God is All-Knowing – Planted by Streams

Back to School Preparations

Back to School Teacher Prayer Prayers Back-to-School

Dear Lord,

We thank You that You are all-knowing, our Advocate, and our Shepherd. Thank You for a fresh start at the beginning of the school year, and for new students we have opportunities with. Thank You for the break we just came from, even if it was busy, because we need the change to renew our resolve and creativity.

As we start the year, Lord our to-do lists can feel overwhelming. Many things can only be accomplished in the few days we have before students walk in our doors. Therefore, Lord, we ask for wisdom because You promise in James 1:5, that “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” We also encourage our hearts with the truth that You can “do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

So, Lord, we pray for focused work time, organization, and complete awareness of what needs to be accomplished. We pray for the ability to set aside desires, even making a list of those things for later, and guidance to complete the important things first. Remind us to frequently give You praise as we go about our work since nothing good is planned or accomplished apart from You (Psalm 16:2). And, keep us mindful to pray for the students we will have this coming year.

Let us live in Your peace, comforting our hearts that You know our beliefs, thoughts, actions, and feelings, as well as the process before us. Encourage us to draw near to You our Advocate, and give us the grace to be led by You, our Shepherd. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Teachers, Fill Your Mind with Truth

Featured Joy Bennett

Praise God for Truth and Peace

Dear Lord, we praise You for Your unchanging nature (Heb 13:8) and that You are the source of all truth (John 14:6). We live in a world of constant change and even the attitudes and actions of our students change from moment to moment. It can be difficult for us to navigate these turbulent waters. Meanwhile, we thank You for creating a path to peace so we can be effective teachers and live with our minds at rest in You.

Prayer for Our Minds to Focus on Truth

Lord, we come to You, our source of peace (Is 26:3), knowing that You desire us to abide in Your peaceful presence as we go about our daily lives (Phil 4:5-7). Your Word is Truth (John 17:17). Help us to be sanctified by keeping our minds on what is true as You command us in Philippians 4:8, knowing that You will especially minister to us as we do so. Let us surround ourselves with the truth of Your Word, equipping our minds to meet our everyday challenges (Phil 4:7). Remind us that truth opposes everything false (1 John 2:21) and we will stand well against lies when we keep our minds fixed on You (Eph 6:10-17). When we are strong in You, we have peace, knowing that You are Truth and Life to our souls. When we are tempted to look at the problems around us: difficulties with students, staff, parents, or personal struggles, please prompt us to remember that keeping our minds focused on Who You Are, the great “I Am,” who keeps us in immovable security.

Fill Our Minds with These Truths

Lord, let our minds be filled with the knowledge that You are the source of our every need and You desire to give us the best possible blessing in every situation. You have loved Your people with an everlasting love in accordance with Your eternal nature – a love set in motion before we were created and a love never fading in the midst of our trials. The truth is, as You act in Your perfect love toward us, You are all-powerful, You know all things, and You are all-wise. The truth is that we are saved and eternally belong to God our Father, living daily in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places because of the work of Christ on our behalf. By the faith You have generously supplied, through the grace You alone can give, by the work of Christ alone, we receive these beautiful gifts. How much You have worked on our behalf, Lord. In You alone, we can rest securely. We pray that You constantly guide us to keep our minds on these truths so that we may be at rest, and give You glory as we go about our days. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Prayers for Travel Mercies

Featured Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, for many teachers and students, travel is a regular part of their school year. We pray for Your blessings over these travels, recognizing that there can be risks and dangers involved in each situation. Thank You, Lord, that You are all-knowing, recognizing every aspect of our circumstances and we pray for You to guide us accordingly (Ps 139; Pv 5:21). We thank You that You are also ever-present, our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps 46:1). Lord, let those who have fears about traveling turn to You and rest in Your strength and peace. Let parents and loved ones who worry over the risks in travels turn to You and be comforted by You in faith.

