Tag: God is our Provider

Thank God for Fellow Believers

Featured Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, we praise You for the people You have placed in our path, past and present, who are believers and servants of Christ. In this, we give You glory for Your design of the Body of Christ, and the spiritual blessings You have lavished on every individual. John F. Kennedy once said, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” and we are also lifted up through the actions and encouragement of the saints.

Those who served before our time even build us up in Christ. We praise You God for those who wrote poetry, music, devotions, diaries, apologetics, fiction, governing documents, and commentaries. Each of these things contributes to our well-being today.

Praise You for our contemporaries who expound on the word of God through preaching, teaching, and book-writing, and for those believers everywhere who pray for things we don’t even think to pray for. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for those who serve by running errands, cooking meals, cleaning, gardening, shoveling snow, repairing or decorating facilities, planning improvements, working with technology, playing music, providing security, designing Bible studies, counseling, organizing missions, visiting the sick, providing frontline communication, caring for children, providing for the poor, speaking words of encouragement, extending hospitality and listening to those with burdens.

We pray for the saints who are isolated from a body of believers: let them have fellowship in Christ first, for their total satisfaction, and give them fellowship with others somehow, even if only through technology.

Father, You have called us to serve one another in love, and Your design is beautiful. Let us give You glory and cause others to desire a relationship with You because we are faithful. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Rom 12:10; Gal 5:13, 6:10; Eph 4:2; 1 Thess 4:18; Heb 10:24

Find Peace in God’s Loveliness

Featured Joy Bennett

Praise God Who is Ever Present, Our Peace, Advocate, Healer and Provider

Dear Lord, we come to You with praise for Your loveliness. We are captivated by Your moral perfection, goodness, holiness, and unsearchable glory. You are worthy of our worship for countless reasons. Thank You Lord for blessing us by sharing Your character: Your constant presence (Ps 46:1) and Your peace (Rom 5:1). Our hearts are blessed because You are our Great High Priest and Advocate (Heb 4:14; Rom 8:26,34). And we give You glory for being the Healer of our souls and bodies (Deut 32:39; Is 53:5), and for being our Provider who has already foreseen our every need and graciously provided for them (Rom 8:32; 2 Cor 9:8).

Prayer for Our Minds to Focus on His Loveliness

We pray for teachers everywhere to have a fresh perspective of Your praiseworthy and delightful character. Let Your people be captivated by Your glory as by the unsearchable glow of flames in a late-night campfire.  Every day we have opportunities and challenges within our schools and we desire Your peace. Place Your Word in our hearts to remind us of Your peace which comes by delighting in Your beauty. You are worth everything to us. Help us be the teachers, mentors, colleagues, and servants You can use to show the world Who You Are. Lord, cause our hearts to rejoice in Your forgiveness, longsuffering, mercy, kindness, goodness, grace, and indwelling Holy Spirit.  You are lovely beyond compare.  What do we find attractive in this world but the good You have worked here: creation; the image of God in humanity, and Your Word? Flood our hearts with Your Truth for Your beauty never ceases to please our souls. In Jesus’s Name, we pray. Amen.

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of hosts!

My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O LORD of hosts,

my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house,

ever singing your praise! Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca

they make it a place of springs;

the early rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;

each one appears before God in Zion.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;

give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed!

For a day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold

from those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts,

blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Ps 84)

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 Parents 

Featured Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, thank You that nothing is outside of Your infinite knowledge and that You know the needs of all mankind (Ps 139:1-6; Pv 5:21). We also praise You for knowing our need for a savior and that You sent Your Son to die for the sins of man, even to be God with us, providing all that You are to meet our every need (Is 7:14; Mat 1:22-23). Lord, we pray today for the parents of every child, for Your knowledge is perfect and Your power to meet their needs is infinite.

There is an entire generation, if not more, of parents who have been disempowered by the lies of society and they do not know how to raise their children. Lord, we ask for Your truth to prevail in the minds of parents everywhere. Lord, show them that the path of truth is the path of peace they’re seeking (Is 59:8, 20-21; John 14:6,27). We also pray for these parents to have tools for loving discipline and incentives for their children, recognizing that parents may also need mentors to speak into their lives regularly. Lord, let them learn to model forgiveness and create peace-filled homes. Let them model humility, not entitlement, kindness, not self-centeredness.

Parents also need insight and we ask You Lord to help them intercept damaging friendships their children might have. Let them also see how technology is affecting their children and give them the courage and steadfast determination to manage it well. We pray for insight into health problems their children may have and ask You to guide them to proper medical care. And, with insight, let them see where boundaries and discipline may be needed over medication for behavior problems. For those who are raising older children, we pray that you give each parent currency with their child so that there are meaningful tools the parent can use when coaching their child to maturity.

The attitudes of parents toward their children can be a difference-maker as well. Lord, we ask You to guide parents to be helpful and supportive, but not overbearing. Give them the commitment to spending intentional time with their kids so they will understand how to treat others well and learn how to properly respond to frustrations.

