The following post is written by Barbara Francis, National Prayer Leader for Cru.

Most of us adults wring our hands when we hear about the lives of today’s college students. Immorality, pornography, addictions at every level, sexually “hooking up” with virtual strangers, and an aggressive hatred of God are a few thoughts that immediately come to mind. Add your own description of students in your town. It’s easy to cluck our tongues and sit at a distance, wondering how it all got so crazy.

The Collegiate Day of Prayer (CDOP) acknowledges these realities but chooses a different course of action. It unashamedly calls for biblical, cross-denominational, cross-generational prayer for revival, and for a massive mobilization of students to go into the world with the good news of the gospel. Now that’s a new, thrilling way to think about college students!

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matt. 9:37-38).

This challenges our faith, doesn’t it? We ask, “Can God really change the course of events on the colleges and universities in my town?” It’s not wrong to ask this question, but don’t get stuck there. Acknowledge your doubt, confess it, and press on, standing on the unchanging Word of God­­­­­­­­­. The very words of Jesus ring through the ages: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

So, the question is, what can we do? How can we effectively pray for the college students in our towns? A few suggestions come to mind:

• Pray for the ones you know. Get their faces in your mind and pray they’d come to know Jesus in a life-changing manner.
• Consider grabbing a few friends and taking a prayer walk through a campus close to you.
• Get your church, small group, and Sunday school connected to this compelling vision in a creative way.

The third nationwide Collegiate Day of Prayer will take place next Thursday, on February 23. Would you adopt a college campus near you, lead a prayer group, and spread the word? How exciting to picture hundreds—if not thousands—around the country asking God to move dramatically and powerfully on our campuses!
May God grant us eyes to see Him answer exceedingly and abundantly beyond all we could ask, think, or dream.