Back to School Prayer
School is back in session! Here in White County, our teachers have already gone back, and our students start back Friday morning. In our house, Mikalyn, aka “Ms. Wilkes” begins her teaching journey at Riverbend Elementary as a second-grade teacher and Ms. Courtney begins a new year at White County Pre-K. Needless to say, it has been school days already at the Wilkes household.
I love it. I am proud of the two teachers in my house. I see them every day pour into what they are doing and seeking to find ways of touching the lives of their students. You might say I am partial, and you would be right. However, I feel the same way about all teachers. Our teachers are on the front lines of touching the next generation every day. That is why I pray for the teachers our church on a weekly basis and seek to pray for all teachers and schools.
When it comes to pray for our schools, it is not just the teachers that need it, it is our administrators, our principals, our coaches, those who serve in the cafeteria and on the janitorial staff, bus drivers and every person who works in our school system.
Let’s go a step more. Every family with students in school, need our prayers. Every student that is in our school system and for those who have chosen to home school or go to a private school, no matter – they all need our prayers.
Why is prayer so important, with our schools? Number one, prayer is how we connect with the Sovereign God of the Universe who holds us all and holds this world in His hands. He is powerful and He is everywhere, and guess what, we are not! He can give every teacher, worker, staff, parent, student what they need in every way and every day. Our schools are facing things I never dreamed, and need the favor, grace, and power of God every single day. When we pray, we can ask God to do that very thing.
Would you join me in praying for each group? Those you know by name, call their name out and those you don’t, just ask for God to show His grace on each one. How you may say, how can pray? Here is few that come to mind this morning.
Numbers 6 gives a blessing to pray for each one starting the new year, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
How about the Lord’s prayer from Matthew 6, making it personal for teachers, staff, students, and families, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Here is a great promise for prayer for everyone for the school days ahead found in Philippians 4, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
No matter what prayer you pray, just pray. Let us all be praying for God’s blessings on each one as these school days begin for a new year. God bless every teacher, staff, worker, parent, and student. Here in White, Hall, Habersham, Stephens and all around this region, this community loves you, is grateful for you and you are all in our prayers!
And for all the teachers out there, as God's people, we are praying for you and we thank God for you. For our students, all of you, thank God for you, go and be all God created you to be! It's going to be a great year.
Pastor Michael