Download - This book is a gift to - NPH · 2018-05-18 · Preface A survey of students revealed this about their prayer practices: * Most students pray for themselves, their family, and friends.

This book is a gift to

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For the eyes of the Lord are on the

righteous and His ears are attentive

to their prayer. 1 Peter 3:12

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Teens Pray

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byEDwARDGRubE

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Teens Pray


Preface

Asurveyofstudentsrevealedthisabouttheirprayerpractices:

*Moststudentsprayforthemselves,theirfamily,andfriends.

*Thefourtimeswhenstudentspraymostoftenare when they go to bed, at mealtime, whenthey’reintrouble,andwhenthey’reconfused.

* The majority of students made up their ownprayers or used a traditional prayer like theLord’sPrayerorCome,Lord,Jesus.

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Does God listen to young believers as theypray? How can we imperfect humans dare toapproachourholyGod?ConversationswithHimwould be impossible were it not for Jesus, sentbyGodtoredeemsinners.Jesus’suffering,death,and resurrection tookawayour sinsandmade itpossibletoapproachGodinfullconfidenceofHislovingattention.

God not only invites us to pray, He com-mandsit.HerearesomethingsGodtellsusinthebibleaboutprayer:

Seek the LORD while He may be found;call on Him while He is near.

Isaiah 55:6

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

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God’s word makes it quite clear. He wantsus to pray. but what does He want us to prayabout?God’speoplearefreetotalktoHimaboutanything. in praying about spiritual matters, wearebold.AsweprayforstrongerfaithortogiveGod glory through our words and deeds, we’reconfidentthatHiswillandoursareone.whenwepray for material or physical matters, we shouldalwaysconcludewiththephrase,“...ifitisyourwill.” sometimes what we want isn’t what Godwantsforus.Heknowsthatsomeofourdesireswillhurtusordamageourfaith.Hewouldnevergiveanythingbadtous,evenifwepleadforsuchthings.

inwhatwayshouldprayersbeoffered?Manypeoplefoldorcrosstheirhands.somepeopleprayprivately, while others are comfortable speakingaloud. Others offer prayers by speaking them intheir minds; people around them would neverguesstheyarepraying.

The bible has described praying as a liftingup, pouring out, crying, and shouting. yourprayers may be offered however you want tospeaktoGod.Thisbook’ssubtitleisConversationswith God. The phrase suggests that becauseJesushasgivenyoudirectaccesstoGod,youarefreetospeakwithHimasyouspeaktopeople.

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what about answers to prayer? God alwaysanswersprayer.sometimesit’sa“yes,”sometimesa“no.”sometimesit’sa“waitawhile.”Regardlessof the answer, God hears you and cares aboutwhatyouhavetosay.Thisiswhatthebiblesaysaboutthesubject:

Before they call I will answer;

while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

be aware that God may answer prayers inunexpectedways.Forexample,supposeyouprayoften for a loved one who is sick. your prayersaresincere.you’reconfidentthatGodhearsyourprayersandthatHelovesyourlovedonetoo.butthen your loved one dies. Does that mean Goddidn’tansweryourprayers?notatall.GoddoeswhateverHewantsandwhatever isbest regard-lessofwhatwethink.youprayedthatyourlovedonewouldbehealed.Andthat’swhatGoddid.Hetookyourlovedone—whohadfaithinJesusChristashisorhersavior—tobewithHiminheaven.inheaven,there isno illnessorsuffering.Onlyper-fecthealthandhappiness.isthereanybetterheal-ing?youmayindeedpraythatyourlovedonegets

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wellhereonearth.butthis isoneofthosecaseswherewemustleaveitentirelyinGod’shands—accordingtoHiswill.

Do you sometimes wonder to whom youshouldaddressyourprayers?shouldyoubetalk-ingtoGodtheFather,JesusHisson,ortheHolyspirit?Godhasagreatsystemforroutingprayers.sinceHeistheTriuneGod—Father,son,andHolyspirit—yourprayersalwaysgototherightPersonof the Trinity! Don’t worry about the address.your prayers get through! by the way, you mayhave heard some people praying to saints or thevirgin Mary. Don’t do it! you see, sometimespeoplepraytoothersbecausetheyfearthatGodwillnotlistentosinnerslikethemselves.Howsad!weknowthatJesustookawayoursinsandgivesusfreeandpersonalaccesstoGod.

Forwhomshouldwepray?we’refreetoprayforourselvesandallotherpeople,eventhosewhodon’t believe. it is important that you pray forthosewhosefaithisweakorwhorefusetobelievethat Jesus is their savior while they are living.Amongallthoseforwhomyoupray,thisgroupismostinneedofyourconversationswithGod!

iencourageyoutousethisbookforyourselfand for those times when you might be calledupontoleadaprayer.Manyoftheprayerscontain

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blankswhereyoumayfillinthenameofanindi-vidual for whom you are praying. Other prayersincludeblanksforspecificsituationsforwhichyoumaybepraying.

i also encourage you to make up your ownprayers.Don’tworryaboutwordselection,propergrammar,ormakingmistakes.yousee, theHolyspirit prays with us and for us. in fact, the Holyspirit is a most thoughtful and generous prayerpartner.Takealookatthis:

... the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but

the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26

wow! what a privilege it is to pray. ThankGod you are free to exercise that privilege. Prayoften. Pray confidently. Pray for yourself, yourfamily,yourfriends,yourenemies,andeventhoseyou don’t know. God loves you. you can speakfreelytoHim.

