As we share a weeklong spiritual journey together, our aim is to deepen our

connection with God and align our hearts with God’s purpose for us and the young
people we love. This guide is designed to be both accessible and profound across
Christian faith traditions, and suitable for anyone who cares about young people.

Structure of the Guide

Step 1: Focus - Step 2: Listen -

Each day begins with an invitation to center
our hearts and minds through three distinct
options:
• Gratitude: Reflect on God’s blessings
and express heartfelt thanks.
• Mindfulness: Engage in a visualization
exercise that ties to the day’s theme.
• Breath Prayer: Use rhythmic breathing
paired with a short prayer for centering.
Next, each day presents a Scripture passage and
reflection questions that resonate with one of
the 7 Discipleship Emphases that guide TENx10.
Step 3: Respond -
Finally, each day invites engagement in purposeful
prayer by interceding for both a specific young
person and a youth ministry. These prayers are
crafted to tie back to the day’s Scripture, ensuring
a cohesive and meaningful prayer experience.

Throughout this guide, the emphasis is on your own journey and embodiment of
God’s presence in the moment. Thus, while some prayers are written out, there’s
always room for extemporaneous expressions of the heart.

As you journey through these seven days, may you experience a renewed sense of
purpose, a deeper connection with God, and a heightened passion for prioritizing the
young people in your life.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis focuses on Personal Growth, meaning the way we nurture our own
spiritual formation and relational health. Choose one or more of the following options to center your
heart and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Our good God is constantly doing good work in and through you. Take a few
moments to thank God for continuing to transform you emotionally, relationally, physically, mentally,
and spiritually.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a tree, its roots deep in the soil, drawing nourishment, while its
branches reach out to the sky. Reflect on your own growth, rooted in God’s love that permeates every
aspect of your life.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “God, please nurture,” and as you exhale,
“my growth in You.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read Philippians 1:1-6 one or more times.
Reflection: What words or phrases stand out to you in the start of Paul’s letter to the church in
Philippi? Taking note of Philippians 1:6, what good work has God done in you that you want God to carry
to completion? How about in the life of a young person you know?

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: God, I thank you for the good work you are doing in our world, in me, and in
[young person’s name]. Please remove any obstacle that would hinder that good work, and may you
continue to show both me and [young person’s name] how we can partner in your gospel.
For a youth ministry: God, please help the leaders of [youth ministry name] be extra sensitive to the
good work you long to complete in and through them. May you help those leaders prioritize their own
health so they can be living models of your grace, peace, and joy to the young people around them.
Optional: If possible, spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth
ministry above, weaving the key ideas of Philippians 1:1-6 into your prayer.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis is Mentors, emphasizing the significance of guiding and being guided in
our spiritual journey. Choose one or more of the following options to center your heart and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Reflect on a mentor who has played a pivotal role in your spiritual journey. Take a
moment to express your gratitude to God for their influence in your life.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a lighthouse, steadfast and illuminating the path for ships at sea.
Consider the mentors in your life who have been your lighthouses, guiding you through challenges and
uncertainties.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “Lord, guide,” and as you exhale, “our
mentors.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read 2 Timothy 2:1-2 one or more times.
Reflection: In Paul’s words to Timothy, what stands out to you about the mentor-mentee
relationship? How does Paul emphasize the importance of passing on teachings? Think about
how Paul’s first century leadership principles and images might apply, or be difficult, in your 21st
century life.

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: God, I pray for [young person’s name], that they may find wise and godly
mentors who guide them closer to You. May they be receptive to the wisdom and teachings passed
down to them and maybe they be courageous in how they live out their faith.
For a youth ministry: God, please help the leaders of [youth ministry name] be extra sensitive to the
good work you long to complete in and through them. May you help those leaders prioritize their own
health so they can be living models of your grace, peace, and joy to the young people around them.
Optional: If possible, spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth
ministry above, weaving the key ideas of Philippians 1:1-6 into your prayer.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis centers on Family, recognizing that for many, “family” can include those
caregivers who are not biologically related but are still deeply significant. Choose one or more of the
following options to center your heart and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Reflect on the family you have, whether by blood or by bond. Express your
gratitude to God for their presence, support, and love.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a tapestry, woven with threads of different colors and textures.
Each thread represents a member of your family, contributing to the beauty and strength of the whole.
Reflect on the unique role each member plays in your life.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “God, would you bless,” and as you
exhale, “our families.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read Mark 3:20-35 one or more times.
Reflection: What does this passage reveal about the nature of spiritual family? How does it
challenge or affirm your understanding of other forms of family? Think of someone specific in
your community who might benefit from this understanding of family. Consider how this broader
definition of family might apply in your life.

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: Creator of families, I pray for [young person’s name], that they may find a
spiritual family that supports, nurtures, and guides them in their journey of faith. Whether through
biological ties or bonds of the Holy Spirit, may they always feel loved and cherished, causing them to
love and cherish others around them.
For a youth ministry: God, thank you for how you have used [youth ministry name] to be a family, or
maybe even a “family of families.” May that ministry be a safe place of belonging for all generations,
and may it support and empower the families it serves.
Optional: Spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth ministry,
reflecting on the inclusive nature of family as described in Mark 3:35.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis is Belonging, underscoring the importance of feeling accepted, valued,
and part of a community. Choose one or more of the following options to center your heart and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Reflect on moments when you felt a deep sense of belonging. Moments you felt
seen, heard, known, and loved. Express your gratitude to God for those communities and individuals
who made you feel welcomed and cherished.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a mosaic where each individual piece, no matter how small,
contributes to the overall beauty of the artwork. Reflect on your own place in the mosaic of God’s
family, and how each person adds unique value.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “Lord, please allow,” and as you exhale,
“all to feel they belong.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read Romans 15:1-8 one or more times.
Reflection: What does this passage convey about the nature of true belonging in Christ? What
kind of example does Christ give us in his acceptance of us? Consider how this message of
belonging might resonate in your life or in the life of someone you know, and how it also might
challenge the culture of belonging that exists in your church or parish.

