Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 
Colossians 4:22 

In a rapidly changing world filled with uncertainties and challenges, the role of prayer in the lives of youths and young people is more crucial than ever. As the younger generation navigates the complexities of modern society, prayer serves as a guiding light, offering solace, strength, and direction in their journey towards adulthood. 
 
Prayer is a universal practice that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. It provides a sense of connection to something greater, fostering spiritual growth and resilience. For young people, who often grapple with issues such as identity, peer pressure, and academic stress, prayer offers a sanctuary where they can find peace and clarity amidst the chaos. 
 
One of the most significant benefits of prayer for youths is its ability to instill a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. In a world that bombards them with conflicting messages about success and happiness, prayer helps them discern their values and priorities. Through prayer, young people can cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world, empowering them to make choices that align with their beliefs and aspirations. 
 
Moreover, prayer serves as a source of strength during times of adversity. Whether facing personal challenges, academic pressures, or societal injustices, young people often turn to prayer for comfort and courage. It provides them with a sense of hope and resilience, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles. 
 
Additionally, prayer fosters a sense of community and belonging among youths. Whether through group prayers, youth retreats, or spiritual gatherings, young people come together to share their faith and support one another. These communal experiences not only strengthen their bond with each other but also deepen their connection to their faith tradition. 
 
Furthermore, prayer cultivates virtues such as gratitude, compassion, and forgiveness in young hearts. By expressing gratitude for their blessings, showing compassion towards others, and seeking forgiveness for their shortcomings, young people develop empathy and integrity. These moral virtues not only benefit them personally but also contribute to building a more compassionate and just society. 
 
In today’s digital age, where distractions abound and instant gratification is the norm, fostering a habit of prayer among youths is more challenging yet more essential than ever. Parents, educators, and religious leaders play a crucial role in nurturing the spiritual lives of young people, providing them with guidance and encouragement on their journey of faith. 
 
Prayer holds immense significance in the lives of youths and young people, offering them guidance, strength, and community in a world filled with uncertainties. By embracing prayer as a spiritual practice, young people can cultivate resilience, foster moral virtues, and find meaning and purpose in their lives. As they navigate the complexities of modern society, let us support and empower them to harness the power of prayer in shaping a brighter future for themselves and generations to come. 
 
Developing the habit of Prayer 

Once the spirit of prayer falls upon you, really you have no problems, because you have the greatest weapon to use. – Dr. D. K. Olukoya 

 1. You will never find time for prayer; you must make time for it. If you are too busy to pray, then you are too easy for the enemy to catch. 

2. There is nothing too small to pray over. Therefore, develop the habit of praying over little things. 

3. Always define your burdens by meditation and attack them by prayer. You may make a list of them; and attack them one by one in prayers. 

4. Make your petitions large because you serve a big God. 

5. For God to use your mouth for prayers, you must keep your tongue from evil. Watch your tongue. 

6. Pray most when you do not feel like praying. That is the dangerous time, the time to pray most. 

7. Do not stop praying until you are through. Do not give up until you see that rain falling like Elijah did. Even if things are looking for upside down all over the place, do not give up (1 kings 18: 41-46). 

8. Learn the secret of prevailing. Be persistent on the altar of prayers. 

9. Learn how to pray in the spirit; meaning be able to pray in tongues. Speaking in tongues is an entrance into the supernatural. When you speak in tongues, you speak in mysteries, and you speak in the language of God. 

10. Work on your schedule of activities now. You will have to adjust your priorities to accommodate prayers. You will need to sacrifice some activities to give time to prayers. 

11. You will need to deal with weariness. You may need to sleep briefly, then wake up and start intensive prayers. After several hours of prayers, you may need to refresh yourself and start again. 

12. You may need to change your posture. You can kneel, lie down, walk about, sit down. You will need to change that posture. You need to deal with personal laziness and restlessness. 

13. You may need to deal with your spiritual indiscipline of finding prolonged prayer difficult. The kind of enemies and powers arranged against some people, their prayer altar is too weak to deal with those kinds of powers. 
 

Prayers 

1. Holy Spirit, quicken my spirit, in Jesus name. 

2. Spirit of fervent prayers, possess my life, in Jesus name. 

3. I receive a special grace to be a consistent prayer warrior, in Jesus name. 

4. My prayer altar, receive a fresh undying fire, in the name of Jesus. 

5. I receive grace to stretch my limits until my full potential is unleashed, in Jesus name. 
 

May the Lord renew the Oil in your lamp and keep you ever burning, in Jesus name.