Pocket Prayers for Graduates: 40 Simple Prayers that Bring Hope and Direction

by Max Lucado

Overview

Graduation is one of life’s most exciting milestones. It can also be a source of uncertainty and anxiety. What comes after graduation day? More education? A career? Starting a family? Often this time in life can bring more questions than answers, but Max Lucado offers hope and direction by pointing to the Answer to all of life’s question. Pocket Prayers for Graduates includes forty scriptures and guided prayers written especially for those considering their futures post-graduation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718078331
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	03/08/2016
Sold by:	THOMAS NELSON
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	688 KB

About the Author

With more than 130 million products in print, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy.

Read an Excerpt

Pocket prayers for graduates

40 Simple Prayers That Bring Hope And Direction

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By Max Lucado, Andrea Lucado

Thomas Nelson

Copyright © 2016 Max Lucado
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7180-7833-1

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CHAPTER 1

Prayers for My Relationship with God

1

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Dear God, without you I am nothing. Without you I can't do anything. You are my everything — my strength, my joy, and my comfort.

Teach me what it means to abide in you. Strengthen my relationship with you. Bring me closer to you so I will walk with you every day and get to know you more and more.

I pray for my family. I feel too far away to help them, but I know you are with them, and I know they trust you.

Thank you that we get to have a relationship with you, our God.

In Jesus' name, amen.

2

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Proverbs 13:20

Dear Father, you sent your Son, Jesus, to establish your church here on earth. You did not leave us alone, because you care about us so much.

Help me find a church and a group of other Christians in this new school and in this new place. Let it be a place that is safe, and let there be wise mentors to help guide me.

I pray for the leaders in my new church. Guide the pastors, ministers, and elders, and give them your wisdom.

Thank you for your church.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

3

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7

Father, your law is love, and your love is so strong I cannot understand it. You love your creation and everything that is in it.

Lord, remind me of your words when I wake up in the morning, when I go to sleep at night, and as I go about my day- to-day life. Write your words on my heart.

Help my family and friends at home, the ones who taught me about you and your love for me. Stay close to them, and remind them of your promises today.

Thank you for giving me your Word, which helps me know you better.

In Jesus' name, amen.

4

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24–25

Dear God, you are so faithful. You are so good to me, your child. Everything you do is righteous and for your glory.

I need help finding a Christian community. Would you put people in my life who will encourage me, and help me encourage others?

I pray for the people who do ministry in this town and on this campus. I pray that they will feel strengthened by those around them.

Thank you that we are never alone in our Christian walk.

In Christ I pray, amen.

5

For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven — not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.

John 6:55–58

Dear God, you really are all that I need. You are the answer to all my questions. You are my hope when I feel hopeless.

Please forgive me for looking to other people and other things to fulfill me or make me happy. I want to serve only you. Bring me back to you, God.

Help my friends who are not following you right now but have started going after empty, worldly things. Remind them that you are what they need.

I am so grateful you are my God and my Father.

In Jesus' name, amen.

6

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17

Dear God, you are a wise and good Father. My relat ionship with you is the most important relationship in my life.

I ask for your wisdom today, God. I need it more than ever now that I have graduated and am on my own. Give me wise friends who love you and will encourage my relationship with you.

I pray for my friends who are in the same phase of life as I am. Please bring mentors to encourage them along the way.

Thank you for being so close to me during this time.

In Jesus' holy name, amen.

7

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:31–32

Dear God, your Word is true. It is powerful and life changing.

Please give me more passion for your Word. I get so busy that I don't take the time to read my Bible. Help me to set aside time each day to read at least a few verses. I know that can change my life and my heart.

Be with those people who don't have Bibles in their homes or even in their country. Take them your Word through other ways, and change their hearts with it.

Thank you for giving us your Word, which is true every day.

In Christ's name, amen.

CHAPTER 2

Prayers for My Future

8

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5–6

Father, you direct my path. You know everything about my future, and you care about me.

Today I feel overwhelmed by decisions I need to make. I'm not sure which way to go, and it feels like too much to handle. Show me the best choice in every situation.

Be with my family today. Show them that they can trust you no matter how hard or confusing life is right now.

Thank you for being a good Father I can trust each day. Thank you for listening to me.

In Jesus' name, amen.

9

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

Dear God, you are wise, loving, and generous. You don't hold back any good thing from me or any of your children.

I ask for wisdom in this new season of life. Guide me as I walk through my day, meet new people, and have new experiences. Make me wiser as I get to know you better. Be with my friends who are starting new schools and new jobs. When situations arise, help them ask you, before anyone else, what they should do so they will make wise decisions.

I'm grateful for these new opportunities to grow and to learn.

In Christ I pray, amen.

10

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Dear Father, you are the God of hope. You are the God of my past, present, and future.

Sometimes things are confusing and hard. Right now it's hard for me to believe I have a bright future. Help me have hope, and show me the good things you have planned for me.

Comfort my friends and those in my family who feel lost. Bring them peace when they feel restless, and bring them hope when they feel discouraged and alone.

Thank you for your plan for me even though I don't yet know what it is.

