ACT PRAYER POINTS

Wellbeing of children and young people

Week Beginning 13 September

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Psalm 82:3–4 NIV

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”
Psalm 68:5–6 NIV

1. School attendance
Pray for children who are persistently absent or struggling to attend school. Pray that schools would be places where children feel safe, valued, welcomed and motivated to attend, and that barriers to attendance would be removed and appropriate support provided.

2. The mental health of children and young people
Continue to pray for pupils struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, low self-worth, pressure or emotional distress. Pray that those who are silently suffering would be seen, heard and supported and that evidence based interventions would be of benefit to those in need.

3. Wisdom for those supporting children
Pray that the Lord would give teachers, pastoral staff and parents wisdom to recognise concerns early and respond with compassion, whilst also encouraging resilience in young people.

4. Safeguarding and protection
Pray for the protection of children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence and other forms of harm, whether at school, at home or online.

5. Discernment and courage
Pray for safeguarding leads, teachers, social workers and other professionals to have discernment to recognise warning signs and courage to act quickly and appropriately.

6. An end to bullying and sexual harassment
Pray for a culture of respect to grow in schools across the UK. Pray that bullying, intimidation, sexual harassment, violence and other harmful behaviour would be exposed and challenged.

7. Courage for school leaders
Pray that the Lord would give school leaders courage to address these issues firmly and fairly, and wisdom to help pupils understand and value the dignity and wellbeing of others.