Forget “Now I lay me down to sleep.” A new
breed of praying children – righteous seed – has emerged on the
world scene. World Christians. I call them “WorldShapers.”
Forget, too, their so-called limited attention span. Their anointed,
red-hot praying defies it. They think nothing of spending hours at a
time petitioning God and doing spiritual battle for their
generation. They are indeed birthed by divine design “for such a
time as this” (Esther 4:14). Can’t conjure up an apologetic on this
one. It would be irreverent to try, for it’s an inexplicable move of
God. I can only share my personal extraordinary 12-year journey with
thousands of remarkable children, ages three to 14, whose prayers
summon miracles.
Even just one quick listen to Zambia, Africa’s orphans with HIV/AIDS
as they passionately cry out to God for those like them around the
world – that they themselves may be healed – would suffice. Or, go
back in time with me to the Global Conference on Word Evangelism in
Korea in 1995. Forty intent children, prostrated in pinwheel
fashion, arms linked, vehemently attacked the Ebola virus pandemic
in Zaire after one child saw it in a vision. Three days later, the
World Health Organization sent out a media blitz headlined, “Ebola
Virus in Zaire Arrested!”
Frankly, I’ve learned more about praying just by listening to
children’s no-frills prayers. Their collective pure heart invokes a
dimension of power that adults don’t come by easily. I acknowledge,
respect and, as Jesus admonishes, “make room for them” (Luke 18:16).
Trying to describe this formidable host by showcasing a few herein
is like drawing a black and white sketch compared to what they’re
like en mass in living color. You’d have to be there!
They sing our “House of Prayer March” and global mode kicks in. They
toss around our fabulous Globall Prayertool. Hugging it, Michael
prays, “Lord, I want all the Michaels (Michels, Miguels, etc.) in
the world to know Jesus!” Intercession is activated like a natural
reflex. Or, take our Prayer Spinner. The arrow lands on “Abused and
Hurting Children.” Seven-year-old Rebecca, teary-eyed, prays, “Dear
God, please rescue all the 7-year-old girls who are treated bad.”
Holy Spirit power ignites and the stronghold of violence is
attacked.
Children's prayers are prophetic and/or apostolic in nature. Our
Children’s Global Prayer Movement’s hundreds of gatherings provide
the litmus test. I need only explain to children basic roles of
prophet and apostle and compare them with how they are already
praying, i.e., Prophets declare the Word of God and future things.
When you pray prophetically you declare whatever Jesus desires and
denounce whatever He doesn’t – present and future. Apostles are
strong leaders. They never think “impossible.” When you pray
apostolically you take authority in Jesus’ name, and you believe
that with God everything is possible!
Children pray big. They have big faith. Rather than dwell on issues,
they focus on what God does as they pray. Declaring “Jesus is Lord!”
or “Satan, the blood of Jesus is against you!” settles it. They can
candidly describe what the Spirit shows or says to them. After being
prepped (i.e., clean hands, pure hearts, anointed with oil, etc.)
they tackle each issue – some, with a holy vengeance, battling
strongholds in Jesus’ name, others with on-their-faces weeping
intercessions. Surely, God dispatched a myriad of angels to war on
behalf of their petitions.
For children to be savvy about such matters is unsettling for some
adults. However, given the opportunity, their talk will reveal that
most are very aware of life’s stark realities. Some are victims of
broken homes or various types of abuses. In trying to shelter them,
might we in reality be leaving them vulnerable? Let them shout their
own “Hosannas!” to silence their foe and avenger (Psalm 8:2). To
train, equip and liberate them to be praying conquerors ensures
their hope and future.
Children who pray deeper, give self-evidence that God’s protective
grace is upon them. After hours of non-stop praying, I’ll ask, “How
do you feel?” Common responses range from good to happy to peaceful
to satisfied to powerful to pumped. A gathering’s grand finale is
celebrative – praising, dancing, singing, marching, thanking God for
what He “got to do” because they got to do what they wanted to do.
Esther Ilnisky is the founder of the Esther Network
International Children’s Global Prayer Movement and author of Let
the Children Pray. She conducts global intercessory prayer
gatherings and workshops. Her vision is to mobilize children
worldwide to pray for revival in their generation.
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The Children's Global Prayer
Movement is mobilizing children worldwide in apostolic and
prophetic intercessory prayer meetings that hope to bring
revival to their generation. 
