Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God’s Kingdom to come — for things to be on earth as they are in heaven. Though things on your campus may sometimes seem far from how they are in heaven, prayer can help us link up with Jesus to move toward this vision. In Luke 18, Jesus tells us to pray and not lose heart.
One way to make prayer more specific comes from Love on Its Knees: Make a Difference by Praying for Others, by Dick Eastman. He suggests asking God to plant certain “heart” questions in others, directing their thinking toward the things of God.
Though these prayer points were crafted for those who don’t know Jesus, the reality is that we believers have room to grow in many of these areas as well. Praying with this in mind will help you truly come alongside those God has put on our path.
“Dear Heavenly Father, help students on this campus to give serious thought to:
Who they can trust:
- Help them detect and reject the lies around them, whether philosophical, relational, political or other.
- Set them on a quest to recognize and identify those who are trustworthy.
- Reinforce in them a longing for that utterly trustworthy, transcendent “Other” that is You, Father, keeping hearts restless until they rest in You.
What their purpose is:
- Tug at their hearts with questions about the meaning of life.
- Give them the courage and humility to actively engage others in this quest for truth, leading us all home to You, Lord, our Creator and Redeemer.
What true freedom looks like:
- Unmask enemy tactics to steal, kill, and destroy — reveal the schemes of the devil.
- Help them see the end result of their choices and reject those things that don’t deliver on what they promise.
- Cause their hearts to resonate when confronted with truth that sets us free, and move them to embrace it.
“How do I cope?”:
- Lead those who know You, Father, to come alongside those suffering from stress and anxiety, sharing our own struggles, offering to pray for the Prince of Peace to intervene, and providing practical assistance when we can.
- Bring mental/emotional health professionals who know You as their Savior, Father, to guide students on this campus toward better understanding of ourselves and the abundant life found in You.
“What will happen to me when I die?”:
- Keep this question current in their hearts, Lord, and move this campus collectively to seek out answers that are resolved in You.
Father thank You for hearing these prayers we pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Here are a few more questions to help develop a vision for prayer on your campus:
- What are you believing God to do on your campus?
- What’s the first step toward bringing this vision to pass?
- What would God do if He were at work here (unhindered)?
Try taking these prayer points on the road. Are there others who would join you in prayer for your campus? Team up with them in the spirit of Matthew 18:19, agreeing together in prayer.
Used by permission. 2015.
