Youth Camp | June 22-26
Kids’ Camp | July 14-17
Psalm 145:4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.
Psalm 78:4 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.
Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
Acts 17:26-27 From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.
DEVO:
This month, we are focusing our prayers and fasting around the next generation, specifically for the success of the camps for youth and kids which will be happening during the summer. We are praying that we would hear stories of lives changed, kids and youth finding freedom, increased mental health, solid friendships, and most importantly, entering into relationships with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
If you look back at the Old Testament, you’ll find stories of generations of Israelites who did not know God. It’s not that they weren’t aware of Him; it’s that they weren’t in relationship with Him. They weren’t there at the parting of the Red Sea, or when Deborah and Barak led troops against their enemies. They didn’t see Gideon’s supernatural battle or know King Solomon’s wisdom. They did what was right in their own eyes. I know we can look at our world today with some understanding of that phrase, “They did what was right in their own eyes.” And we may ask ourselves, “What are we to do?”
Well, another thing you’ll find in both the Old and New Testaments are moments where God instructs His people to do a specific thing. He often instructs older generations to teach younger generations, but He’s not just talking about life hacks. He wants older, more mature believers to show younger believers how to walk with God, how to know Him and love Him, and how to build a firm foundation that will last a lifetime.
I am blessed to be a life-long follower of Jesus Christ, and it’s because people who loved me shared the truth of the gospel with me at a very young age. I have never known a season of life without Christ. This is why things like kids’ camp and youth camp are so very important, and it’s why we need to cover them with our prayers. When we find ourselves shaking our heads and asking, “What are we to do?”, the best answer is always prayer.
PRAYER:
God, I pray that the next generation will seek You and find You, that they will have ears that are open to hear the truth of Your Word and hearts to be receptive to Your salvation. I pray that as Your gospel message is revealed to the next generation, that You would make Yourself known to them in a very real way. I pray that You would draw hearts to You during these camps, and that entire families would come to know You because of what happens during summer camps.
God, I also pray for the logistics of these camps. I pray for safe travels for the group driving to Ruidoso for youth camp. I pray that vehicles will not meet with any trouble or issues along the way. I pray for the leaders who have worked so hard to plan for these camps, that You would bless their labor. I ask that You would give wisdom, guidance, strength, health, and rest to every leader and volunteer who serves our children and youth during these camps. I pray that as they pour their lives out in service of Your kingdom, that You would bless them and pour into them. I pray against the schemes of the enemy, as I know he would love to disrupt and distract all that You have in store for the next generation who are at these camps. I pray that Your ways would succeed, and that nothing would stop Your will from being accomplished.
And finally, here are two prayers you can pray, based on your age (and, to be fair, if you’re middle-aged, you might just want to pray both of these prayers):
God, I pray that, as a part of the older generation, You would give me opportunities to speak Your truth to the next generation. I ask that my heart would be open to hear from You, that You would give me words to speak that would make an impact, and that I wouldn’t shy away from sharing the relationship I have with You with the next generation. Let me be obedient to Your instructions to tell them about You, about the times You stepped in to rescue me and the times You walked with me through hard seasons. Give me opportunities to tell the stories of the times when You provided and made a way where there wasn’t a way. Bring to my mind the times You’ve been faithful so that I can share those stories with the people You put in my path who need to hear them. Thank You for the people who have poured their lives and their stores of You into my heart. Let me be a vessel to do the same for someone in the next generation.
God, I pray that, as a part of the next generation, I would have ears to hear Your words spoken to me, no matter who they are coming from or what form they take. I pray that You would send people across my path to share their God stories with me, and that I would take a moment to pause and consider what You might be trying to teach me when those encounters occur. I pray that You would help me build my life on a firm foundation of truth so that my faith would not be shaken, and that one day, I would be able to turn around and teach the generations after me of Your ways and Your truth.
