To Keep Our Freedom to Pray, We Must Use It

In the economy of attention where we place our focus becomes the priority of our lives. Using this principle, it would be easy to see that our public school system, and even our private school system for that matter, has a lot of attention on things like the following:

bullying, suicide, weapons, abuse, addictions, dropout rates, the devaluation of education, and the broken family

The sensational attention upon these things becomes too easy to see the negative news, and, less important to see the positive and contributing news of what is also going on in our school systems.

See You At The Pole

One of the largest prayer meetings in the history of the world took place this past week all across America on the campuses of our public and private schools. I’m not being demonstrative or sensational about this prayer meeting.

It was started in 1990 and it is called See You At The Pole. Last year there were over 4 million students who participated. The anticipation is that there will be much more this year.

If we do not take our freedom to pray, the freedom to pray will be taken from us.

Millions of students prayed on their school campuses this past week all over America. Of course, Christ calls us to intimacy in prayer when no one is watching. But there are also important public times of prayer that become powerful in many ways.

Every year that I attend See You At The Pole I love to watch students and staff walk by the flagpole and see students and staff and community leaders praying around the pole. The responses are always entertaining.

Some people stop and stare. Some people walk over and listen. Some people interrupt and mock. But everyone has taken notice.

The Not-so-silent Awakening

The important part of the public prayer going on at the school campus is the impact that it has on society. Prayer impacts students who will shape their families, their friends, their communities, and ultimately nations.

Prayer is supernatural. And it changes things. I can’t imagine the kind of things that were aborted in the spiritual realm because of the prayers of millions of students … bullying, suicide, weapons, abuse, addictions, dropout rates, the devaluation of education, and the broken family.

Prayer does not only change us. It changes everything.

This (not-so-silent) Awakening shows students that they are not alone, it shows them there are other people who value prayer, and it brings great confidence and courage to our teenagers.

After all, Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross publicly for me to serve him privately. I believe every public use of our faith grows us stronger spiritually.

The Spiritual Awakenings in history have not only shaped the church but, ultimately, society.

Our nation was founded on many of the worlds greatest spiritual awakenings such as The 1st Great Awakening in the mid-1700s, the 2nd Great Awakening in the mid-1800s, the Azusa Street Outpouring in early 1900’s, and the Jesus Movement of the 1960s-''70s. It may take another spiritual awakening today to transform our nation.

There will be millions of students who walk through the halls of high schools, sit in classrooms, eat in cafeterias, and play on sports teams who will be asked why they were praying around the flagpole. What a faith builder. And what an opportunity to spread their faith.

Finally

It’s time that our economy of attention is placed on the positive and not the negative reports in our teenagers world.

I believe one of the fastest ways to shape society is to begin with our teenagers. Because healthy teenagers build healthy societies. And campus prayer gives us a healthy spiritual impact upon our teenagers and their world.

I challenge every youth ministry and church in America to continue the momentum of See You At The Pole. Why not schedule a monthly Pole prayer meeting the rest of the school year?

This will be a great way to activate the faith of our students, and for them to live their faith publicly. Not to mention the incredible spiritual impact of the prayers that are being prayed.

Remember, if we do not take our freedom to prayer, our freedom to pray will be taken from us.

Millions of students from all over the country believe they have something to say about the future of this nation. If society is in the hands of the young people that I see across America, and on the campuses of our schools, society is in great hands.

In the economy of attention, I believe every news organization, social media influencer, and civic leader should be talking about the swell of prayer going on in the schools of America. This silent movement called See You At The Pole is the perfect initiator of The Next Great Awakening in this nation!