EdwardGrube

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Contents

PREFACEsiCknEss

General 17Minor 18Major 18Others 19

sCHOOLMATTERsProtectioninMyschool 20AfterviolenceElsewhere 21startinganewschoolyear 21ForMyschool 22Endingaschoolyear 23

GRADEswhenyou’veDoneyourbest 24whenyouneedToDobetter 25ForOthers 25

TEsTsPreparation 26Justbefore 27RightAfter 27

ExTRACuRRiCuLAREvEnTsAthletics 28Music 29Drama 30

FORGivEnEssForOthers 31Forself 32


sADTiMEswhenyouAresad 34sad—butDon’tknowwhy 35

RELATiOnsHiPsFriends 36LossofaFriend 37Male-FemaleRelationships 38Parents 41brothers/sisters 43Teachers 44

TEMPTATiOnssexual 45Cheating 46Anger 47stealing 48Drugs 49

PEERPREssuREToResist 50FailuretoResist 51

DRivinGnewDriver’sLicense 52beforeDriving 53beforeRidingAlong 53

COuRAGEGeneral 54inwitnessing 55FacingLife’sChallenges 56


suCCEssPersonalsuccess 57whenOtherssucceed 59

MisCELLAnEOusPRAyERsFOROTHERsEnemies 60unbelievers 61news-Makers 62

DAiLyPRAyERssunday 63Monday 64Tuesday 64wednesday 65Thursday 65Friday 66saturday 67

biRTHDAybirthday–self 68birthday–Others 69

wORsHiPAnDsACRAMEnTbeforeworship 70beforetheLord’ssupper 71AftertheLord’ssupper 71

sEAsOnALspring 73summer 74Fall 74winter 75Advent 75


Christmas 76newyear 77Lent 77Easter 78AscensionDay 79Pentecost 79

COMMOnPRAyERsTheLord’sPrayer 80

PRAyERsFROMLuTHER’sCATECHisMMorningPrayer 82EveningPrayer 83beforeMeals 83AfterMeals 83

PRAyERsbAsEDOnTHECOMMAnDMEnTs#1–3AGoodRelationshipwithGod 84#4RespectandObedience 85#5LovingOthers 86#6AnotherPrayerAboutsex 87#7Honesty 88#8well,well,well 89#9–10Contentment 90

MisCELLAnEOusPRAyERsDoingGod’swill 91self-Control 92Decision-Making 92Patience 93ForMyCountry 94ForTimeswheni’mToobusy 95


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lTSickness

GEnERAL

i never appreciate my health so much aswhen i’m sick, Lord. Oh, i don’t feel like i’mgoingtodie,andevenifidid,iknowyouwouldbethere.Rightnow,i’d just liketofeelbetter.As you restore my health, make me a betterpersontoo—onewhowillserveyouhappilyandhealthily.iprayinthenameofHimwhocaresforallneeds,greatandsmall. Amen.

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MinOR

LordJesus, idon’tknowif ishouldbotheryou—afterall,hospitalsarefullofpeoplewhoneedyourhealingmorethanido.butsinceyoulovemeenoughto sufferpainanddie forme,i’m certain you do care. Restore my health soi canserveyouandothersagain. ipray in thenameoftheOnewhodirectedhealingforlepersandmobilitytothelame. Amen.

MAJOR

i’mafraid,dearJesus.youalreadyknowjusthowseriousitis,butihavetotellyouanyway.i’m afraid of the pain. i’m afraid of the uncer-tainty about my future. yes, Jesus, i’m afraideventhoughyouarehereformenowandyouwill be there for me when i go to heaven. i’mafraidofdying.Ormaybeit’sjustthatihopeforsomuchinlifethatidon’twanttomissanyofit.youknowallaboutpainanddeath.youwentthroughitforme.youknowaboutlifetoo;youliveditfully.nowtakemethroughit,healme,ifitisyourwill,andcomfortme.Myhopeisinyou,GreatPhysician.Amen.


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OTHERs

insertthenameoftheoneforwhomyou’reprayingintheblank.

Heavenly Healer, ______________________needsyourcareandcomfort.Givethedoctorsskillandmakethemedicationseffective.Givemewhateverineedtohelpin__________________’shealing and comfort. And while you restore__________________’shealth,bringyourhealingtoallwhosuffer,ifitisyourwill,andleadthemtoknowthatyouaretheirlovingsavior.iprayinthenameofthePowerfulservantwhohealedthousandsonHiswaytothecross. Amen.


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lTSchool Matters

PROTECTiOninMysCHOOL

Father, just about the time i forget aboutschool violence, it’s in the news again. will iteverbeinmyclassroomsorhallwaysorcafete-ria? i know Lord, that violence is never yourwill.Protectusfromthosewhowouldharmus.bring your love to my school and rule in ourhearts.iprayinthenameoftheLordofpeace. Amen.


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AFTERviOLEnCEELsEwHERE

i’msosad,dearJesus,aboutwhathappenedat_______________school.Helpthosewhoarehurt, and comfort their families. send faithfulChristianwitnessestoletthemknowthatyourloveisstrongerthantheworsthateandhorror.keepussafeatourschool,andsendyourHolyspirittohelpustrustyouforsafety.iprayinthenameoftheLordofpeace.Amen.

sTARTinGAnEwsCHOOLyEAR

LordJesus,itseemslikesuchalongtime—nowthroughtheendoftheschoolyear.iknowthatyourwillformeistosucceedandbehappy.i also know that to be happy and to succeedmean that i need to live the kind of life youexpectfromyourpeople.Helpmedothat,Jesus.Helpmeto learnthat imayserveyouandthepeopleyougivemetoknow.Givemeoldfriendsandnew—allofthemwhowillletmebeme—allofthemwhowillrespectmeforbeingyours.

strengthen me with the desire and self-discipline that i’ll need to learn from myteachers,experiences,andbooks.Makeallthatidobecomeonemorepieceofthatpersonyouwantmetobe.
