.png)
Can you believe it’s time to go back to school already? Our family has soaked up every moment of summer and it’s been a blast. As we get ready to head back to school, prayer for our students, teachers and staff is first on my mind.
I love that our school system gets together as one church to worship and pray for the school year. We come together and then we spilt up to all the different schools to pray for that specific school. What a blessing to come together from different churches in our community to pray for our kids, their teachers and school staff. We pray for the custodians all the way up to praying for our superintendent. This time is truly beautiful.
I encourage you to find ways to come together in your community and lift up your schools as well. You can join with other families at the bus stop, come together over breakfast, or simply take time to pray with your kids before they head out the door. Here are some prayers to help get you started.
We like to pray the ACTS prayer. A stands for “Adoration,” C is for “Confession,” T is for “Thanksgiving,” and S is for “Supplication.” When I begin prayer with adoration for God, it gets my focus on who He is, reminds me how much I can trust Him and I begin to feel His peace surround me.
Prayer for our students:
Dear precious Heavenly Father,
A: Your True Word says You are all-sufficient. You are Counselor. You are Faithful. You are Friend.
C: We confess we need your Lord.
T: Thank you for loving our students with an unconditional and amazing love. Thank you for Your promises in Your True Word to watch over our students. Thank you that You are always with them.
S: Please shepherd and guide them this school year. Please give them wisdom and counsel as they encounter this school year. Please help them to be a light for You and show others Your amazing love. Help them to be disciplined in their studies. Help them to follow Your example, Jesus, to be a good friend. Protect and watch over them. Provide other Christian friends to encourage and support them. May they be a blessing to their teachers and have an amazing school year.
In Jesus Holy name we pray, Amen!
God’s Promises For your students:
I am God's Child (John 1:12)
I am Jesus' Friend (John 15:15)
I know God works all things together for good. (Romans 8:28)
I know God has given me a Spirit of power, love and self-control, not fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I am the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)
Here's a Free Printable for God's Promises for Your Students
Print out this Back to School Prayer for your students. “Praying the Fruits of the Spirit”
Tape it to the bathroom mirror, their door or place by their bed to read at night.
Bible Verses for praying the fruits of the Spirit over your kids this school year (also listed on the printable):
Love
1 Cor 13:4-7
“Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor other people. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people’s wrongs. 6 Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. 7 It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up.”
Joy
Ro 15:13
“May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.”
Peace
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world.”
Patience
Prov 14:29
“Anyone who is patient has great understanding. But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish they are.”
Kindness
Eph 4:29
“Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen.”
Goodness
Ro 12:21
“Don’t let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good.”
Faithfulness
1 Jn1:9
“But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure.”
Gentleness
Proverbs 15:1
“A gentle answer turns anger away. But mean words stir up anger.”
Self-Control
1 Cor 9:24-27 and
“In a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don’t you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. 25 All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. 27 No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules. If I did break them, I would fail to win the prize.”
Phil 4:13
“I can do all this by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.”
Prayer for Teachers and Staff
This year I’m praying the fruits of the Spirit for our teachers and staff. Galatians 5:22-26 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Dear precious Heavenly Father,
A: God, You love unconditionally. You are joy and peace. God, You are incredibly patient, kind and good. You are faithful.
C: We confess we lose patience with kids. We forget to lean on you for joy and peace. We need You, Lord.
T: Thank you for the opportunity for education in our country. Thank you for amazing teachers, principals, and staff that love on our kids day in and day out. Thank you for the hard work and sacrifices they make for our kids. They truly are a blessing.
S: Lord, please give our teachers, administrators, and staff eyes to see how they can love on our kids. Please give them extra doses of peace and patience throughout the school year. Give them the rest and strength they need each day. Help them to rely on you. Allow your Holy Spirit to work through them. Remind them of Your kindness, goodness and faithfulness. Remind them that they can trust You to be with them throughout the year. When students test them or they begin to feel weary, please provide them with extra doses of gentleness and self-control. In Jesus' precious name we pray, AMEN!
God's Promises for Teachers:
God will instruct and counsel me. Psalms 32:8
God has given me the gift of teaching Romans 12:6-7
God will make my path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
My labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
I can ask God for wisdom James 1:5
Parents, here’s a great book I have used for years to help me pray over my kids all year round. “While they were sleeping” by Anne Arkins and Gary Harrell
God's blessings on all our students, teachers, administrators and all school staff this year.
