Ways to Pray for Graduates

The cap has been thrown in the air at the ceremony. The open house cake has been eaten. Now the new chapter of the graduate’s life has begun, as noted in all the speeches. But how can you help graduates now that the advice has been given? As Assemblies of God pastor Mark Batterson says, “You’ll never be the perfect parent, but you can be a praying parent.” This applies as well to the grandparent, uncle, aunt, fellow churchgoer, and friend.

Your prayer for graduates can be the most powerful gift that you give them as they walk into the new season of their life. But how should you pray for them? Here are some conversation starters as you talk to Jesus.

1. GOD’S PLAN
Whether finishing high school or college, graduates are now making some important decisions that may shape their life. Securing a new job or starting on the next level of their education may mark them for years to come. Pray for God’s wisdom and direction. God promises that He will, “Instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go” (Psalm 32:8). God’s plans are always better than our plans.

2. FRIENDS
Graduation is a time of leaving some old friends behind and making new connections. It is important to remember what the apostle Paul warns: “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV). Pray that graduates find the right people they need for the next part of their journey. If they are relocating, pray that they would find a great church community.

3. GOOD FINANCIAL DECISIONS
High school and college graduates are slowly beginning to make more choices about financial direction. Pray that they will experience wisdom to be good stewards of those finances. Pray that they will experience the joy of giving that will catch their heart for the rest of their lives.

4. FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH GOD
There is a danger that as graduates start the next chapter of their life that the devil will try to deceive them into thinking that their faith was a childhood thing. As evangelist Gabriel Zamora has said, “Cargo is most in danger during transition.” Pray that the graduate has fresh encounters with Jesus as an adult to keep him or her on the right path.

5. SPIRITUAL PROTECTION
Jesus told us the devil’s plan is to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). A powerful prayer time might include just opening your Bible to the apostle Paul’s teaching on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) and praying for the graduate. This will get you praying for hope of salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith, and the Word of God.

These are just starters that will draw you into a conversation with the God of the universe. Who knows where He will lead you to pray once you get into this time? Wherever the conversation takes you, it can mark the graduate for eternity.