Praying for Your Students by Name

What difference do you think it would make if we each prayed specifically for the significant people in our lives regularly, by name? I think we could all give the "theological" reasons we should, but do we really believe it would make a difference if we actually did it?

I wonder what would happen if each Christian professor across the country would take the class role and make a copy just to pray for his/her students. I imagine it would be a life-changing habit.

Sometimes it is difficult to pray for others, but St. Augustine reminds us, "True, whole prayer is nothing but love." And what about doing it consistently? Andrew Murray wrote, "Reading a book about prayer, listening to lectures and talking about it [or reading a MMM about prayer] is very good, but it won't teach you to pray. You get nothing without exercise, without practice. I might listen for a year to a professor of music playing the most beautiful music, but that won't teach me to play an instrument."

But what would you pray for your students? Let me make a few suggestions.

1. Pray for their understanding of the need to acknowledge God in their lives.
2. Pray for the opportunity for you to talk about your faith to them when appropriate. (Please note: this is one of the most dangerous prayers we can pray, because God just loves to be creative in giving us opportunities to share our lives.)
3. Paul's prayers are great places to get ideas on how to pray for others. See especially Ephesians 1: 15ff.

As you notice a specific need or have a chance to interact with individual students, you could jot down a specific request for them on your prayer list. Even unbelievers will usually respond positively when we offer to pray for their areas of need or concern. Let's trust God to do great things this semester as we lift up to Him each of our students by name.

Scripture: Philippians 1:3,4 - "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all."

Action Point: Make a prayer list from you class rosters (or a list of other significant people) so that you can pray for them by name. List any specific requests and answers by each persons name.

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