**UPDATE: We are just so happy to have all of you 20-somethings flock to requesting prayer! Our faithful God surely hears, and cares to His core! If you do not see a specific partner reply to your request, know that the LPM Staff have adopted you. We will pray for each of you, joyfully!
One of my favorite things about Twitter is that we can come to really love someone we wouldn’t have even known to like. Someone from an entirely different part of the country or the planet. Someone from a totally different tradition of our faith. Someone in another generation who serves God in a way that is fresh and exhilarating to us. I have a whole mental list of those and just this morning prayed for a number of young women that I’ve gotten to “know” there on that ridiculous stream of social media that I love. It is a young man that I’ve come to appreciate so much, however, that prompted this post. His name is Jefferson Bethke. I didn’t know anything about him until 6 months ago when Melissa, my youngest daughter, told me she enjoyed following him on Twitter. He is a great communicator God clearly has His hand upon and a poet who creates fantastic thought-provoking videos. I’m glad to have the privilege to tell you about him but that’s not why I’m bringing him up today. A week or so ago on Twitter he mentioned sitting on the airplane, moved with emotion over various testimonies he’d been reading of lives dramatically changed by Jesus Christ. It hit me right then that one of the things I loved best about him is that the young man simply has a pure heart. He just flat-out loves Jesus and loves people. It’s consistent in everything he says and writes. I felt an urgency right that moment to ask God to protect that holy passion and sustain it the length of his days.
And that’s when I thought of all of you in his same generation who really do want to honor God and fulfill the purpose for which He planted your feet on this earth.
Here’s what I want to say to you: you really can maintain a pure and fiery heart toward Christ and His mission on earth but make no mistake: you will not do it by accident.
If you want a pure heart, you better be willing to fight for it. You will not keep it any other way.
The first big relief is that we can’t conjure one up on our own. God alone can create in us a pure heart and renew a right spirit within us. (Psalm 51:10) He alone can set it ablaze with holy passion. But out of God’s sovereign wisdom, He determined that guarding the heart He formed and lit within us would, in many ways, fall to us. We’re to own part of that job.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Our second huge relief is that we can have a pure heart whether or not we have a pure past. Thank You, Jesus. If not, I and many others would be stuck for a lifetime with dark distorted hearts and deformed desires.
There are many other things more effective voices could tell you about guarding your heart toward Christ, toward people He’s sent you to serve and toward His mission on this planet. Ask them and learn from them. My purpose today is to pitch into the mix a couple of things that I’ve learned – and keep learning – in case any of it resonates with you. I also want to pray for you and call others to do the same. Here goes:
*Your heart will cool off if you do nothing to guard it. Jesus warned us in the 24th chapter of Matthew that “because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (V.12) We’re exposed to so much suffering and violence, pain, pretense, and wrongdoing in the world that, even as a defense against feeling so much, we’ll naturally thicken up. I’m certainly not suggesting we be less informed. Uninformed Christians can be a waste of light in the darkness. What I’m suggesting is that, if you want to keep a warm, feeling heart, you better be prepared to fight like mad for it.
*Over time, you can get really cynical. For one thing, cynicism can be really funny so we get drawn to it. It also tends to be cooler. You have to be willing to be one of those that the cynics could make fun of.
*You have to realize that guarding your heart means guarding its willingness to love and be exposed out there where it can get wronged or wounded. A couple of years ago I was researching God’s self-disclosure in Exodus 34:5-7 and stumbled onto something that totally changed the way I looked at guarding my heart. Here’s the segment so you can see it for yourself:
5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love…
See that word “maintaining”? It is a form of the same Hebrew term used in Proverbs 4:23Â for “guarding” our hearts. In other words, a huge part of guarding my heart is maintaining love. It was a total game changer for me because somehow I had associated guarding my heart with keeping it sheltered. Try to fathom that God actively maintains His love toward us. He guards it. Using that same concept, He calls us to maintain our love toward other people. If I want to stay in love with my husband, for instance, I better actively practice maintaining it because, left to its nature, it will grow cold.
One of the things that God keeps teaching me to do is pray with everything in me and on an ongoing basis to love Jesus more than anything I can see or touch in this human realm. He promises in Scripture to grant us everything we pray in His will and in His name. (1 John 5:14-15)Â Since His greatest command was that we love (Mark 12:30-31), you can pray for it with absolute confidence that He’s going to do it. In fact, every time you ask God for it, go ahead and thank Him in advance that He’s going to accomplish it. He will. Then when He starts doing it, you start guarding it with all your might.
