God is our Creator – Planted by Streams

God’s Perfect Design in Creation

Praise God our Creator

Dear Lord, we magnify Your Name for Your incomprehensible existence and all You have created. We praise You that, with each improvement in technology, we see exponentially more of Who You Are from the complexities of DNA to the trillions of galaxies observable in space. Glory be given to Your Name by every creature, Oh Lord, for You alone could conceive of this perfect and extraordinary design.

Prayer for Teachers to Elevate Creation

Each day we spend with students, we have opportunities to thoughtfully plan our conversations and work to glorify You, Lord. Work in our hearts to give us creativity and insight so that we can point to the glory of creation. Cause us to see all we can expound upon: the beauty, the peace it brings, the marvel of its power, the orderly design, the mastery that makes it incapable of duplication by human hands. Let our students be drawn to You through Your impressive systems and blueprints, Lord. Bless our efforts to celebrate Your work with our students. Prepare the hearts of each one to be impressed by Your glory and seek You because of what they see. Let them desire a relationship with You because of their experience of Your design, precious Lord, and bring salvation to them. Assure their souls of Your might and wisdom as they recognize Your work in what is visible and invisible around them. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

’For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?’

’Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen”

(Rom 11:33-36).

Gen 1:1-5; Ps 95:4-6

Prayers for Homeless Students

Featured Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, our Creator (Ps 146:5-6), we praise You for creating mankind and each student we have the privilege of working with. We praise You that You are our advocate (Heb 4:14), a father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows (Psalms 68:5). Lord, let us do Your work on earth to care for our homeless students. We need Your help so that we can see which of our students are experiencing homelessness. Open our eyes and let us draw near to them and comfort them during this difficult time (Jas 1:27). Help us to help them and protect them from those who may want to take advantage of them during their time of weakness (Ex 22:22).

Dear Lord, for those who lack food and clothing, may we have opportunity and provision so that we can provide for them (Deut 10:18). You can bless the work of our hands and bring provision to these students and their families (Deut 14:29). Meanwhile, we also pray that You protect the physical safety of these children. You are their protector, God Almighty, keeping safe from sword those who have no father or power (Job 5:15). When these people are suffering, let us see their trouble and grief as You do, and may we act immediately and with diligence to help them as their needs require (Ps 10:14). And, Lord, for the homeless children who are not in schools and receiving support, let them come and receive Your love through Your people.

As Christian teachers, may we, above others, defend the weak, the poor, and fatherless and maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed (Ps 82:3). Do not let us be so busy with our daily responsibilities that we become unaware of these needs in the lives of our children. Let us be merciful as You are merciful (Luk 6:36). Let us imitate Christ in reaching out to the sick, poor, and needy for the glory of God, acting without judgment, and showing abounding love and compassion. We can only do these things well by the power of Your Holy Spirit and so we ask You to accomplish Your work through us at each opportunity. We praise You Lord for Your loving work through us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Feeling Displaced and Uncertain

March 6, 2024May 16, 2024 Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, we pray for Christian teachers who may feel displaced today. We pray against loneliness, uncertainty, and fear because You are our keeper (Ps 121:5), ever-present and ministering to our souls (Ps 139:7-10).

For those who feel like they are strangers or suffer from Imposter Syndrome, let them be assured in their identity in Christ, remembering that they are no longer strangers and aliens with You, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph 2:19), called to their place of ministry (Eph 2:10) and empowered by You Who made heaven and earth (Jer 32:17;27).

For those who do not have fellowship with other believers because they are new to an area or because there is no local church to sustain them, let them find they have the ultimate fellowship with You which provides all they need (2 Cor 13:14; Phil 2:1). Build them up through Christian radio, theologically sound books and podcasts, and conversations with people of faith in other locations. In this time of suffering, encourage their hearts that this can cause them to cling to God as never before and result in spiritual growth (Rom 5:3-5) and deeper fellowship with You. Lord, minister to these believers, reminding them that they possess an immovable union with Christ, that they are led by Your Spirit and they have communion with You at all times (1 John 1:3; 1 Cor 6:17). During solitary meals or isolation in their classrooms, remind their hearts that they are at home in You and let them find rest for their souls in Your Word (Ps 62:5; 1 Pet 5:10; Ps 119:114,162).

Lord, in this time of isolation or uncertainty, we pray that You reveal to our displaced brothers and sisters that they are blessed by You because they will discover Your goodness and grow in their ability to trust in You (Pv 16:20b). Let our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom You send us in Christ, remind them of everything You have said to them in Your Word, leading to a rich and rewarding peace from You alone (John 14:26-27).

Finally, Lord, remind them of these ten blessings from Romans 5:1-5: (1) We stand before You in purity, just as if we had never sinned (2) You give us peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (3) You give us access by faith into this grace, helping us stand (4) You set our minds to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God to be displayed in our everyday circumstances (5) You let us rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (6) You work endurance which produces character (7) You create character in us which produces hope in our daily walk (8) Your hope does not put us to shame here on earth (9) Your love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (10) The Holy Spirit has been given to us, indwelling us, marking us, preserving us, empowering us, setting us apart in holiness, and counseling us.

Let each one rest in You through these great promises. Praise You, Lord. Amen.

Commitment to Serve Amidst Apathy

February 29, 2024May 16, 2024 Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, You designed the earth and humanity to be fruitful and productive. We long for You to make things return to Your perfect design. Meanwhile, many of our students struggle more and more with a lack of motivation to participate in educational efforts. Lord, we ask You to give them a sense of curiosity. Open their hearts to wisdom and let them learn from us. Let our students have softened hearts and let them gain knowledge so they will become active members of society.

Meanwhile, Lord, do not let the apathy of our students reduce our commitment to serve You on this mission field. Let us extend Your love and thoughtful care to all students, especially those who are resistant. Please fill us with Your patience also, giving us the grace to wait as for rains upon crops, establishing our hearts in trust of Your perfect timing for each concern, keeping us steadfast, and allowing us to imitate Your compassion and mercy toward each student. In these things, we know our labor for Your glory is never in vain.

Finally, Lord, let us prepare thoughtful lessons, considering how to stir up one another to love and good works. Let us, by our example of a godly life, faithfully point their hearts to desire Your ways that they may have hearts of flesh and not hearts of stone, rightly prepared to receive the gospel when You determine the time. Thank you, Lord, that You care deeply for all people. Let us do the same and give You the honor You deserve. Amen. (Lk 8:18; Mt 5:48; Jas 5:7-11; 1 Cor 15:58; Eph 5:1; Heb 10:24; Ez 36:26).

Tag: God is our Creator