God stories are my absolute favorite, and so many of them begin with simple yet powerful prayers.
On a blue-sky Sunday afternoon last summer, my husband and I led a devoted group of adults and students to seven schools across our community for Footprints on Campus. From 1-4 p.m., we traveled from campus to campus, covering each school in prayer.
One stop was a school where a former student of ours, let's call her Ava, now serves on staff. For two consecutive years, we had the privilege of standing on that schoolyard during Footprints on Campus, praying specifically over her and the school.
As we gathered again to pray, I lifted up Ava, asking God to work through her to impact the students He had entrusted to her care. Together, we prayed that God would soften hearts to the gospel, speak through teachers and staff, and draw lost students to Jesus so their lives could be transformed for eternity.
Later that day, Ava texted me to share that she had just spent several hours talking with a former student over coffee, mostly about Jesus. The student was wrestling with her faith and walking through a season of deconstruction. Ava lovingly shared the gospel with her and asked if she would be open to a God like that - a God full of grace, truth, and unfailing love.
She said yes.
As the student prepared to leave for college, Ava prayed that she would pursue Jesus wholeheartedly at her new school.
When Ava told me about the conversation, I asked what time they had met. My heart stopped for a moment when she answered.
It was the exact same time we had been praying for her.
God Was Already Moving
Ava later shared that throughout the conversation, God faithfully gave her the exact words the student needed to hear. What a beautiful reminder that while we pray, God is already moving.
And the God stories kept coming.
Later that month, Ava met with another former student and invited her to church. On a separate evening, she shared dinner with two more former students. During their conversation, one of them admitted she might not have survived the previous year if it hadn't been for Ava.
In those sacred moments, Ava shared pieces of her own story and reminded them of God's deep, unfailing love for them. They listened with open hearts as she spoke life, hope, and truth over them.
Prayer Is Too Precious Not to Use
Prayer is a beautiful gift that is far too precious to leave wrapped and unused.
Through Jesus, we have direct access to our Heavenly Father: the One who knows us, loves us, and invites us to bring every joy and burden to Him. Jesus tells us to pray and never give up. No request is too big, too bold, or too impossible for God.
When our prayers align with His heart, He moves in ways far greater than anything we could ever ask or imagine.
May we pray big, bold, persistent prayers that honor and glorify Him.
Ava faithfully prays these prayers for her current and former students, and we can join her in lifting up the next generation to the Master Teacher, our Rabbi, Jesus. The Teacher who loves these students all the way to the cross and back.
May His Kingdom come in mighty ways in our hearts, in our homes, and in our schools.
Yvette Cullum is a writer, speaker, and longtime volunteer youth ministry leader who has served students and families alongside her husband, Steve. She has a deep passion for prayer, as well as for encouraging students, couples in ministry, and ministry leaders.
