The Power When Youth Prays by: Flavio Barbosa
We introduce a new feature on the blog today. Flavio Barbosa of Brazil offers a more global perspective on our topic of prayer:
The power when youth prays
By Flavio Barbosa
Talking about prayer has become a great challenge nowadays. It seems the youth of today, for the most part, do not pray! Unfortunately this is the reality of the youth in our country and the world. In some research I have done, I saw that the youth of today spends an insignificant time praying, doing so only at meals, in meetings, and when invited.
The reality is that prayer should be practiced, not only by our youth. Pray without ceasing is an order of the Lord (I Thessalonians 5:17). To put it simply, “The more prayer, the more power; less prayer, less power,” said a servant of the Lord who has since gone on to glory.
About 2 months ago, I began a personal challenge to pray daily at the church by 7:30 am. It was difficult at first because of the barriers with time, work, commitments, responsibilities, fatigue and waking up early 6:50 AM. Even more difficult was working up to 11pm every day.
It was worth it. I was amazed at the power of God being delivered to us. We could not imagine what would happen when a “holy commotion” began in our lives. God has visited us with power! Pray at the best time of day, when we are the most productive, and deliver this time to the Lord in prayer and consecration.
We see miracles and the act of God in the details. When we prayed until 9 am, suddenly we experienced the answer of our prayers.
There are 4 principles that in prayer become reality and that should happen in the life of the people of God:
1. Obey the Lord in prayer.
2. Have unity. (Acts 1:14 “these all continued with one accord in prayer…”)
3. Commitment. The disciples were in the same place. (Acts 2:1 “they were all with one accord in one place”)
4. Sacrifice. Surrender yourself on the altar of the Lord. (Romans 12:2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God …”)
When we pray, something wonderful happens. Acts 4:31 says, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” The power of God is made manifest and we contemplate the greatness of the Lord .
When we pray, we confess our sins and enter into his courts. The blood of Jesus cleanses us when we confess and then God is made manifest.
Some miracles that we see as the answer to our prayer:
• People being healed
• Getting jobs
• Couples reconciling
• Ministry being defined
• Desire to live a holy life
• Anointing to preach
And many more…
When we look at Daniel’s life, we see a young man who prayed three times a day. Daniel 6:10 - “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” Prayer must be a practice in the life of all young people. If there is a movement of prayer among the youth, something wonderful will begin to happen, because God keeps his word and we’ll see the power of God for a revival to happen in this generation. It is God’s will that we pray without ceasing. There is no magic, there is only more determination and commitment.
There’s an old song by the Winners for Christ that says, “As we pray to the Lord, Come fill us with Your love. We forget the busy world, each day Your life to live. Come to change our lives. Give us refreshing for our soul, and now with other Christians, we join with you in prayer.” When we pray the Lord fills us with love for each other. We forget the troubles of the world and we live the life of the Lord in us.
Some people have asked me, “What I should pray? What should I speak?” The answer is quite simple: prayer is like a talk, a chat time with God. I often pray to Our Father, Ephesians 6, Psalm 91, Ezekiel 34, Daniel 9, … When you pray the Word it will bless and fulfill yourself. Remember that Jesus often went to the mountain and spent the night in prayer when he had important decisions to make.
My suggestion to youth is that you can pray more, seek more of the Lord and then He will bless you with power and authority.
May God bless you on your journey.
Tags: Brazil, Flavio Barbosa, Prayer, Youth Ministry
