by Ron Luce
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
A few months ago, I wrote about a concept called “onoke.” It’s a word that native Ecuadorian tribes use to describe “things a person does that aren’t necessary for survival.”
Work is necessary for survival. Wearing clothing, finding shelter, and eating food are all necessary for survival. But in Wes-tern culture, we have so much that is NOT necessary for survival that consumes SO MUCH of our daily lives.
For example, teens spend more time each week consumed in “onoke” than they would working a full-time job. They watch an average of 4 hours of TV every day and another 2 hours playing video games or playing on their computers. This comes to 42 hours of media entertainment that they consume every week, and that’s not even counting time spent using cell phones to text, browse the internet and play games.
Teens are consumed with media. It directs so much of their thinking and behavior because it saturates their lives. So, it’s no wonder that so much of their self-worth is defined by what they see and experience through the media. Teens get an instant sense of achievement when they get all three stars on Angry Birds. They feel important by the simple fact they are wearing the right brand of shoes or jeans.
God has a totally different take on value. As parents, pastors and people who care about our future generation of leaders, we should do all we can to instill the right sense of value in our young people. A value that is based on a Biblical image of who we are in Christ, of how we are using the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us, and how we are building people up and directing them to a closer walk with God.
I ask you to join me in prayer today that America’s 26 million teenagers will be a valued part of their communities, making a difference and uplifting others to God’s glory.
We are calling on all parents, grandparents and senior pastors who have dedicated their lives to meeting the needs of others. We are calling all youth leaders who often work two jobs and pour out their lives for the sake of this generation. We are calling on alumni, and we are calling on families. We are calling on everyone who has ever sponsored a teen to get out on the mission field and every volunteer who has tirelessly served to meet the needs of others to stand with us in the gap and declare God’s promises over the lives of our teenagers.
26 PRAYER DECLARATIONS FOR OUR TEENS
1 – Authenticity: May they be full of authenticity to a world that offers only counterfeit.
2 – Calling: They will know that God has a unique calling on their life.
3 – Commitment: Their commitment to the Lord will bring about favor and blessing.
4 – Creativity: Using their creativity, they will bring about new ideas and new concepts.
5 – Dreamers: They will be dreamers and dream God sized dreams for a vision for their life.
6 – Energy: Their energy and excitement for life will infiltrate their environment.
7 – Fearlessness: They will walk in fearlessness, trusting the Lord under every circumstance.
8 – Forgiven: They will demonstrate forgiveness to others, knowing they are completely forgiven.
9 – Freedom: They will walk in freedom over everything that once held them captive.
10 – Grace: Grace will rule their lives and be the power to live the life God intended.
11 – Integrity: Integrity will guide their steps and their heart.
12 – Loved: They will know they are loved by the creator of the universe and the Savior of the world.
13 – Potential: They will realize their potential and let nothing hold them back.
14 – Purity: They will maintain purity in their relationships.
15 – Radical: They will have a radical faith that draws others to the life that Christ offers.
16 – Redeemed: The past will have no hold on them, for they are redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
17 – Relentless: They will chase God with a relent- less pursuit, unyielding to the enemy.
18 – Rescue: They will rescue the hurting and the lost, loving them as Christ loves them.
19 – Righteous: They will know they are righteous in God’s eyes because of Jesus Christ.
20 – Salvation: They will understand their salvation is a gift from God and not something earned.
21 – Treasured: They will know they are treasured by their father in heaven.
22 – Thankful: With a thankful heart, they will praise God.
23 – Victorious: They will be victorious over sin, victorious over the enemy and victorious in life.
24 – Valued: They will be a valued part of their communities, making a difference and uplifting others.
25 – Unlimited: God is unlimited and therefore, nothing is impossible.
26 – Zealous: They will be zealous for God.