Ask Him continually to stir fire in your bones for His Word and for His mission. Ask Him to sustain it in you and teach you how to guard it through every inch of your lifespan. Only put up with a sense of spiritual flatness for a matter of days. That’s completely normal. But when it begins to turn into weeks, go face-down on that floor and ask God to give you insight into what seems off and to revive your heart. Don’t just accept coldness. Fight for love.
What is it you want from God? Pray for it feverishly! “Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.” That’s what 1 Corinthians 14:1 says.
Also ask others to pray these things over you. That’s what I am hoping this blog post will be about today.
Here’s what I’m asking all of you to do if you’re willing:
*Those of you in your 20’s, tell us at least your first name, where you’re from, and a little bit about you in a comment so that we can personalize our intercessions for you.
*The rest of you choose one of them to pray for (or two, if you have the time), let them know in a reply under their comment that you are adopting them for intercession for the next 14 days. Tell them where you’re from as well. I think they’ll like knowing that, too. As long as every 20-something gets signed-up for, it doesn’t matter if a number of you are praying for the same individual. If they’re like us, they’d be ecstatic to have the extra prayer covering. Pray as you feel led by God but, within that intercession, pray particularly for God to stir up and sustain a holy passion in them for Himself, His mission, and for people on this planet, and that they will be alert and proactive in guarding their hearts to last a lifetime. Ask God forthrightly to deliver them from any area of bondage, strengthen them in temptation, and deliver them from evil. Love them with all your might through prayer.
Let’s partner with this generation and intercede powerfully for them. They are the rising future of the church of Jesus Christ at this tumultuous time on the Kingdom calendar. Let’s pray them out there.
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 ESV
PS. To our regular blog community: I put this in a comment but I’m afraid many of you may not see it.
I am grateful beyond expression for your participation on this post. Please move at the same pace that you see our 20-somethings sign up. In other words, if at our first moderation there are 15 of them, see that all 15 are spoken for then, instead of doubling and tripling up on the same small group, watch for others to be posted and claim those. Assume in about 48 hours that we’ll probably have around 80% of the 20-somethings that will end up participating. Still, check every couple of days for about a week to make sure everybody gets covered if you don’t mind. Sisters, this woman right here KNOWS how powerfully you pray. I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. You are solid gold in the Kingdom of God! Pray for these young people like you’d want somebody to pray for your own children, whether or not you have any. Take them on as blood. Pray with faith and holy fire. Pray like the near future of the church depends on Jesus revealing Himself through them. They are so worth it. JESUS is so worth it.
I love you guys madly.
Beth
Hi all, it may be to late to post on this thread but I want to give it a whirl 🙂 I’m from Dawsonville, GA and I’m writing to request prayers that I not give into Satan’s temptations to lose hope and God’s light in my life in my struggle with infertility and PCOS. I have been ashamed with myself for allowing my faith to be so shaken by this but today, I start anew. It’s overwhelming for me at the moment b/c I feel like the evil one is attacking me on many sides but I’m turning my face to the Lord and to “sit at the table He has prepared for me in the face of my enemies, so that He may anoint my head with oil and let me cup overflow”! Please pray wisdom and diligence with this prayer towards me. God’s love to all.
Hi Veronica!
I will be praying for you!!
“The LORD Himself goes before you and WILL be with you; He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged!!” Deut. 31:8
Praying for wisdom. Praying for strength and courage as you stand with the Lord in this struggle.
He is with you always. Praying for your healing that God would do a miracle here.
You are loved
Blessing
Sharon Modesto, ca.
I will pray with you for god almighty has all given us life hope love an so much more as we stand in his grace
My name is Katie and I am 24, the mother of a wonderful 2 year old son and a struggling wife. The last few years of my marriage has been rough but God is pulling me through. He has lately been working on my heart and letting me know he is bringing something big soon. I am just praying that God’s will be done in my life and my family’s life. I want my son to grow up to be a godly man and love Him as I do. Thank you Mrs. Moore for you studies and your love for women. I appreciate all you and your team do and all you allow God to do through you.
