Now that the summer holiday is over, many children, parents and teachers are preparing to start a new school year. For some parents, it may mean that their child is starting a new school which can be daunting for both parties. For teachers it may mean preparing to teach a different year group or even moving to another school which can create joy as well as a fear of the unknown. This article seeks to help pupils, parents and teachers to have a great school year by starting the academic year in back to school prayer.
- Starting a new school year
- Back to School Prayer
- Back to School Prayer for Teachers
- Back to School Prayer for Pupils and Parents
- Goal Setting
Starting a new school year
A new school year which starts in September can elicit many emotions. Parents have the pressures and stress of having to spend lots of money on new school uniform; children are often eager to meet new teachers and friends and share their stories of their ‘summer holiday adventures’. Honestly, this preparation for a new start can cause students to feel sick with apprehension. For teachers, there may be anxieties surrounding the desire to ensure that all resources are in place for the first school day.
Therefore, it is important to start the new school year in prayer, petitioning and thanksgiving to God; counteracting all worries. By doing so, you will experience the peace of God, thus guarding hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Back to School Prayer
Back to school prayer is therefore important because prayer in general is a way of communicating to our Father who is in heaven, concerning all areas of our lives. Therefore, in order to start the new school year, we should pray that pupils, parents and teachers will have a great school year directed and led by the Holy Spirit; “and that the Father will send the advocate (the Holy Spirit) to teach all things…” (John 14:26). We pray this back to school prayer:
Father, we praise You for who You are. We give You thanks because You created us in your own image. Also we pray for knowledge and understanding for teachers, pupils and parents. We pray that you will be with our teachers and pupils as they start a new school year. We pray that you will give pupils tenacity as they seek for understanding and new revelations in their studies. Father we also pray for parents, that they will support pupils by building a closer working relationship with teachers and staff. This we ask in Jesus Name.
Back to School Prayer for Teachers
Prayer is the key ingredient in starting a new school year for all parents, pupils and teachers. Teachers are pressured by the demands of the role and therefore back to school prayer helps because teachers will then trust in the Lord and not lean on their own understanding or academic ability; But rather, giving the Father control of every area of their lives. By doing so, He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Dear Father, we pray for all teachers as they enter into a new academic year. We pray that this new school year will be fortified with Your peace, understanding and most of all Your love and direction. We ask that every teacher will learn how to wait upon You and that You shall renew their strength as eagles. Lord, help every teacher to be able to manage the demands of the job. We pray that they will run and not become weary; they will walk and not faint. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Back to School Prayer for Pupils and Parents
There are other important factors to consider when starting the new school year. We should start the new school year praying for pupils and parents. This is because pupils may feel anxious or afraid of the transition into their new school or new school year. It is important for children to be able to share their concerns with their parents. Parents should then show their child that they are there to support and believe in their child’s abilities.
Lord, we pray that you will help pupils and parents as they begin this new school year and allow every pupil to feel your presence and blessings each and every day. Father, we pray that pupils will not fear because Your Word encourages us to be strong and courageous. We pray that you will open the eyes of every pupil to receive new challenges, revelation and insight in Jesus Name. Allow every pupil and parent to support teachers as they educate children of all ages. Give every pupil a spirit of enthusiasm, motivation and self-discipline. Give every parent a spirit of understanding so that they will effectively listen to the needs of their child. Father, inspire every pupil to do the best they can this year. Amen.
Goal Setting
To help eliminate fear and anxiety, it is vital for pupils, parents and teachers to set themselves goals for the start of a new school year. When we commit our goals to the Lord, He will establish our plans (Proverbs 16:3).
Pupils should set themselves goals relating to what they want to achieve in the first half term of a new school year. A teacher’s goal may centre around pupil achievement and getting to know individual learners as well as maintaining high levels of retention. Parents aim to ensure that their child(ren) are settled into their new class and that there is a balance between family and home commitments as well as school work.
We therefore pray a back to school prayer for pupils, teachers and parents as they set goals for the start of the new school year. We pray that the goals of pupils, teachers and parents will be achieved in Jesus Name. Amen.
Also read: TEACHER PRAYER – How to pray words of encouragement
prayray.com
It’s the time of year when backpacks overflow with supplies and classrooms begin to fill with students! As parents, we prepare and purchase. Some of us labor over preparation; others have barely enough time to prepare at all. We make choices and selections for school settings, classes, teachers, and extracurricular activities.
And now there’s not much more we can do except begin the routine. Start the day.
