of communication with God, and you cannot have a meaningful relationship with Someone if you do not talk to Him!

Because prayer is a source of God’s peace:  Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

8.  Don’t be afraid to pray specifically.

God is listening, friend.  Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Pray specific prayers, and expect God to answer them, according to His will and great knowledge.  See Matthew 7:7-11

9.  Pray general blessings and virtues, too.

Don’t forget to pray general prayers, too, for physical and spiritual needs:

10.  Pray that youth will choose to be obedient and Christ-:

II Corinthians 13:7 : “Now we pray to God that you do no wrong…”

11.  Pray that youth will come to know God:

Ephesians 1:18-19 – “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe…”

12.  Pray that God will be glorified in them:

II Thessalonians 1:11-12 – “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

13.  Pray for their physical well being.

III John 1:2 – “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

14.  Be encouraged that you don’t have to be perfect for God to hear your prayers.

The Scripture on prayer in James 5:16  says “…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

If you don’t  consider yourself to be righteous, please embrace the righteousness of Christ.  It is not your righteousness that saves you, but that which comes from God on the basis of faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9).  If you have been saved by Christ, you are righteous in Him, because He took on your sin and gave you the righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21).

You can embrace Proverbs 15:29 – “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”  God is listening to you.  And hopefully you’re listening to God, too (the Scriptures are mighty handy for this task, by the way – why search for a new message from God when He has already written you a book full of eternal Truth?).

15.  Your light will shine and your teen will see it.

As you grow in faith and discipleship in Christ, His righteousness will shine through in your life.  Keeping your mind on the things of God (Colossians 3:2; Philippians 4:8) is a practical way to prepare yourself for a life of prayer.

  I Peter 4:7 – “…be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”  May God grant you faith to persevere in prayer, teach you to pray according to His will, and may He do wonderful things for His Kingdom through your prayers.

16.  Pray about your teen’s personal prayer habits.

Pray for them.  Evil, in all its forms – including the laziness or unbelief that may be keeping someone from praying – can only be overcome by real spiritual power.  And real spiritual power comes from God.  Ask Him.

17.  Model prayer for your teen.

Be a model.  Whether consciously or subconsciously, young people are constantly seeking models after whom to pattern their lives.  If you want someone you know to pray faithfully, you must start by being a faithful prayer.

18.  Don’t pray just to be seen praying –

Jesus warns against this, because it is of course not the appropriate motive for praying.  But, don’t hide it either.

19.  You can’t give someone something you don’t have yourself.

If I were trying to teach my son to pray faithfully, I would realize that I cannot give that which I do not have myself.  Just as in a plane crash, you would put on your own oxygen mask first before helping someone else, I would, with God’s help, develop a strong, continual prayer life, trusting in God, and involving others in the process.  Pray for people.

20.  Pray with people.

Pray with those to whom you are modeling faithful prayer – and be sure to pray sincerely, not just as someone who is trying to set an example.

21.  Have a family prayer time every day.

Lead corporate prayer at church or before sporting events.

22.  Whenever applicable, share how God is answering your prayers…

… and share testimonies of God answering others’ prayers.  And any chance you get, share what God has taught you through Scripture and your own experience, about prayer.

Copyright Turner Lee 2011

Источник: //prayerideas.org/praying_for_needs/praying-for-teens/

12 Good Bedtime Prayers for Teenagers

The teenage years of any child are difficult to face. From temptation to anger, broken hearts and new experiences, here is a look at some of the best bedtime prayers for teenagers to help encourage spiritual healing and recovery.

Prayers #1

Father, Sometimes I feel bewildered by the world. I don’t understand how there can be such richness beside such poverty. Help me to be generous and thoughtful of others.

I feel upset when I hear others cruel words or see hatred or prejudice. Help me to be loving and accepting of all I meet. Sometimes a feel down about the pressure on young people to succeed.

Lord, in this confusing world Help me to look to you And stay hopeful and happy.

Amen.

Prayers #2

Dear God, Tonight I lay down to sleep and ask that you would hold the fears, worries and disappointments that I feel. Take my life and help me to sort through these many thoughts.

Help me to sift through all these feelings, And to keep only the ones which are good and true. Now as I sleep Lord, I ask that you would walk with me in my dreams, comfort my soul and renew my spirit.

Tonight I lay down to sleep, Not alone, but with your love to watch over me throughout the night.

Amen.

Prayers #3

Dear Lord, Help me to love, without expecting anything in return. Help me to engage, even when I don’t fully understand him. Help me to provide, quietly and gently to give good gifts. Help me to speak, not to sow criticism but encouragement. Help me to say sorry, to own up when I mess up.