Hello,
I know this is late but I would like prayer. I am 23 years olds and live in Knoxville, TN.I am graduating College in December. It has been a long road but the Lord has been faithful! I would like prayer for the Lord to set a fire in my heart that will continue to grow in strength and the determination and guidance to fulfill the purposes He has for me! And that I will not stray from his presence daily and fall to the temptation of the world! I thank you for taking your time to do this! I am blessed & honored!
Its like you read my thoughts! You appear to understand a lot about this, such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I think that you could do with a few % to power the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.
My name is Mary Ellen, I’m 28 years old and I live in Trenton, GA. I’m a wife to a wonderful man and mother to a fantastic 4 and 2 year old! Praying for strength and wisdom to continue making our house a home filled with joy. Praying that I keep my eyes on Jesus and off of the “success by the world’s standard”—because what we do in raising our children to Honor The Lord is true success! Praying to claim the truths of who I am in HIM!
I am asking for prayers for my 21 year old daughter. I am so worried that she is letting her “love” for a man (who is 31) change her morals, dreams, and goals. I have tried to guide her but she is very defensive. I am praying but I am so scared! Thanks
Hello All! My name is Emory and I am 20. I just returned home from a month in Uganda and was overwhelmed by a type of love i’ve never experienced. At the same time the enemy overwhelmed me with the fear of never finding love and rather than fearing that at home I feared for that while serving Him. Asking prayer for peace that my heart can open up to that special love and that it will be peace giving
Hi, my name is Josh, I’m 21 and I’m from Denver, Colorado. I’ve recently made a large change in my life that has resulted in me taking on alot of debt, but it was because I felt led by God that He had a better plan for my life than what I was doing. The thing that has been constantly on my mind is that I still don’t know what that thing He has in mind for me is yet and I request that someone prays that God will open the eyes of my heart so that what I’m meant for in this world is clearer than day. Thank you.
Hello! I’m 28 and from Arkansas, I would love prayers of patience. I am a successful career woman and I’m pretty independent but with an amazing famil consisting of my dad, mom, brother and dog. But the things I crave the most I know I have no control over. Prayers for understanding and patience would be much appreciated!
Hello everyone!
My name is Amanda Knotts. I am 23 and I am from Richmond, Virginia. My husband and I have been given the opportunity to start a church plant here in Richmond and so far it has been a tough, rewarding road. I know there will be more struggles ahead, but I ask that someone would pray for our outreach, direction, patience, and God’s will and timing for the growth in our church. We have already seen God working and it is an amazing process. We both work full-time as well, so some prayers to for less stress would be great as well. Please keep us in your prayers! 🙂
Thank you so much,
Amanda
Hi everyone, my name is Megan, and I am 23 years old. I’m from south-central Kentucky. I would like to ask for prayer in not becoming slack on my commitment to The Lord. I struggle daily just to make time for prayer and a quick devotion, yet I know The Lord longs for so much more from me. I have an amazing example of a Christian in my husband, who spends a considerable amount of time daily in the Word. As bad as I hate it, though, I do not do the same. Please pray for a renewed fervor in me that is not just hungry for the Word, but RAVENOUS for it. I’d also like prayer for direction in my career. I just graduated nursing school, and am searching for a job as an RN. I pray for a job I enjoy, but that most importantly is where God wants me. And my final prayer request is one that I’m not really ready to share yet, but is nonetheless a VERY big unspoken concern on my heart. I just want patience and acceptance on the matter. Thank you, and may The Lord richly bless you.
Hi, my name is Charity Wade. I am a 25 year old from Phenix City, Alabama. I am a newly-wed to my best friend and new step-mom to his two wonderful children. As I have been working on my Master’s to teach elementary library, I have worked from home all summer so I could be home with our kids. As much as I hate to admit it, it has been a rough summer. My patience has been tried, my mercy has been challenged, and my attitude seems to have been altered. I love my kids with my entire heart… but I’ve found myself spending less time with God and more time with frustrations at them. I am part of the worship team at our church and love to write worship music… however, lately it seems there’s this big barrier between me and God. I know it’s because I haven’t been spending time in His word and have been letting these frustrations just grow without taking them to Him. I am requesting prayer for a renewal of heart, attitude, and spirit!
