Perhaps the adults should follow the actions of the teens.
Last week, there was an annual event held at schools in countries across the world. It was called, “See You at the Pole,” or SYATP. It entailed students meeting before school at the flag pole for prayer, prayer for their family and friends, prayer for their schools and prayer for their nation and world.
It has a fascinating story. In 1990, ten high school students, only ten, in Burleson, Texas, felt the need to pray for their school, so they got permission to meet at the flag pole at 7:00 AM and pray. That in itself, is newsworthy to me; high school students wanted to gather to pray before school.
How many adults are willing to make extra time before work to pray, much less to gather with other Christians to do so?
Word spread, as it always does, when God’s work is involved, and by 1999, forty-five thousand teens were participating. I can’t even do the math for that jump, but it’s huge. The Holy Spirit is unstoppable.
The entire ordeal is student lead and cannot be in any way, planned or endorsed by the school, lest we get into that separation of church and state issue.
This year, millions of students met at their school flag poles to pray. Their theme was, “Cry out to God.”
These teens have really inspired and convicted me. We lament about the lack of prayer in schools, but clearly these teens have found a way around it.
What are the adults doing? While the adults are definitely acknowledging that our country and our world is a mess. What are we doing?
I heard a song last week, by the Group Casting Crowns, called, “Courageous.” I had never heard it before, but the words really stuck with me. “We were warriors on the front lines standing, unafraid. But, bow we’re watchers on the sidelines, while our families slip away……Where are you men of courage?…..May the watchers become warriors……The only way we’ll ever stand is on our knees with lifted hands.”
The words are powerful because they are true. The only way we will ever stop the evil that has spread across our country and our world, is through repentance and prayer. We were never meant to walk in fear of evil. We were meant to conquer it, because Jesus conquered it and He lives within us.
A year ago, I pinned something on Pinterest that said, “Do not be afraid appears in the Bible 365 times as a reminder to not be afraid everyday of the year. Not a day goes by that I don’t get a notification that somebody liked or saved that pin. That tells me, that fear is on the mind of a lot of people.
God’s people are not supposed to live in fear. There’s so much scripture to back that up. One of my favorites is, “This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Millions of teens joined together last week to cry out to God. They were courageous. Shouldn’t the grown ups be doing the same? May the watchers become warriors.
Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂
P.S. I have attached the song, “Courageous,” if you would like to hear it.