Prayer Topic #9:
A Prayer Concerning Suicide Among Youth and Adults
Scripture Reading:
I Chronicles 16:8-14, Psalm 9
Reflections of the Heart:
With all of the stresses and pressures in life, some youth and adults are having a hard time seeing victory in the midst of the battle. Take time today to deliberately encourage someone; even if they don’t seem like they need it. You never know what a kind word, a genuine smile, or a warm hug can do to move someone out of despair and into hope.
Scriptural Prayer:
Eternal Father, we thank You for being Immanuel, God with us. Thank You for allowing us to call to you whenever we are troubled, and for answering us. We thank You that Your arm is not too short to reach the youth and adults who are despairing of life right now. So many of them feel alone and defeated, but we know that those who are in the Lord will never be abandoned. You are a shield around us. You are our glory; the one who holds our heads high. Lord, Your majestic Name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. When we look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers – the moon and the stars you set in place. What are mere mortals that You should think about us? Human beings, that You should care for us? Yet you made us only a little lower than Yourself and crowned us with glory and honor.
Almighty Father, we come crying out for our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been battling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We decree that they may be pressed on every side by troubles, but they will not be crushed. They may feel perplexed but they will not be driven to despair. They may feel hunted down, but they are never abandoned by You. They may get knocked down, but they are not destroyed. We decree that they are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. We confess that they will recognize that the weapons of their warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. They will bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. In the Name of Jesus, we rebuke the evil one and cancel his plans to kill, steal, and destroy the lives of our youth and adults. We declare that he will not cheat them out of the rich and satisfying life that You purposed for them to have. We believe that You will restore to them the joy of Your salvation. You will unseal their lips that their mouths may once again praise you.
List the names of youth or adults whom the Holy Spirit is leading you to specifically cover in prayer today. Then reach out to them in some loving way:
Holy Spirit, shine the divine light of the Father’s love into the broken hearts of our youth and adults. Remind them that He loved them so much that He gave His one and only Son so that those who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Enlighten their perspective and help them to lift their eyes above their past hurts and present disappointments. Teach them until they are fully convinced that nothing can ever separate them from the Father’s love. Give us, the Body of Christ, a heart like the Father’s so that we will always be sensitive to one another’s needs and show genuine compassion. Give us wisdom to know how to reach those youth and adults who are feeling suicidal. Warn their family members, co-workers, teachers, coaches, and close friends so that they do not miss those critical moments of intervention. Show us how we can better connect with like-minded organizations within our community to form a strong alliance against the social, economic, spiritual, and psychological contributors to suicide among our youth and adults.
Gracious Father, forgive those youth and adults who are feeling suicidal for any acts of sinfulness. Forgive them for not trusting You to deliver them out of their current situation. Forgive them for allowing the world to define them and their circumstances instead of Your Word. Forgive us, the Body of Christ, for failing to notice the cries for help that our brothers and sisters have made. Forgive us for being inconsistent in our love walk toward our youth and adults who are silently suffering. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind us of all those we need to forgive and help us to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help our youth and adults not to yield to temptation but deliver them from the evil one.
Magnificent Lord, You are our Savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth. You formed the mountains by Your power and armed Yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves. You silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, You inspire shouts of joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Psalm 86:7, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 8:1, 3-5, II Corinthians 4:8-9, Romans 8:37, II Corinthians 10:4-5, John 10:10, Psalm 51:12, John 3:16, Romans 8:38-39, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 65:5-8
Today, I will trust God to:
© Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ©2020 Caldwell Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved — No reproduction of the material is permitted without the expressed permission of CMI
