Overcoming the Culture of Death (Part 2)
Death has been swallowed up in victory. “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).
"I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through Me will be cared for;
They will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill
and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal LIFE, more and better life
than they ever dreamed of" (John 10:10, The Message).
Studies by the American Psychological Association linked childhood exposure
to television violence with higher rates of aggression later in life (unsurprisingly!). Men who were exposed to large amounts of TV violence as children were three times more likely to have been convicted of crimes, while women were four times more likely to become violent toward another adult.
In addition to pop culture’s glorification of death and violence, this generation is traumatized by real-world
threats or encounters with death:
the seduction of drugs and brutality
of the drug cartels, the Heroin Cartel
and the Opioids in our region, gang
violence, the threat of school shootings, suicides, and abortion.
It is not unusual to find teens and even children who do not believe they will live to see their mid-twenties. Having nothing to live for and expecting to die young anyway, they are more likely to engage in reckless or self-destructive behaviors.
There is an alarming increase in suicides among our young people. Suicide has become, in some geographic sectors, the leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 10 and 14 and the second leading cause of death for those 15-24. This spirit of death working to claim the lives of our kids will only
be stopped by prayer, by asking God to send a spiritual tide of life to this generation.
In some cities, a child is lost every two weeks to suicide, some as young as eleven
years of age.
Educational specialists say, “The key is to focus on emotional wellbeing, even in
small children. Learning experiences should develop self-esteem and a sense of
identity from ‘productive struggle’ – which might mean …flunking a test, striking
out at a baseball game or setback in a relationship.”
A mom, who lost a son to suicide, reflected, “Teenagers need to be told that they
are loved and that their lives have a purpose.” Such a poignant warning should
be heeded.
Prayer
Father God, Creator of all life, we come to You asking that You would pour
out Your life-giving Spirit upon our schools. We take authority over the
spirits of discouragement, defeat, death, and suicide. We declare, by faith,
in Jesus’ name, that they have no place in the lives of our students. In Jesus’ name, Father God, break the power of this self-inflicted curse over
those who fully expect to die at an early age! We ask that You would counter this lie with the TRUTH about the abundant life You offer us and that
every student would find eternal life this year.
Thank You for the supernatural power of Your word and Spirit, “The Spirit
gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you,
they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Help teachers to encourage their students and to be watchful of those
who may be struggling academically or emotionally. May students and
teachers in our schools experience the life of God, through the Holy Spirit
and the Bible, in whole new ways that would transform them! Thank You
that You are removing any veil over their minds and hearts that prevent
them from seeing and receiving You and Your Truth.
We pray for healing for those grieving the loss of a loved one or traumatized by family conflict, exposure to media violence, bullying, gang activity,
or the suicide of someone they know.
We pray for girls who have had an abortion and ask that You would be
close to them. Please deliver them from the grip of the spirit of death and
send someone who can minister to them.
We believe for a massive shift in the spiritual atmosphere over schools and
our students’ homes in Charlotte and the Carolinas. Wherever the thief has
killed, stolen or destroyed, we ask that You would restore peace, joy and
life.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright BridgeBuilders International 2019
Want all 21 days? Contact Project Prayer | info@projectpray.org | 855-842-5483 Reproduced by Project Prayer with grateful permission from BridgeBuilders
Death has been swallowed up in victory. “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).
"I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through Me will be cared for;
They will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill
and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal LIFE, more and better life
than they ever dreamed of" (John 10:10, The Message).
Studies by the American Psychological Association linked childhood exposure
to television violence with higher rates of aggression later in life (unsurprisingly!). Men who were exposed to large amounts of TV violence as children were three times more likely to have been convicted of crimes, while women were four times more likely to become violent toward another adult.
In addition to pop culture’s glorification of death and violence, this generation is traumatized by real-world
threats or encounters with death:
the seduction of drugs and brutality
of the drug cartels, the Heroin Cartel
and the Opioids in our region, gang
violence, the threat of school shootings, suicides, and abortion.
It is not unusual to find teens and even children who do not believe they will live to see their mid-twenties. Having nothing to live for and expecting to die young anyway, they are more likely to engage in reckless or self-destructive behaviors.
There is an alarming increase in suicides among our young people. Suicide has become, in some geographic sectors, the leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 10 and 14 and the second leading cause of death for those 15-24. This spirit of death working to claim the lives of our kids will only
be stopped by prayer, by asking God to send a spiritual tide of life to this generation.
In some cities, a child is lost every two weeks to suicide, some as young as eleven
years of age.
Educational specialists say, “The key is to focus on emotional wellbeing, even in
small children. Learning experiences should develop self-esteem and a sense of
identity from ‘productive struggle’ – which might mean …flunking a test, striking
out at a baseball game or setback in a relationship.”
A mom, who lost a son to suicide, reflected, “Teenagers need to be told that they
are loved and that their lives have a purpose.” Such a poignant warning should
be heeded.
Prayer
Father God, Creator of all life, we come to You asking that You would pour
out Your life-giving Spirit upon our schools. We take authority over the
spirits of discouragement, defeat, death, and suicide. We declare, by faith,
in Jesus’ name, that they have no place in the lives of our students. In Jesus’ name, Father God, break the power of this self-inflicted curse over
those who fully expect to die at an early age! We ask that You would counter this lie with the TRUTH about the abundant life You offer us and that
every student would find eternal life this year.
Thank You for the supernatural power of Your word and Spirit, “The Spirit
gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you,
they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63).
Help teachers to encourage their students and to be watchful of those
who may be struggling academically or emotionally. May students and
teachers in our schools experience the life of God, through the Holy Spirit
and the Bible, in whole new ways that would transform them! Thank You
that You are removing any veil over their minds and hearts that prevent
them from seeing and receiving You and Your Truth.
We pray for healing for those grieving the loss of a loved one or traumatized by family conflict, exposure to media violence, bullying, gang activity,
or the suicide of someone they know.
We pray for girls who have had an abortion and ask that You would be
close to them. Please deliver them from the grip of the spirit of death and
send someone who can minister to them.
We believe for a massive shift in the spiritual atmosphere over schools and
our students’ homes in Charlotte and the Carolinas. Wherever the thief has
killed, stolen or destroyed, we ask that You would restore peace, joy and
life.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright BridgeBuilders International 2019
Want all 21 days? Contact Project Prayer | info@projectpray.org | 855-842-5483 Reproduced by Project Prayer with grateful permission from BridgeBuilders