Hello, my name is Coletta Locke. I am 25 years old, and im from Bell County, Kentucky!! I am a single mother of one child, a daughter, her name is Kadience!! I am an recovering addict I deal with temptations daily. I do not have a perfect past and I live with those decisions, somethings do come back and haunt me especially with job. I try so hard to change my life to make my wrongs right and it seems as if its not good enough. I do not know what to do I want to better myself but it seems like every time I try I get knocked back down. I do not get nor understand why good things wont happen to me or why things cannot be easy jus once especially now that I realize how it’s important to make smart decisions. I am asking for prayer for the issues and struggles I go through daily, God knows my problems!! Please keep me.n.my daughter in your prayers, thank you!
My name is Beth and both my husband and I are 25 years old. We currently live in southeast Missouri, where we moved right out of college so I could start my teaching career (I currently teach 4th graders and am working on my Master’s in Elementary Administration).
The LORD led us here by His great provision and grace. Our hearts however continue to struggle with discontentment. This stems from…well pride at the root of it all. My husband received his bachelors degree in Biblical Studies from our private Christian college and deeply desires to be in full time youth ministry. Currently he works 35 hours a week cutting grass and doing intense physical labor for a small landscaping company (the only full time job he has been offered) and then works 8 hours (paid time…he works much more than that in time spent) for our small church that we love as the youth minister, a position that our church squeezed into their budget when they decided they wanted to offer him something. In our surrounding area there is not much in terms of full time ministry work unless you want to be a lead preaching pastor. We are also in the process of planting a Pregnancy Resource Center in our town that would service all of southeastern/central Missouri below Cape Girardeau. A board was just elected last week and we are beginning the tasks of incorporating and becoming tax exempt so we can begin taking donations and fundraising. We hope to open our doors in about a year. Please pray for the discontentment that can build in our hearts due to our lives not being where we though they would be and also for the LORD’s favor in these beginning stages of the PRC. He really has been so good to us, but my flesh seems to determine my attitude so much of the time. Please also pray for us to be patient and deeply desire the LORD’s will for our lives. Thank you for being willing to pray!
Hey All! This may be late, but my name is Victori. I am 22 years old from Oklahoma. I live a very a busy life going to school full time, working during the day, and teaching ballroom dance at night. I have found in the midst of all of this I didn’t have the slightest clue to what I truly wanted to do after graduating this year. I turned to God and prayed about my future as to what He would like me to do. I feel as though He is showing me a path I would have never expected. I ask that you please pray for me as I’m trying to help others by sharing my own story in hopes to give them hope through God. It is a both a healing and a fearful journey, but I know I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I pray I fall more and more in love with God everyday. I know that God always provides and gives us more than we can possibly imagine. I’m just trying to find my path. Thank you all and God Bless!
My name is Alex and I am 26. I would like someone to pray for me if they don’t mind. I feel like God has a great calling on my life and I want to do whatever it takes to be in the center of his will. I desperately want to be used by God. I struggle with having my quiet time/bible study time daily, I also struggle with showing people I care for them and love them and sometimes I think I’m a girl this should come naturally right 🙂 but it doesn’t for me and I wish it did. Most of the time it makes me feel uncomfortable and I know it shouldn’t, I am the type of person who likes to keep things bottled up inside.
Alex (and others who’ve signed in since June). I felt compelled to revisit this list to see how many more have responded, I see the requests continuing to come in. I’ll make sure my bible study groups re-visit and pray for you all too.
Alex praying that you will continue to pray that prayer “God use me” I pray that all the time…and HE will. Make it a priority to spend time with Him in reading and prayer everyday, so you can learn HIS voice and recognize what He is saying to do. Get involved in a bible study group, that really helps me stay faithful.
Praying for God’s gifts to pour out of you and all who’ve written in these past couple of months!
Hi ladies! My name is Kimberly, and I’m 26 years old. I live in Jackson, Mississippi. I would love for someone to pray with me that I make the career and life decisions that God wants me to make. I want to be a wonderful servant to Him and a blessing to those around me. Please pray that He will lead me to a place where I can do that! Also, I will be in Bossier City tonight and tomorrow for Living Proof! Pray that I receive a blessing! Thank you <3
Hi, my name’s Anna. I’m 25 and hailing from Austria (Europe). I came from the darkest pit of a life, gave it all over to Jesus 6y ago and God put me on the super fast lane into all things God, church and ministry from day one. God opened a door into full time ministry, but after a year I got knocked down hard when it became clear that my character wasn’t able to sustain the calling and gifting on my life just yet. I would very much appreciate prayer for the limbo that I have been in for the past year since then – I’m passionately sold out for God’s kingdom, but intimidated by the harsh reality of my previous failure in ministry.
