In the last few years, we have witnessed a huge rise in the numbers of young people experiencing distress around their gender and in the teaching of an ideology which is at odds with God’s good plan for men and women.
At CARE we long for young people to flourish and to be the people God created them to be, rather than for them to be forced to ask questions about their bodies which people have never had to ask before now.
1. Pray for those who experience gender dysphoria
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Father God, we pray for everyone who is currently experiencing confusion or distress around their gender and their bodies. We pray that you would bring them comfort and peace in their suffering, and that you would give them wisdom and lead them towards the truth, that their identity is in who you created them to be, and that their bodies are gifts from you as their loving Creator. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
2. Pray for parents of children and teens who are querying their gender
“Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” Psalm 1:8-9 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, you understand our pain and confusion when our children make mistakes and go their own way. Have compassion on every parent whose child, of whatever age, is questioning their gender, help them to model godly kindness and grace, and give them wisdom and the right words to say as they gently seek to lead them to knowledge of the truth. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
3. Pray for politicians and lawmakers
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)
O Lord our King, we ask that you would be granting our government wisdom as they seek to shape our laws on a rapidly shifting and increasingly polarised topic. We pray for your mercy on our nation: please help our leaders to issue good guidance, particularly regarding education in schools, and may they be courageous in pursuing what is right and just, rather than caving in to the demands of ideological pressure groups. Please particularly help them to protect parental rights in knowing what their children are being taught and how they are presenting themselves within school. In your mercy, Amen.
4. Pray for women affected by gender ideology
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:5 (NIV)
God of justice, we pray that you might defend the hard-won rights of women which are now under threat from transgender activists. We pray that women will continue to have access to single-sex spaces and bathrooms, that provisions will be made elsewhere for trans women (biological males) to take part in sport rather than it occurring within women’s sport, and in particular for women who are vulnerable, such as in prisons, shelters and counselling services. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
5. Pray for teachers and youth leaders
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, you spent time on earth as a teacher yourself; please do guide all our teachers, youth leaders and everyone else who works with young people to speak wisely, fairly, compassionately and in accordance with the truth. We pray that they may honour the governmental requirements to present different views on gender fairly, even if they disagree with them, and we pray that they would help young people with compassion and a listening ear. In Christ’s name, Amen.
6. Pray for vulnerable young people
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 (NIV)
Father, you created every child to be a unique person, beloved by you. Please protect children who have other conditions or circumstances which are leading to them then viewing changing their gender as a way to be ‘fixed’, including those with mental health conditions, autism, eating disorders, distress at puberty, or distress around their sexuality. Please relieve any confusion or distress they feel about these other things, help them to feel at peace with their bodies, and to know that they are loved and cherished by you, their creator. Lord, in your mercy, Amen.
7. Voices which are being silenced on gender
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
Lord God, you call us to be a voice for the voiceless and to protect the weak. We pray for voices, particularly female voices, which are being cancelled as they try to draw attention to dangers, and in some cases, abuses inflicted by gender ideology. We pray that truth may prevail, justice may win, and that you would heal the atmosphere in our nation, and that any people who have been cancelled unfairly may be rewarded for their courage, not punished for it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.