Everyday I Pray For My Teenager: When all you have left is prayer...A handbook of scriptural prayers for the mothers of teenagers

By Eastman Curtis

Drugs, Sex, Cheating, Rebellion Your teenager faces these temptations every single day. I know I did. But my own life is a testimony to the tremendous work prayer can accomplish. By the time I was seventeen, I was a drug-selling, campus flunky. Thankfully, I had a grandmother who prayed for me every day, and I am convinced now more than ever that God heard her sustaining prayers and saw her unwavering faith. As a result, I now have a consuming desire to see teenagers serve the Lord with all their hearts. As you pray these scriptural prayers for your teenager and study the accompany Bible verses, you too will discover the crucial role God has predestined your teenager to play in this end-time revival.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charisma House
• Release date: Nov 8, 1996
• ISBN: 9781599797939

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EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR MY TEENAGER by Eastman Curtis

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, FL 32746

www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from the Amplified Bible. Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Illustrations in the book by Beth Thomas

Copyright © 1996 by Eastman Curtis

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-85028

ISBN-10: 0-88419-435-3

ISBN-13: 978-0-88419-435-4

E-book ISBN: 978-1-59979-793-9

This book is dedicated to all parents who want to pray and make a difference in their teenagers’ lives and ultimately in all of our futures.

And to our own blessings, Sumner and Nicole, who continue to bring joy and adventure to our lives.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to our parents. Because of their prayers and the supply of the Holy Spirit we continue to run the race — Dad and Mom, it works!

Also to Chuck E. Tate and Sarah Bruzelius for all of your constructive input. We couldn’t have done it without you.

To Utuana Graham for your faithful dedication to the call of this ministry. We love you.

As well as to the staff at Creation House for your support and commitment to see the gospel spread to all ages.

CONTENTS

Meet Eastman Curtis

Introduction

SECTION I

SPIRITUAL LIFE

1 The Baptism of the Spirit

2 The Call of God

3 Christian Commitment

4 Confidence

5 Contentment

6 Destiny

7 Divine Protection

8 Giving

9 God’s Will

10 Grace and Favor

11 Guidance

12 Hungering for God

13 Joy

14 The Lordship of Christ

15 Love

16 Motivation

17 Pastoral Relationships

18 Peace

19 Personal Devotions

20 Prayer Life

21 Renewing of the Mind

22 Resisting Temptation

23 Salvation

24 Sharing Jesus

25 Spiritual Gifts

26 Steadfastness

27 Tongues

28 Understanding the Bible

29 Words of the Mouth

SECTION II

BONDAGE-BREAKING PRAYERS

30 Abortion (Already Had One)

31 Abortion (Contemplating One)

32 Abuse

33 Addiction

34 AIDS

35 Anxiety

36 Apathy

37 Bitterness

38 Cult Influence

39 Curses

40 Depression

41 Doubt

42 Drugs and Alcohol

43 Eating Disorders

44 Fear

45 Fear of Failure

46 Gambling

47 Gangs

48 Guilt

49 Hate

50 Homosexuality

51 Incest

52 Judgmental Attitudes

53 Laziness

54 Low Self-Esteem

55 Lying

56 Manipulation

57 Masturbation

58 Movies

59 Music

60 The Occult

61 Offenses

62 Pornography

63 Prejudice

64 Procrastination

65 Promiscuity

66 Rebellion

67 Sarcasm

68 Sexual Ties

69 Sickness and Disease

70 Suicide

71 Television

72 Violence

SECTION III

RELATIONSHIPS

73 Acceptance

74 Authority

75 Bearing Another’s Burdens

76 Bringing Friends to Church

77 Communication

78 Conflict

79 Controlling Sexual Desires

80 Curfews

81 Dating Standards

82 Discipline

83 Disloyalty From Friends

84 Encouraging Others

85 Expressing Affection

86 Finding a Marriage Partner

87 Forgiveness

88 Future Spouse

89 Gossiping

90 Handling Jealousy

91 Healing a Broken Heart

92 Honor

93 Household Rules

94 Immorality

95 Kindness

96 Loving One Another

97 Making Godly Friends

98 Misunderstandings

99 Obedience

100 Overcoming Offenses

101 Peer Pressure

102 Responsibility

103 Sexual Purity

104 Sibling Relationships

105 Support

106 Ungodly Relationships

107 Values

SECTION IV

SCHOOL NEEDS

108 Academic Achievements

109 Cheating

110 Choosing a College

111 Choosing a Major

112 Choosing Friends

113 Christian Witness

114 College Preparedness

115 Evolution/Creation Issues

116 Extra-Curricular Activities

117 Favor Among Peers

118 Favor in Sports

119 Help for Tests and Exams

120 Homework

121 Maintaining Good Grades

122 Overcoming Prejudice

123 Teacher Relationships

SECTION V

LIFE SKILLS

124 Budgeting Finances

125 Career Choices

126 Direction

127 Employer/Employee Relationships

128 Financial Increase

129 Finding a Job

130 Getting Out of Debt

131 Goal Setting

132 Good Work Habits

133 Preparing for the Future

134 Setting Priorities

135 Time Management

136 Vision

Conclusion

Please note that this book alternates between use of the masculine voice and the feminine voice in the prayers.

MEET EASTMAN CURTIS

Eastman Curtis is a dynamic communicator of the gospel of Jesus Christ! His heartbeat is to bring people into their divine destiny. With an attitude for excellence, Eastman uses every venue possible to share his message.

