Discipleship is all about relationship and role modeling. Students will remember and learn more from the way we live our lives in-front of them then they will learn from what we teach or demand of them. And one of the most vital disciplines that we model for our students is prayer. We can teach on prayer and tell students to pray but it is much more important that they see and experience it.

Pray with your students.
Are you on duty during prayer time? Be in prayer with the students, not answering the phone or on your cell phone. Being distracted shows the students that it is not a priority and not really that important. Pray with them individually for themselves and needs you know are heavy on their hearts. Let them hear you pray.

Invite and engage students in prayer for the needs and vision of the ministry and for others.
Jeremiah 33:3 challenges us to believe God for great things, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” And Ephesians 3:20 challenges us that God has more in-store for us than  we can even imagine, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Be specific in your prayers so that there is no doubt that God has answered

Invite students to pray with and for you about your personal needs.
Being authentic with your own needs breaks down walls. Let the students know that you believe in the need and power of prayer in your own life. I have gone in front of the students more than once to ask them to pray with me about something. I would have them pray for me right then and there.

Share the news of answered prayer.Let them praise and thank God with you. Have an impromptu time of worship to honor God for the answer.

Teach on prayer.
Don’t just teach on prayer but provide tools that help them learn to prayer. One of my favorite is using the Lord’s prayer as a guide. The Lord’s Prayer – Prayer Outline

Schedule daily prayer times.
As a director I insisted that there be not only corporate (group) prayer but individual prayer time.Students gathered in the chapel with the staff members on duty yet they prayed individually. Why? I felt that it was vital that they learn the habit of a consistent prayer life. If it is hit-and-miss in the schedule then students will believe we don’t think prayer is very important.

Think about it

• What steps do we need to take to build a healthy prayer environment in our center?
• How can we help our students develop a life-long discipline of prayer?