I spent this morning with about 70 other members of the National Prayer Committee meeting with and praying for Christian student leaders on the campus of one of America's largest university, Arizona State. Our passionate young hosts told us that God is at work among their campus's 52,000 students--inspiring 24/7 prayer rooms, empowering bold witness, prompting compassionate outreach, and causing nonbelievers to notice, inquire, and sometimes be saved. As we prayed with these young adults, we couldn't help but catch their vision. They reminded us that the future of our nation--whether in government, media, business, or education--is all being shaped now, on university campuses. As the students go, so goes the nation, they pointed out.

It was wonderful to hear that students are praying--and I mean really praying! With contagious zeal and faith and persistence. But the young people begged us to pray with them and for them. They covet the prayers of those of us in our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80's and beyond.

Historically, revival has come when God has caught the hearts of youth and young adults. To that end, student leaders from across the nation have united to launch a new prayer initiative: Collegiate Day of Prayer. The idea is simple. On the last Thursday of this month, ask God to move on college and university campuses and in the lives of students, faculty, and staff. To find out how to participate, go to http://www.collegiatedayofprayer.org/. For specific ideas on how to pray, check out the Pray! resource, 18 Prayers for Higher Education.

Do you already pray for colleges and universities? Does your church or prayer ministry invest in the future by praying for college students? Share your stories and ideas with the rest of us!