He has authored several books and is a columnist in many Christian periodicals. His zeal for God and America’s teens has extended over national airwaves in his television series This Generation as well as a thirty-minute special aired by FOX affiliates titled Eastman Curtis Live. Eastman has also produced a series of ninety-second radio devotionals that have been enjoyed by audiences nationwide for their practical and humorous teachings on real-life issues.

Eastman also hosts twenty life-changing weekend crusades each year for teenagers and youth leaders called This Generation Conventions. Whether preaching at churches, business meetings or conventions, he communicates the message of hope in Christ with relevance and integrity, making him one of the most sought-after speakers in America.

Eastman Curtis Ministries is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he and his wife, Angel, are raising their son, Sumner, and daughter, Nicole.

INTRODUCTION

In the time it takes you to read this introduction, approximately 294 teenagers will have dropped out of high school, 125 teenagers will lose their virginity, and 83 teenagers will smoke their first cigarette. By the end of today these numbers will increase to 14,000, 6,000 and 4,000 respectively. Statistics like these give voice to the volatile times our teenagers live in and more than just cause for us as parents to rise against this tidal wave of deception with the most powerful force we have: prayer!

God’s master plan of redemption for our lives doesn’t cover only forgiveness of sin, healing of our bodies and blessings in our finances. The Bible is full of redemptive promises for our children. It’s sad that many of us parents have never taken full advantage of the great inheritance Jesus purchased for us and our children. If ever there was a time to understand and propitiate these promises, the time is now!

Get ready for results! This book is designed to be a tool and a resource for you, using the spiritual jurisdiction God has given you to help your teenager. Whether you are believing to protect them from falling into sin or believing to see them delivered from the bondage that may presently be holding them captive, the prayers in this book, when mixed with your faith in God, will bring about a dramatic change.

My own life is a testimony to the tremendous work prayer can accomplish. I was raised in a single-parent, non-Christian household. By the time I was seventeen I had been kicked out of three schools for substance abuse and the negative influence I had on others. But I had a grandmother who prayed for me. I am convinced now more than ever that God heard my grandmother’s sustaining prayers and saw her unwavering faith which resulted in my salvation. I went from a drug-selling, campus flunky to an honor roll student. In fact I received the first full-ride scholarship offered to anyone at my boarding school for my leadership capabilities and exemplary conduct! If God did this for me, He will do it for anyone.

For the past eighteen years I have dedicated my life to ministering to teenagers and their parents, conducting conventions and church meetings all over this nation, Asia, South America and Europe. Because of my radical experience with Jesus Christ at the age of seventeen, I have always had a consuming desire to see our teenagers serve the Lord with all their hearts. As you pray these scriptural prayers for your teenager and study the accompanying Bible verses you will discover the crucial role God has predestined teenagers to play in this end-time revival.

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy (Acts 2:17).

In 1992 the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, told me a revival was coming among American teenagers such as has never been seen in the history of humanity. I believe we as parents have a part to play in igniting the spark that will initiate this next great move of God! This book of Bible-based prayers will make a tremendous difference in your teenagers’ lives if you will pray for them in faith. You have God’s Word on it!

We don’t have to sit back and passively watch our teenagers be taken captive by the devil. You hold in your hand a powerful tool that will thwart every evil plan the enemy has for your children — prayer. The Amplified Bible says in James 5:16:

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

Prayer is power, and it changes things.

It doesn’t matter how difficult your particular situation may seem. God is your very present help in this time of trouble! You don’t have to stand back helplessly and hold your breath through the teen years. You can make the difference through prayer.

SECTION I

SPIRITUAL LIFE

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GOD’S WORD SAYS

1. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:39).

2. In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams (Acts 2:17).

3. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8).

4. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (Luke 11:13).

5. Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well (Mark 16:15-18).

6. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5).

7. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost (Is. 55:1).

8. On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him’ (John 7:37-38).

1

THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

Father, thank You that ______________ is born-again and is a child of God. You have promised to pour out Your Holy Spirit in the last days for me, my children and all who are far off.¹ Your Spirit will enable our sons and daughters to do great exploits.² Thank You that You are the same God yesterday, today and forever.³

I know You desire to give good gifts to Your children,⁴ and I am asking You to immerse my child in the power of the Holy Spirit. Equip him for service to be a world changer.⁵ He is not overcome by the world but will overcome the world through the power of God.⁶

Cause my child to be thirsty for the things of God; to drink deeply from Your Spirit.⁷ You said if anyone is thirsty let him come to You and drink, and out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. May rivers of God flow out of my child and bring life, healing and deliverance to everyone he comes in contact with.⁸

GOD’S WORD SAYS

1. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5).

2. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him (1 John 2:27).

3. But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot (Jer. 20:9).

4. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land (Job 1:10).

5. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Pet. 1:3).

6. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).

7. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day (Prov. 4:18).

8. The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed (Luke 4:18).

9. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’(Matt. 25:23).

2

THE CALL OF GOD

Father, thank You that before _______________ was even born You knew her and had a plan for her life.¹ You have placed Your anointing upon her life.² I am asking You to burn Your call into her heart. Let it be as a fire shut up in her bones so she cannot hold it in.³

I pray a hedge of protection over my child so that no man, woman or enemy will squelch what You have in store for her.⁴ You are equipping her with all things that pertain to life and godliness so that she will have an abundance for every good deed.⁵

Confirm Your call on her life by Your Spirit,⁶ and make her path like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter as she follows her calling.⁷