In Jesus' name, amen.

11

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

I John 5:14–15

God, you hear all my prayers. You are kind, understanding, and faithful. You never get tired of listening to me.

Father, help me understand what next step I should take with my work and education. Show me when I read my Bible. Show me when I talk to wise friends and mentors. I know you answer when I ask.

I have friends who are angry because they didn't get what they prayed for. Help them feel your love for them, and remind them that you always hear their prayers — even when your plans are different than theirs.

Thank you for answered and unanswered prayers.

It's in Jesus' name I pray, amen.

12

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21

Good Father, you are the same God today as the God I read about in the Bible. You never change.

I hear so many voices in my head telling me what to do next with my life that I don't know which one to trust. Help me know which voice is yours, the only trustworthy voice.

Give my friends the courage to do what you are asking of them. It is tempting to go in the wrong direction, but what you have planned for them is best.

Thank you for being with me during this time of change and for promising that you will be with me forever.

In Jesus' name, amen.

13

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits.

James 3:17

Dear God, every gift from you is perfect. There is nothing bad in you. You never make mistakes.

Let this year be my chance to start over. Let it be the year I begin to follow you, really follow you. And let my life show the fruit of the Spirit to those around me.

Help my parents. Give them a sense of your presence and the strength to keep leading our family, and don't let them get discouraged.

Thank you for caring for each member of my family.

In Christ I pray, amen.

14

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the LORD'S counsel — that will stand.

Proverbs 19:20–21

Father, your Word will last forever. Everything you say is true and full of love.

I need forgiveness for following my own plans. In school I often got sidetracked thinking about what I wanted instead of what you want. Now I want only to do your will. Help me know what it is.

Many of my friends feel helpless right now because they can't find jobs, and they're not sure what to do next. Give them unexpected opportunities, and give them hope.

Thank you for your forgiveness and your faithfulness.

In Christ's name, amen.

CHAPTER 3

Prayers for Strength and Conviction

15

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing.

I Timothy 6:12–14

Father, you are fighting for me. You won the war over sin, and now you reign in my heart as the King of my life.

I'm having trouble keeping my eyes on you. Some people I've met at school pressure me to do things I don't want to do, and it's hard to say no. Keep me focused on you and the purpose you have for me.

Please help my Christian friends at other schools to "fight the good fight of faith." Don't let them get distracted, but help them stand strong in your Word.

Thank you for being the Rock I can stand on.

In Jesus' name, amen.

16

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

James 4:7–8

Dear God, you are the creator of everything beautiful in the world, including the mountains, oceans, rivers, and seasons. And yet you want to have a relationship with me, your child.

Draw near to me, God. Be close to me so I don't stumble into sin. It is easy to do that here, in a new place with new people.

I'm worried about people in my family who are not fol- lowing you and don't seem to have much faith. Please remind them today of your love.

Thank you for sending your Son so we can always be near you.

In Jesus' name, amen.

17

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:14–17

Father, you are truth, righteousness, and peace. With you, anything is possible. No problem is too big for you to solve.

In my job, I sometimes have a hard time standing up for what I believe. No one around me seems to care about you. Strengthen me each day before I go to work to live in your truth.

Be with my coworkers today. Help them see who you are by the way I and other Christians act around them.

Thank you for this job and for being with me no matter where I am.

In Christ's name I pray, amen.

18

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

Dear God, you are holy and deserve all the glory.

Sometimes I feel unsure about my beliefs because of the influences around me. Give me confidence in my faith, Lord. I don't want to be like the world. I want to be like Jesus.

I pray for our church leaders. When people come to them with doubts and questions, please give them the words to say, and encourage them.

Thank you for my church and the people who taught me to love and believe in you.

In Jesus' name, amen.

19

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? ... If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 ESV

Dear Father, you are always the same. No matter what I do or say, your love never changes.

Forgive me for the times I have been embarrassed about my Christian faith. I want people to like me so badly sometimes, but I know you are the only person I need to please, and I know you care about me.

Please give me the courage to speak up for you, to be bold in faith, kind in speech, and thoughtful in actions.

Thank you for the blessings in my life. There are so many.

In Jesus' name, amen.

20

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:5–6

God, you give me grace every day. You never run out. I can count on your grace for the rest of my life.

As life gets busier and more difficult, it's easy to concentrate on things that discourage me or bring me down. Help me focus on everything that is peaceful and good and life giving.

I pray that my friends and family find hope and peace when they read your Word today. Let them read something that sticks with them and helps them.

Thank you for giving me peace and comfort during this new time in my life.

In Christ I pray, amen.

21

Do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:1–3

Dear God, you are the only judge. You are the only One who knows my heart through and through.

I am learning so many new things in life and in class. But don't let me forget what you have taught me and what I learned in church. Write your law on my heart so I will always remember it.

I pray for my teachers and classmates who don't believe in you. Show them who you are and how much you love and care for them.

Thank you for bringing me to this place to learn new things about you and your creation.

In Jesus' name, amen.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Pocket prayers for graduates by Max Lucado, Andrea Lucado. Copyright © 2016 Max Lucado. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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