Help me to forgive, even when I feel hurt or ignored. Help me to hope, to breathe out joy and vision for the future. Help me to carry my son, through the patchwork of hopes, dreams, hurts, worries, anger and the joy of teenage years.

Help me to remain open and soft To understand and not to judge My brilliant son.

Amen.

Prayers #4

Heavenly Father,
You are a gracious and loving Lord. I don’t have any friends, and I really miss having them.

Please bring some people into my life that I may share with them memorable times. Open my eyes to see the good qualities in people around me.

Help me be the type of friend to others, as the type of friend I seek. I thank You, Heavenly Father. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #5

Heavenly Father,
I know you are the great counselor! I am in need of guidance, for I don’t know what to do. Help me to do what You want done in this situation. Please send someone to show me the steps I need to take. I depend on You, and I thank You, Heavenly Father. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #6

Heavenly Father,
Help me to have faith that You will provide what I need, when I need it. Open up a job that will fit the hours I have available outside of school to pay for my expenses. I trust in You, Lord. Thank You for providing for my family and me. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #7

Heavenly Father, I know You are strong. I need help right now, because I am being tempted to join activities that I know are not good or appropriate for me. Give me strength to say ‘no thanks’ to this pressure.

Help me to find something else to keep myself busy in place of the activities my peers want me to participate in. You are my strength in this, Lord.

I thank You Heavenly Father for understanding all the temptations that face teenagers today, and what it takes to refrain from being lured in the wrong direction. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #8

Heavenly Father,
I know You see everything and know how each situation turns out. I will trust in You. My family needs help. Show me what I can do to make life easier for them. Help my family find Your salvation so we don’t fight we do now. Help me to show them You in my life. I thank You, Heavenly Father for your love and concern. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #9

Heavenly Father,
I look to You in my time of need. I don’t feel I matter much to people in this world. My self-confidence is really low right now, and I don’t know where to turn. Do You really have a specific plan for my life? That is an awesome thought.

Help me to see myself, as You see me. Teach me the things I need to learn to fulfill that purpose. I place myself into Your hands, because I trust in Your opinion of me. Thank You, Heavenly Father for believing in me. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #10

Heavenly Father,
I don’t know who else to turn to for making the bullies stop their aggression. It seems no one can stop them. They intimidate and frighten everyone. I don’t being afraid, and it upsets me when I see them beating on others. Help me to know when to make a stand and when to ignore the threats. Please send us someone who can get them to stop.

If I cannot help them by showing them You in my life, Lord, then get them my way. I thank You, Heavenly Father, for protecting me and keeping me safe. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayers #11

Dear Lord, I am glad that I can come and talk to You any time – Lord at times so much seems to be happening in my life I hardly know what to do. Lord I get so frustrated with people who keep trying to tell me what to do and yet I know that it is only because they want the best for me and yet I get so irritated with them – please help me to act wisely and not react as I am prone to do.

Lord I do thank You for my parents, I know that they mean well, but they always seem to want to run my life for me – help me not to lose my cool and to be able to respond appropriately to them.

Lord I don’t want to get that – I really want to do what is right in Your sight. Help me I pray, in Jesus name,
Amen

Prayers #12

Heavenly Father, I come to You to offer my prayers and supplications for my teenager, knowing that in so many ways they have chosen to rebel against You and turn their back on all that they have been taught in their childhood years. Father I ask that You would give me wisdom to know how to deal with this great sadness in my life which gives me such a pain in my heart.

Lord, I feel so helpless and realise that the one and only course for me is to cast all my pain on You and to lay all my burdens down at your feet and ask Lord, that You would help me to know what to say and when to say it – and prompt me when to remain silent…I pray.

Lord keep me from actions that would antagonise the situation more and more but also I pray that You would enable me to say and do those things that will speak truth into this sad situation. Lord I pray that whatever it takes – that You would minister Your healing touch into each of our lives and I pray that You would help to restore my own precious prodigal.

At the moment Lord it seems an impossible prayer, but I know that nothing is impossible with You – and so I ask Lord to bring my teenage child back into a right relationship with Yourself and with the rest of the family.

Thank You Lord for hearing my prayer and I pray that the answer will come speedily – but Lord, give me the patience and wisdom to wait Your time, and may the sorrow that this has brought be turned into joy – to Your praise and glory, in Jesus name I pray, Amen

Here is one group prayer performed by teenagers on stage praying for an awakening to occur among the youth of America. At the World Revival Church, the faith of God is held and expressed in the hearts of each member as they go on to believe in something bigger than they are.