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: Loving Savior, I lift up [young person’s name] to You. May they find communities
where they feel a profound sense of belonging, and are accepted just as they are. May they find
people who love and serve them so they might do likewise. Let them experience the joy of being a
cherished part of Your family.
For a youth ministry: I’m so grateful, God, that you have helped young people know they belong in
[youth ministry name]. May the diverse people connected with that ministry experience unity in
Christ, and may it be a hub of acceptance for all generations.
Optional: Spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth ministry,
reflecting on the essence of belonging as described in Romans 15:7.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis focuses on Identity, highlighting the significance of understanding and
embracing our true selves in Christ. Choose one or more of the following options to center your heart
and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Reflect on your journey of discovering your identity in Christ. Express your
gratitude to God for the moments of clarity, understanding, and acceptance you’ve experienced.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a mirror, reflecting your image. As you look deeper, see beyond the
external and into the core of who you are in Christ. Reflect on the unique gifts, passions, and callings
God has placed within you.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “God, reveal,” and as you exhale, “my
true identity in You.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read Ephesians 2:1-10 one or more times.
Reflection: What does this passage say about what is NOT our identity? What does this tell you
about our identity and purpose in Christ? How does it challenge or affirm what you have thought
about yourself as part of God’s work in the world?

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: God who calls and knows us, I pray for [young person’s name], that they may
discover and embrace their true identity in you. Help them to find a pause in the noise that wants
to consume them and call them a consumer, to know they are so much more, liberated by your own
voice.
For a youth ministry: Thank you for using [youth ministry name] to show young people that they are
God’s “handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” May the power of your Holy Spirit flow
through this ministry so that more people across generations embrace that they are alive in Christ.
Optional: Spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth ministry,
reflecting on the profound truth of our identity as God’s handiwork described in Ephesians 2:10.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis is Purpose, inviting us to respond to God’s call to live a life of both
personal and social holiness, addressing the needs of a world marked by injustice. Choose one or more
of the following options to center your heart and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Reflect on moments when you felt a clear sense of purpose, especially
when you were serving others or addressing injustice. Express your gratitude to God for guiding and
sustaining you in those moments.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a river, flowing with purpose, nourishing everything in its path, and
overcoming obstacles. Reflect on your own purpose, flowing from God’s love, and how you can be a
source of healing and justice in the world.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “God, guide my actions,” and as you
exhale, “to heal the world.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read Jeremiah 29:1-14 one or more times.
Reflection: In this extended passage, the prophet Jeremiah writes a letter to those in exile, sharing
God’s plan for them. How do verses 5-7 cause you to think differently about your purpose where
you live? How does realizing that they had been in exile for almost 70 years change your reading of
Jeremiah 29:11? What specifically might this passage be saying to you today?

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: Lord, I lift up [young person’s name] to you. Empower them with a purpose
that transcends self-fulfillment, driving them to act against injustice and bring healing to our scarred
world. Help them to seek the best for the place where they live, that it might be their best.
For a youth ministry: God, I’m in awe of how you are working through [youth ministry name] to serve
those in need. May you bring more people across generations to both be impacted by this ministry’s
purposeful work, and to be agents of your hope and healing.
Optional: Spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth ministry,
reflecting on the call to purpose and action described in Jeremiah 29:1-14.
 Step 1: FOCUS
Today’s Discipleship Emphasis focuses on Leading Change, emphasizing the call to be proactive agents
of transformation in our communities and world. Choose one or more of the following options to
center your heart and mind:
Option A: Gratitude - Reflect on moments when you took the initiative to bring about positive change,
whether in your personal life, community, or beyond. Express your gratitude to God for the strength and
guidance God provided during those times.
Option B: Mindfulness - Visualize a ripple in a pond, originating from a single point and expanding
outward. Reflect on your own potential to create impactful change, starting from small actions and
growing to influence larger communities.
Option C: Breath Prayer - As you inhale, pray silently or softly, “God, please empower me,” and as you
exhale, “to lead transformative change.”

Step 2: LISTEN
Scripture: Slowly read Micah 6:1-12 one or more times.
Reflection: Many Christians have heard Micah 6:8, but what difference does it make to read the
verses that precede and follow it? How do you think Micah felt trying to lead change while speaking
about the violence done by God’s people? How does it inspire you to think about your role in leading
change and embodying justice, kindness, and humility?

Step 3: RESPOND
For a young person: Lord, I pray that [young person’s name] might be a beacon of change in their
community. Empower them with the courage to stand for justice, the heart to show kindness, and
the humility to walk closely with you in all their endeavors.
For a youth ministry: Just God, thank you for showing [youth ministry name] what is good. May you
continue to empower them so that all generations would act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with
you.
Optional: Spend a few additional moments praying for the young person and youth ministry,
reflecting on the call to lead change as described in Micah 6:6-8.
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