Getting the youth to pray for an extended period of time can be a struggle.  Try this guided prayer meeting guide for youth to get them to see prayer from a different perspective.

P – Praise and Thanksgiving
R – Repentence
A – Asking for Others
Y – Yourself

Praise and thanksgiving

Praise – Worship God for who he is and thanking him for all he has done for us

“Praise Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”-Psalm 150:6

1. Read the following Scripture and praise God for the things you discover about him in this Scripture:

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 “David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

2. The last seven psalms in the Bible (Psalms 144-150) are all psalms of praise to God. Read through Psalm 145 and spend time praising God for the same reasons the psalmist did.

Thanksgiving

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. -Psalm 100:4

1. Make a “Things I’m Thankful For” list. On it list as many things as you can think of that you are thankful for. Suggestions to get you started: (Jesus’ love, A home, Education, Family, youth group, Opportunities, Food, Health, God’s forgiveness, Friends, The Bible, etc.)

2. Once your list is completed, talk to God and tell him how thankful you are for each of the things on the list.

3. Spend time in silence listening to God and letting him show you things you have to praise him for and things you have to be thankful for.

Repentance

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9

1. Read Psalm 51. King David wrote this prayer to God after he had been convicted of his sin of adultery. As you read the Psalm, you can almost feel David’s broken heart and understand God’s loving forgiveness.

2. Spend time praying and asking God to show you the things in your life that are not in line with his will for your life. Make a list of the things he shows you.

3. Now go through each item on your list and ask God to forgive you and help you have the desire and strength to overcome them.

4. Spend time in silence listening to God. Let him speak to your heart and tell you how much he loves you and forgives you. As you listen accept his forgiveness and feel his cleansing.

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Asking for others – Interceding or praying for other people and their needs

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. – James 5:16

1. If it’s helpful, you can use this graphic reminder to pray for the things that come to your heart for each of the following groups of people:

When you look at your hand, the closest finger (although it isn’t technically a finger) is our thumb. When you pray, let your thumb remind you to pray for the people who are closest to you.

Your pointer finger should remind you to pray for the people who point the way for you. This could be your pastors, Sunday School Teachers, or others who try to point you in the right direction.

Let the middle finger, the tallest finger, represent those who are over you in leadership positions. These would be the governmental leaders, and your country.

Your ring finger is the weakest finger you have, and it should remind you to pray for those you know who are weak or in need. This could include people you know who are sick, going through family struggles, having financial problems, etc.

Your little finger represents yourself. When you come to the time in your prayers each day when you are praying for people, let the fingers on your hand remind you of all the people you need to pray for.

Now spend sometime praying for each of these groups of people. You’ll deal with your personal needs during the next part of prayer meeting.

Yourself

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” -Philippians 4:6-7 (Living Bible)

1. Begin by writing out a Worry List below. It should be a list of everything that you are currently worried about or things that are bugging you. Every concern you have in the world should be listed here:

2. Once you have made your list, read it over and divide the items into two separate categories.

In Category 1 include the items you can do something about. Beside each item in this category, write down what you can do. This first category of worries now becomes a “To -do” list that you can take home and begin to work on. Ask God to give you the strength and wisdom to do the things you know you need to do.

In Category 2 include items you can do nothing about. These things are completely out of your control. This second category of worries now becomes your Personal prayer list. Spend time talking with God about each item on the list. Tell him about your needs and leave them with him.

Personal prayer List

3. Spend time in silence listening to God. Let him teach you what steps you can take to deal with the items on your To-do list and give you a sense of peace about the items on your Personal prayer list that you can do nothing about.