Category: College Ministry

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7 NASB)

“The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:25 NASB)

God is a generous God! How gracious and abundant He is with His blessings.  It is amazing to think that, as His children, He has given us the ability to have generous hearts as well.  Ask God today to pour down blessings on college students you know so they may be generous to others.  Whether it’s money, belongings, forgiveness, time, compassion, or grace, pray today that students would imitate God’s generous heart in their interactions with the people around them.

“Open my eyes so that I can see all the wonderful things
in your teachings.” (Psalm 119:18 ESV)

“I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.”  (Psalm 119:16 ESV)

No matter how a child is raised, there come a point when they have to make decisions on their own.  How comforting though to know that we aren’t really alone!  God walks with us and has given us His wisdom through His Word.  Today, ask God to instill in college students a passion and love for His Word.  Pray that God’s Word would lead and guide them, comfort them in troubles, overwhelm them with His grace when they mess up, and challenge them to share His love with others.  Pray that students would be in His Word each day and find others to study with as a way to be strengthened in their walk with Jesus.

BONUS: Send a college student you know a little note today (snail mail is the best, but text or email work great too) simply sharing something God’s been teaching YOU in His Word lately and a reminder that you are praying for them. 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

Today, spend some time in prayer asking God to give college students you know the wisdom, motivation, and focus they need to work hard and be diligent in all they do while in college.  This goes much deeper though than “being a good student” or “working hard.”  Pray that students listen to God each day to show them how they need to spend their time.  This can give them a sense of purpose as they do what Jesus calls them to each day.   Some days that might be working hard on their studies, other times He may call them to love on people around them who are in need of Christ’s compassion.  Pray as they make decisions about majors and careers that God would lead them to decisions based upon where He can use their gifts and abilities in this world to make a difference for Him, whether that’s in a mechanic’s shop, a cancer research center, a daycare, or a business office.  Wherever they are and whatever they do, they have a chance to do it to God’s glory.  Pray that what they do today, and every day of the rest of their lives, would be done not out of pressure and expectations from others, but rather with a heart desiring to serve the Lord.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11 NIV)

When we think of “purity,” often our minds go automatically to sexual purity.  While that is an important aspect of purity and something to pray about for your child; purity runs even deeper.  It’s purity of the mind and the heart as well as the body.  Sometimes we get a distorted picture of purity as something we can “loose” but the truth is, in our sinful state, purity is something we never had; at least not until Jesus came to restore it.  A better way to think of this issue is like this Psalm says, “a path of purity”.  Throughout our lives we’ll wander off this path from time to time, but God is always ready and willing to lead us back.  Pray through the passage above for the college students you know.  Ask God to help them live according to His word and hide his Word in their hearts to help them in times where it’s tempting to wander away from a life of purity.  Pray for protection against Satan who desires to steal, kill, and destroy their purity.  Ask God to make His grace and forgiveness clear in the moments when students may wander off His path for them.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
(Philippians 4:11-12 NIV)

The better cell phone. The bigger TV.  The newest laptop. The most beautiful/handsome girlfriend/boyfriend. The easier classes.  The “in-group” of friends.  The best brands.  We live in a society that breeds discontent.  We’re told that if we get the newest, the biggest, the best, that we will be satisfied.  Sadly, as we seek after those things, we’re always left wanting more.   In the book of Psalms, God tells us why:

“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”  (Psalm 90:14 NRSV)

We’re left wanting more because we’re seeking satisfaction in all the wrong places.  Renee Swope, in her book A Confident Heart says, “Until God’s love is enough, nothing else will be.”  The “secret” to being content that Paul talked about in the Philippians passage is being 100% secure in God’s love. When we are satisfied completely in God’s steadfast, never-ending, always-enough love, we will be content.  Pray that college students would find contentment and satisfaction in Christ.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 NIV)

The idea that there is no real “truth” in life is becoming more and more prevalent, especially in academic settings like colleges and universities. Students are often challenged to question if anything could really be 100% true.  Especially when it comes to matters of faith and religion, there is pressure to shy away from anything that can’t be proven.  However, the passage from John above reminds us that Jesus Himself IS truth.  Pray today that in the midst of a skeptical world, students would seek truth, because when they do, they WILL find Jesus.  And when they find Jesus, The Truth, they will find freedom.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV)

Last words are powerful.  Whether it’s the last words of a speech or the last words of someone’s life; we tend to remember and hold on to last words.  Today, let’s look at some of the last words of Jesus:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

These are some pretty powerful words that Jesus passed on to his disciples and are words for us as His followers today as well.  These few sentences outline God’s basic desires for how we are to live our life.  The word “go” really means “as you are going”.  Pray today that as students “go” through their college years that it would be a time that they can truly make disciples of others, bringing friends to know Christ for the first time and grow in Him.  As the new semester starts back up soon, pray that they would be a witness in their words and actions on their campuses, in their work places, in the dorms, and wherever they go.  Ask God to remind them that they are never alone as they live out this call each and every day. 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should
walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)

We live in a world that constantly tries to tell us we’re not “enough”.  We’re not smart enough, good enough, thin enough, big enough, quick enough, bold enough… on and on.  These lies are around us in so many different ways; it becomes difficult to remember what our real identity is.  Our self-worth and value suddenly become slave to whatever “they” says is “enough” (whoever “they” even are).

The truth of the matter is that God has created each of us unique and whole just the way we are.  He has handcrafted us as His masterpiece to do the things, great and small, that He set out for us since before the creation of the world.  Pray today that through their young adult years, college students would grow to have a strong sense of their God-given identity that is unique from anyone else in the world.  Ask God to show them what that identity looks like and give them confidence in living it out to His glory each day.  Pray that they would find their self-worth and wholeness in Christ alone.

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32 NIV)

“… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25 NASB)

Once words are spoken, they can’t be taken back. Once actions are completed, they can’t be undone.  What we say and do in haste can often hurt and damage ourselves and others. Pray that college students you know would have the self-control to think before they speak, act, text, or tweet.  God’s spirit gives us patience and self-control.  Pray that they would see and use their gifts from God today and every day.  Ask God to help them live by the Spirit and be guided by the Spirit rather than worldly desires.  Ask God to remind them of the power that lives inside them when self-control and patience are difficult.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

As was mentioned in “Relationships with Friends” (Prayer Guide 13), God created us to be in relationship.  The first verses in the passage above reminds us of how crucial our “cloud of witnesses” is.  However, we can’t forget that the most important relationship is our personal relationship with God Himself.  Pray that despite all the other relationships, tasks, classes, fun activities, and whatever else fills a student’s college years, that they’d always find time to invest in their relationship with Jesus.  Ask God to help them keep their eyes on Jesus, the one who began writing their story, is perfecting it, and will one day finish it.  Pray that they’d let Him have the pen, yielding their own will to His.  Ask Jesus to remind students of how precious they are to Him and how much He loves them.  Pray that their relationship with God would be the most important relationship in their life now and always!