About the Author of this Blog Post
Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to send her a message.

Источник: //connectusfund.org/12-good-bedtime-prayers-for-teenagers

Prayer 101: How to Start Talking to God

I went to Catholic school from Pre-K all the way through my senior year of high school. We prayed every morning before school, before lunch, before the end of school, and had school Mass regularly.

I thought I knew what prayer was. I knew the Hail Mary, the Our Father, and even the Divine Praises by heart. I thought I was rocking the whole prayer thing.

And then I went to college. I attended a public university so I had to do most of my praying on my own. I made my own little prayer space beside my bed in my apartment, and I would kneel in front of my crucifix and recite a few prayers here and there.

But it felt something was missing in my prayer. I didn’t feel I was really getting anything my time in prayer, and if I wasn’t getting anything it, what was the point of doing it? My prayer time became shorter and shorter, until eventually I went days, weeks, and even months without praying.

Now don’t get me wrong, I did want to talk to God, I just had no idea how! I knew all of the formal prayers, but there was still something lacking. My prayers felt so one-sided, I was doing everything and God wasn’t putting in any effort to answer my prayers.

But come to find out, in order for God to respond to us in prayer, we have to let Him; we have to listen to Him.

It doesn’t matter who we are, where we are, or what we’ve done: God is there, waiting for us to come before Him in humble surrender, and it’s His desire, His thirst for us, that makes it possible for us to desire Him.

In her book on prayer, Sr. Wendy Beckett, a British art historian and consecrated virgin, states that prayer is “God’s business. You bring yourself in whatever state you are and offer that to God.” I was having trouble with prayer because my prayers were a monologue, not a dialogue. I wasn’t listening to what God was saying to me!

It doesn’t matter if you say the perfect prayer or are in the holiest state. What matters most is giving time to God, simply placing yourself in His presence. He wants to encounter us, and we need to encounter Him authentically if we’re going to survive as Christians.

That being said, I want to give you a few practical tips that have helped me encounter God in my life:

1. Praying with Scripture

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” This saying from St. Jerome gets quoted so often that we might become numb to just how powerful it really is. If we do not know Scripture, we can’t know Christ. The Word of God is God Himself. Reading and praying with Scripture is a beautiful way to come to know your Creator.

When I pray with Scripture, I to see how the passage relates to where I’m at in life and what I’m dealing with in that moment.

I take into account the time the passage was written, who it was written to, and why it was written, and I see how I can apply it to myself, today.

The Bible transcends space and time, and is applicable even now so asking God what He might be trying to say to you in His Word is a beautiful prayer.

2. Run to the Sacraments

The sacraments are what set Catholics apart from every other world religion. As Catholics, we don’t have to have a purely spiritual experience to receive and draw near to God. No, in the sacraments, God draws us near to Him. He does most of the work! Again, all we have to do is place ourselves in His presence and be open to receiving Him.

I have heard from countless converts that just hearing the words, “I absolve you from your sins” in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a remarkable source of solace and calm. This rings true for me, a cradle Catholic, as well.

In my life, the further I’ve drifted away from the sacraments, the weaker my faith has become. Run to the sacraments always, and make sure they are the foundation of your faith — not your feelings or another person, but the sacraments.

3. Silence

This is a scary one for me, one that I am still getting used to. In a world with distractions and loud noises at every turn, it can be difficult to welcome silence. We view silence in conversations as awkward. Some people, myself included, can’t go anywhere without headphones. We just don’t things being too quiet.

But silence doesn’t lie. When we enter into silence, when we can only hear the echo of our thoughts and fears, everything we try so hard to hide comes bubbling up to the surface.

It’s there in that space that we stare our shortcomings in the face, and it’s there that those fears and the wounds can hurt the most.

But it is also in that space where we can give those fears over to God, and allow Him to reign over them; there He can stretch out His sovereign hand and heal us.

4. Pray Through the Dry Spells

Prayer will not always feel fruitful or meaningful. Sometimes it’s going to be dry. Sometimes it’s going to feel nothing is happening.

But I assure you, prayer always works. It might not feel it’s working, but thankfully, our faith isn’t feelings. Have faith that your prayers are reaching God, even if it doesn’t feel it.

Sister Wendy has another beautiful quote in her book that says, “God wants you to be the fullness of what you can be. You cannot become this if you do not allow Him to enter into you.”

Today, and every day after this, take some time to place yourself in the presence of God. Just sit, offering Him yourself and your time. Listen to what God is saying to your first, and then your response will come naturally.

Источник: //lifeteen.com/blog/prayer-101-start-talking-god/