Praying for our Youth

Is there really such a thing as a generation gap? Do kids think, or approach problems differently than their parents? Yes to both. Perhaps it has always been this way but the speed of changing technology and the capability of communicating worldwide has brought new challenges to kids that their parents or grand-parents never faced. This is complicated by the ammount of cash a modern youth has in her pocket, not to mention credit cards.
Our children grow up so much faster than we did, and face dilemmas that we never thought about. Most of us do not have the answers to the questions our kids ask, nor do we have the solutions to the problems and temptations they face. We can easily say, "Just say No", but that answer from Nancy Reagan in her 1986 War On Drugs campaign is not enough for the youth of 2011. As Christians, parents, friends, and brothers and sisters to the youth, we must be a greater presence. Our task is to listen, love, and support the ones to whom we are passing our legacy.
Let us pray...
Lord, the young people of today face harder choices and greater temptations than we ever imagined. Give us the words of comfort and hope that will guide and inspire them to greatness that we could never imagine. Strengthen them with the power to overcome the obstacles that greed, hate and injustice throw in front of them. Help us to model dignity, justice and truthfulness and be there when they stumble. Show us how we can take part in their lives instead of being too tied up with work or watching reality shows as the reality of their lives disappears.
We brought our young up with hope and promise to be the doctors, teachers, contractors or technicians, and to have a proud future. But instead of inheriting "The American Dream" they will face a nightmare of unimaginable problems. We pray for the journey before them. We ask your Spirit to give hope and strength when they face their own hour of trial. Equip them with the whole armor of God that they may be prepared to stand against the evil of their day. Amen.