Only there is one more thing we can do, whether we’ve done it before now or not.
We can pray.
Pray for our hearts as parents who are trying our best not to worry and fear over our kids and their education.
Pray for the impressionable minds of our children who are learning and cultivating their thought processes.
We can pray for all those involved in our educational experiences, whether it’s the bus driver, teacher’s aide, school secretary, nurse, principal, therapist, or teacher. (I love Ruth’s Prayer for Teachers that we shared earlier this week.)
Whether we’ve chosen homeschool, public school or private education, let’s pray this prayer together over our children and our role as parents in their school experience.
Dear Heavenly Father,
School has started once again and we praise you for a fresh beginning. May our hearts remember to seek you first each day. We praise you for every individual involved in our education; and we ask for the wisdom, safety and protection only you can give.
Thank you for giving us strength to meet new milestones. May we rely on you to help us move peacefully through each routine and to master every challenge.
Thank you for loving us and giving us one another. Thank you for the gift of a new school year.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
If you want your children to stand on the firm foundation of a relationship with Jesus this year, read I Believe In Jesus together as a family. In I Believe in Jesus, John MacArthur walks children though the gospel of Jesus in a way that is easy to understand, and equips parents, grandparents, teachers, and loved ones to to share the familiar story of God’s love.
YOUR TURN!
What is your biggest prayer for yourself and/or your children this school year?
Rachel Wojo
Rachel Wojnarowski loves being a wife, mom to 7, author and Bible study teacher. She and her husband, Matt, enjoy caring for their busy family, whose ages span 3 to 25 years and includes a special needs daughter. In her “free time” she crochets, knits, and sews handmade clothing. Ok, not really. She enjoys running and she’s a tech geek at heart. Reader, writer, speaker and dreamer, you can find Rachel at RachelWojo.com. Website URL:
www.tommynelson.com
Here are two prayers I shared with the parents in our ministry.
One is a prayer they can pray with their child, and one is a prayer they can pray for their child. Feel free to use. Praying parents make the difference in a child’s life.
A Prayer With Your Child
Dear God,
Thank you for ____________. As he/she begins this school year,
help him/her to use the talents and gifts you’ve given him/her to do his/her very best.
May he/she listen to his/her teachers with respect.
Help him/her be honest if he/she is ever tempted to cheat.
Help him/her to always tell the truth, be kind to everyone at school,
and treat others as he/she would like to be treated.
Help him/her to make good friends and be a good friend to others.
And help him/her to remember that You’re always with him/her.
and that You’ll never leave his/her side.
May he/she love You and follow You with all his/her heart, soul, and strength.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
A Prayer for Your Child
Father,
Enable _______________ to stand strong in Christ. (2 Timothy 3:10-12)
Give him/her a hunger for learning. Enable him/her to use his/her ability to think and learn. (1 Samuel 2:10)
May he/she study and work with diligence. (Proverbs 10:4-5)
I pray that he/she will develop healthy relationships with others. (Proverbs 13:20)
Show him/her how to relate to others with compassion, respect, and understanding. (Ephesians 4:32)
I ask that he/she will have good relationships with the teachers and the administration and show them respect. (Romans 13:1)
I pray that Your Holy Spirit will do a powerful and gracious work in his/her heart. (John 16:7-11)
May he/she love You and follow You with all his/her heart, soul, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5-6)
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
churchleaders.com
As parents, we spend a lot of time preparing to send our kids back to school. We buy new clothes and tennis shoes, backpacks and binders. But, how much time do we spend in prayer over our kids?
I believe it’s so important to pray for our kids every day. Our preacher once said, “If you aren’t praying for your kids, don’t expect anyone else to be.”
Parent’s, it’s up to us!
I’ve created a Back to School Prayer Guide for Parents, which I hope will help you quickly pray for your children every day. Pray for their protection, friends, teachers, salvation, etc. I included verses right on the card, so you could see that these prayers come straight from Scripture. (I used the ESV version.)
I created this resource on a half sheet of paper – back and front. You can easily print, fold, and keep this guide in the front cover of your Bible.
I’ve also included a version which will allow you to easily print multiple copies. Simply print side 1, re-insert and print side 2 on the back. Cut apart and laminate.
As the Preschool Ministry Coordinator for my church, I plan to have a stack of these on our check-in counter for parents to pick up the Sunday before school starts.
For His glory,
Kathy:)
kathyhutto.wordpress.com
