Dear Editor,
Ready or not, Back to School is here! This season of transition brings a variety of emotions for students, parents, and teachers. Some feel excitement about seeing friends again and meeting new teachers, while others experience anxiety and stress over new schools, teachers, and schedules.
Prayer is one thing our community can do to effectively help our students during this time of transition. Praying for their safety, focus, and faith is crucial. The power of prayer will support, guide, and protect our youth as they navigate new challenges and opportunities through their educational journey. Prayer can and will make a real difference in the lives of students, teachers, and parents, offering them a sense of peace and purpose.
Together, let us bring our back-to-school prayers before the Lord and seek His blessing on our schools, to inspire purposeful learning, and help our students grow in faith and character, positively impacting their classrooms and the world around them. As we seek God’s mercy and grace for our schools, students, parents, teachers, and staff, we need to realize we are shaping the future for our families. Thank about that!
Dear Heavenly Father, You are our help and comfort; You shelter and surround us in love so tender that we know Your presence is with us, now and always.
We give You praise, for we are fearfully and wonderfully created by Your hands. You personally fashioned our inward parts and we thank you for giving us a brain, with the ability to think and learn. Help us develop a thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Ready our hearts to learn this year, at home, school, and church. Open our ears and eyes to see the things you do, Lord.
Lord, keep our students in your care. Protect them physically, mentally, and spiritually. We declare that in the mighty name of Jesus Christ NO weapon formed against them shall prosper. Holy Spirit, open their minds to all that is true, beautiful, and good. Help them to realize the gifts and talents You have given them, and the courage to use them well. Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom. Help them to be kind to others, and lead others to be kind to them.
Father, for the students who are new to their schools, from kindergarteners to college freshmen, we pray that You will help them feel comforted and comfortable. We pray that their teachers/instructors help them feel seen, supported, and safe, so they can thrive as learners.
Lord, bless our students with study habits that help them do their best. Teach them how to manage their time and energy, to be good stewards of all you have given them. Help them to find the path you have set before them. Help them to be courageous and adventurous, to try new things, and learn new skills. Place our students in the kind of classroom atmosphere that will both challenge them and encourage them in their individual abilities.
Help them to be bold as lions, in the sense that their faith will not be shaken by those who attack or question it. Give them knowledge of Your Word and help them to remember its biblical truths, that they may not compromise their faith and values.
Father, You are our Need Meeter. There are some things only You can do. We pray that You move mightily to supply every physical, emotional, and spiritual need of our students, their families, faculty, and staff.
We thank You for our teachers! We pray You would strengthen them with Your power this school year. Give them guidance on instruction, strength to complete tasks, and energy to joyfully interact with their students. Fill them with love and empathy for the students they encounter. Use them to leave a lasting impact for good on the hearts and minds of the souls entrusted to their care. Anoint our teachers to show the love of Jesus through their words and actions throughout their teaching career. Help them to remember they are shaping futures.
Father, help each of us develop a thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. May we hunger and chase after wisdom. Father, instill in us a deep desire to learn, and ready our hearts to learn this year, at home, school, and church. Open our ears and eyes to see the things You do, O Lord.
You yourself are the Great Teacher. Instruct us in Your commandments, to show love by glorifying You and serving our neighbors. Disciple us with your Holy Word. Fill our hearts with wonder and excitement as we see your divine design in math and science, your hand in history, as we learn to glorify You through art and music, as we learn to know our neighbors, their hopes, their dreams.
Your Word teaches “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” We pray our hearts crave knowledge and may we seek it out every day. By Your power, may we increase in wisdom, never ceasing to learn all the days of our lives, until we sit at your feet in your Kingdom. Amen.
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:12 Sincerely, Debra Hall
