Insight

Using the Bible to help us pray

Sometimes when we pray we quickly run out of words to say. We find it difficult to express how we really feel. Or our thoughts drift to other things. Prayer can be hard work.

Fortunately, the Bible provides a wealth of material to guide our prayers, help us express our feelings and enrich our personal prayer life. Using the Bible can also provide a focus and a framework to help young people and small groups pray more effectively, when their own words are difficult to find.

PRAYING THE PSALMS

The Book of Psalms is really a book of prayers. From praise and giving thanks, to asking forgiveness, overcoming temptation, dealing with discouragement, facing fear, finding guidance, seeking wisdom or gaining courage. No matter how we feel, in the Psalms we find words to express every human condition and they teach about how God wants us to communicate with him. It’s reassuring to know that the psalmists had the same feelings we do, and weren’t afraid of expressing them to God!

SHARE A PSALM

When words are difficult to find or the pressures of events distract my thoughts I find it helpful to share a Psalm, making the words of the psalmist my own prayer or request and applying them to my own situation. Here are a few examples of where I look for help in the Psalms when I feel,

• Afraid 3, 91
• Alone 27
• Envious 73
• Like giving up 34, 43
• Sad 13
• Weak 40, 121, 142
• Worried 37
• Tempted 141
• Unimportant 139
• Like praising God 96, 100, 145

Praying for others - 10 creative ways to help young people pray

10 creative prayer ideas to help your young people engage in praying for friends, family, community, nation and the whole world. The ideas use visual or activity prompts to encourage individual and group prayer.

Several can be used together to develop extended times of creative prayer with your group.

‘I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.’ 1 Timothy 2: 1-4

BIRTHDAY PRAYER BOARD

Put up a wall calendar and ask the young people and leaders to write their names beside their date of birth. Include other members from the church if you wish and any significant dates from the church and youth group calendar. Each week use this visual prompt to stimulate small group prayer for individuals and activities.

PRAYERS IN A HAT

Ask everyone in the group to put their name on a piece of paper. Place the pieces of paper into a hat or another convenient container. Then pass the hat around the group and ask each young person to take out a piece of paper. Encourage them to pray for that person during the coming week.

THE PEOPLE CROSS

Ask each young person and leader to write the name of a friend, work colleague or family member they wish to pray for, on a piece of paper or card. The young people then place the papers on the floor in the shape of a large cross. The group then stands in a circle around the cross and pray for the person they named. Invite them to softly speak out their individual prayers together. Encourage them to pray,

• For any needs that each friend may have
• That each friend will become more open to God
• That each friend will become a follower of Jesus
• That God would use you to reach your friends.

Helping young people to pray

How can we help young people to pray? We all know that sometimes when we pray distractions come and it’s hard to stay on track. At other times we just end up with ‘shopping list’ prayers.

Here are four simple ideas or guides which I’ve used with young people who have wanted to be more effective in their prayers.

The first two examples are acrostics. Acrostics have been devised throughout history from the ancient Greek and Latin writers, through renaissance poets and medieval monks, right up to modern times. An acrostic poem is where the first letter of the line in the poem works together to spell a word.

In these examples each letter of the four letter word, forms the initial letter of another word or phrase to guide the direction and focus of the prayer.

Talking to God - three youth group discussion starters on prayer

The landing gear wouldn't lock down and the plane had to make an emergency landing.

Over the intercom the pilot addressed the passengers, 'We are beginning our final descent. At this moment in accordance with International Aviation Codes established in Geneva, it is my obligation to inform you that if you believe in God you should commence prayer.'

What do your young people think about prayer? What does the Bible tell us about prayer? What did Jesus say?

View and download the 8 page pdf prayer discussion starters containing three group discussion starters on prayer.

MORE DISCUSSION STARTERS

For more, click on discussion starters in the category list on the sidebar.

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People of Prayer - an evening of creative prayer for young people.

Although 'People of Prayer' is part of my series on themed youth evenings, there are no icebreakers or games. 'People of Prayer' is a creative evening for your group to pray for each other, their friends, your church, and for the body of Christ in your city, nation and throughout the world.

This guided evening of prayer contains a number of simple activities and visual prompts to teach and engage your young people in prayer. There are four sections to the evening - Focus on God, Focus on myself, Focus on friends and family, Focus on the wider world.

I have used this outline with many groups and it should take between 60-90 minutes. However, use your own judgment to pace the evening, as every group is different. You may also like to have the Bible passages viewable as a PowerPoint presentation and add a relevant video clip for the final section on the persecuted church. The links will take you to useful resources. Make sure you have a suitable and comfortable room for this evening of prayer.