Thanks already for standing with me in prayer, I’ve been blessed by LPM and Beth, more than words can express. Thank you!!!
My name is Katie, and I am 22 years old. It seems this post has gone way beyond its originally intended time frame, so here goes! 🙂
I am so excited to see something like this out on the web. It’s so encouraging to know people are praying for my generation! We are certainly an age group filled with cynicism and skepticism. I love Jesus with all my heart, and would greatly appreciate any prayer you all can provide to see all 20-something’s on fire for God. I live in Central Oregon, but have just returned from an internship in Manhattan. Please pray for my transition into the culture back home as I pursue finishing school, as well as being involved in starting a young adult service in my home church. Thank you so much for your prayers, and I look forward to seeing the fruit of our prayers together.
Thank you!!!
Hi, I’m very excited to see people still posting comments because I saw the date and was discouraged until I saw people were still posting. I’m 26 years old and live in Ashland, KY. I have quite the sordid past… This time last year I was an IV drug user and dealer. October 5th I was arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine and facing 20 years. I came to God when in jail and through the programs at the jail (including two Beth Moore Bible studies!) I grew close to Him and found realized I have a calling on my life. Thankfully I didn’t get the twenty years; I got a four year sentence and got out on parole earlier this month. Since I’ve been out I’ve been trying really hard to do what I can to further God’s kingdom. I’ve given my testimony at one church and for the youth group at another. I want to serve God and I know that I have a very powerful testimony and God is going to use me in mighty ways. Please pray that God keeps me strong and leads me where He wants me to go. Pray that He opens doors for me and that I’m able to see these opportunities. Thank you.
Hi, my name is Rebecca. I’m 27. I’m struggling with stuff in life and I want a closer walk wth God. I want to be on fire!!
Hi! I’m Courtney and I’m 23 years old. I’m a girl who longs with every ounce of me to honor and serve our precious Jesus in every single thing I do. I have been fighting against fear, doubt, anxiety, worry….I would for someone to stand beside and agree with me in prayer that these things WILL no longer be and in their place PEACE that only Jesus can give WILL take over!
Courtney, My name is Danielle and I’m from California. I’m a little late to this party, but I scrolled down to the very bottom to see the last person to sign up, and your post struck a chord with me. I’d love to pray for you! I am 26 years old and have been dealing with anxiety, worry, and fear for six years. It is a hard walk and I will be praying for God’s peace in your life. I am looking for the same prayers.
“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” -Exodus 14:14
Danielle and Courtney-
What a God thing it is that the three women “late to the party” are all struggling with the same thing.
My name is Lindsay and I am 23 years old. I have struggled with fear, worry and anxiety off and on for the last four years. Our Lord is greater then our struggles! May we join together in prayer for one another as we seek to honor Him with our lives!
Hello, I know I am over a year late but I can’t not try to go after an opportunity like this one. I am 22 and have moved countries (on average) every 4-5 years. Pride, arrogance, and a fear of failure have me in an unproductive deadlock.
I am desperate for courage, wisdom, strength and guidance (preferably in the form of giant landmarks and waving flags) for what to do (and not do), in all areas of my life once I complete my Masters this September. Even though I do not know what I am called to do, the size of God’s plans for my life terrifies me.
Please please please also pray for my family – there is so much unfulfilled potential and need for actively turning to God and need for healing. Please please pray that my entire family and I would be freed to LOVE and do God’s will.
Please consider praying for me – you, your family and future will also be in mine. Thank you!
I’m Jenny and I’m 25 years old from Michigan. I need prayer on figuring out the plan God has for my life and for my 3 year old son. I’m in a relationship that I’m not 100% sure of. There’s uncertainty there. He’s the father of my son and my first serious relationship so it makes it challenging to just walk away from that. I’ve talked with him about changing and my feelings. I keep waiting and hoping that if I show him love and respect that he will do the same i b return. I’ve prayed over this and I feel like God is leading me elsewhere. Prayers are greatly appreciated. Please pray also for my sister Katie who is 29 who lost her only son who was my son’s best friend (both were the same age) one year ago was hit by a car. It has been so tragic for our family and we miss him deeply. I pray that God with pull us all through. Especially Katie! Thank you guys!