Lord, we pray for commutes, local trips, cross-country travels, and trips to other countries. We know that unforeseen circumstances may arise at any time. Encourage us that You are our Provider, and when Your children have concerns, You’ve already got a plan to provide for our needs (Rom 8:32). Another factor in travels is weather. You are the Creator (Ps 146:5-6; Col 1:16), in charge of all weather. We pray that You orchestrate storms and temperatures for the benefit of these groups. Also, guide these teachers, coaches, students, and parents so that they have safety in every variable of weather. We ask for Your Wisdom on each trip as well. There are many concerns when traveling with students: proper oversight by adults, financial provision, thorough planning, preparation for injuries, and more. But You, Lord, are completely wise, having perfect knowledge (Job 9:3-4; Rom 16:27) and we ask You to share Your wisdom with us for these things and for all that we cannot foresee.

In all these things we worship You for Your greatness. You are beyond anything we can imagine. Let each traveler and those who stay at home be comforted by Your greatness (Deut. 3:24; Job 37:5), blessing You in worship and trusting in Your perfect plans. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Discernment in Working with Parents

March 21, 2024May 16, 2024 Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, as Christian teachers, we have many opportunities to set a godly example for the parents we work with. We praise You that You are our advocate, and we seek to imitate You by advocating for our students’ parents (Rom 8:26, 24b; Heb 4:14). We also look to You, our omniscient God who knows all we need at all times (Pv 5:21) and ask that You allow us to see and act on Your provision, for nothing good comes apart from You (Ps 16:2). In addition, we rejoice in You our mediator, Lord Jesus, and ask that You enable us to imitate you as we mediate for parents with their students (1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 8:6, 9:15), helping their children to grow in wisdom, that they may be prepared to receive Your gospel by faith when You so choose.

Lord, when working with parents and their students, we need discernment. Praise You that the Spirit gives us discernment (John 14:17), using the word of God to enable us to stand firm by discriminating between good and evil, truth and lies (Heb 5:12-14; Eph 6:11,17; 1 John 2:20,26-27). As we go about each day, let us cling to You and walk in repentance and righteousness, held up with a willing spirit, so that we may help parents and their students see a godly example in our lives and crave this for themselves (Ps 51:10-13). Likewise, show us how we can empower parents to lead their children in righteousness. For those who are motivated only by worldly success, let us demonstrate the love and light of God that they desire to live according to Your ways (Mat 5:16; Rom 2:14; Mat 5:6). And, as we do this work, let us always remember that parenting is a difficult job and each child is different — parents need sympathy and empathy (Rom 12:16; Phil 2:1-8). Meanwhile, let their trials lead them to seek You with their whole hearts and find You as their Savior. (Mat 4:17; Eze 33:11; Acts 26:18; 1 Pet 3:8-12).

On our mission with You in schools, Lord, let us do Your good work by showing love, compassion, and kindness to everyone (John 13:34, Luk 6:36; Ps 103:8; Eph 4:32). Students need us to love them best by showing we care, even when caring means we must provide appropriate consequences – let us not shrink back from difficult decisions that lead to the best outcome for each one (Ps 119:71). Lord, guide us to follow through with communication which includes constructive and encouraging solutions (Heb 10:24). In the process of our communications, let us provide loving, timely feedback that amounts to the greatest benefit for each child (Ecc 8:11), and guide us to have a heart for collaboration with each parent, planning incentives and consequences together for the benefit of their children and their households. As we work together, let us keep our minds on You, seeking Your wisdom and gaining knowledge (Ps 111:10; Pv 21:11b).

Lord, in all these things, cause Your wondrous works to be remembered and allow the parents we work with to recognize that You are gracious and merciful (Ps 111:4). Finally, let us rest, knowing that that battle is Yours, Lord, and You will see it through in the end (Deut 20:4; 2 Chron 20:15; Pv 21:31).

Tag: God is All-Knowing