Lord, we pray for the interactions of parents with school personnel. Lord, let humility and kindness prevail when parents work with school staff. Prevent parents from being deceived by the words of their children who may pit their parents against the authorities at school. We pray that parents will be reasonable, not angry, but kind, not rude or self-serving, but patient. Give parents a deep appreciation for the work of school staff which includes incalculable interruptions, discipline issues, and a never-ending to-do list. And, let them see that the staff members want what is best for every child.

Finally, Lord, we pray for Christian parents, grandparents, and foster parents to faithfully point their children to the gospel. Let their families be especially effective and loving toward the community.  Guide them to be a strong witness for You and Your goodness, love, mercy, compassion, grace, and peace. Let them especially watch out for children who do not have what they need at home, and let them have a heart for providing for those children’s needs. Give those parents a consistent inclination to pray for schools, staff, students, and other parents, Let them serve in schools as volunteers who shine their light before men and help their schools experience the goodness of God. Let them understand that their work of love promotes softened hearts in others which cultivates the ground for receiving the gospel.

Finally, Lord, where parents are struggling, where grandparents are raising grandchildren, where foster parents are serving, where any children are being raised by adults who are not their parents, we pray for Your special mercies and grace. And, for Your glory, we ask that Your wisdom abound to every parent seeking to raise their children well. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

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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.

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Refuge in Adversity

Featured Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, as Christian teachers we face adversity and trials in our personal lives, as well as our school lives. Yet, You are most certainly our place of security. You are the Most High, Almighty, LORD, God – what affirming reminders of Your sufficiency as our refuge! Let us abide in you, for then we are secure. Let us experience the immovable, unshakeable assurance that our fellowship with You, our enjoyment of You, our meditation upon You, our living, breathing, and resting in You, are immovable and will not even be paused in the moment of our transition from mortality to immortality, from time to eternity.

Lord, because You are our refuge, let us confidently commit ourselves and our concerns to You in trust. We desire to rest in Your perfect care regarding all natural and spiritual dangers. Lord, we know that in You we have all that we need or could ever desire. Help us fix our eyes upon You and know You rightly so that we may have firm trust in what You allow in our lives, recognizing that Your will is nothing to fear because You have promised us Your love and protection from now through eternity. Help us also to remember that You have promised to judge sin and You will faithfully handle all of the adversity that surrounds us. You have placed us under Your powerful protection now and forever and Your care abounds in fatherly love and fierce defense.

We pray also regarding our frequent fears, that You satisfy us with faith in You, with deep trust and tranquil confidence in Your promises. You remind us in Your Word that the world harbors many matters of evil: accidents, destructive forces, secret and blatant misconduct, spiritual forces of darkness and temptation, and invisible works of disease, death, and destruction. However, in Your all-sufficient refuge, we have a most comforting shield and a place of divine rest. 

Lord, for Christian teachers throughout the world we pray that You build our faith in Your blessed strength and presence on our behalf. Let us rest in You and may our witness as Your people be evident as we cling to You in the process. In Jesus’s Name, we pray. Amen. (Ps 91:1-5)

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Discernment in Working with Parents

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).

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Prayers for Safety in Schools

Joy Bennett

Oh God Most High (Ps 7:17), our refuge and strength, our very present help in times of trouble, let us be strong in our confidence in You, regardless of the dangers on earth. We praise You, Lord Jesus, for Your saving work on the cross and Your overcoming power in Your Resurrection. We know that we are immortal until You are finished working in us on earth (2 Tim 1:10). You indwell Your people, making Your holy habitation with us and our salvation immovable. You are in our midst, always protecting us, and melting the most severe concerns. LORD of hosts, we praise You for such care. LORD, let us have eyes to see Your mighty works: how You control everything on earth, bringing wars to an end, and crushing the weapons of mankind. Let us also be still, and know that You are God, exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth. Our LORD of all armies and warfare, You are with us, holding us fast in Your ultimate security (Ps 46).

Lord, we ask for Your divine protection over our schools, students, staff, and families. We cry out to You as Your children, those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. Deliver us from all snares, plagues, and threats of destruction. Guard us in all our ways, let us walk in safety and protection. Remind us that, when we hold fast to You in love we are heard by You. You answer us when we call, You are with us in trouble, You rescue us and honor us, and with long life You will satisfy us, showing us Your salvation (Ps 91).

Thank You, Lord, that You go before us, causing us to dwell secure, at ease, and without dread of disaster (Prov 1:33). You are ever-present with Your people, keeping us secure on every side (Ps 139:5). Indeed we can think of no more secure a place than in the cover of Your majestic wings, just as the ark rested protected beneath the cherubim in the holy of holies (2 Chr 5:6-8). May You always be glorified as our protector and peace (Josh 24:17; Eph 2:14). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prayers for Teachers with Crisis at Home

Joy Bennett

Thank You, Lord, that You have seen our needs and You are The Great Provider (Gen 22:14), willing and able to meet every need of Your children, past, present, and future. We praise You for answering our prayers and supplying our desires according to Your perfect knowledge (Job 22:22-27). Lord, we thank You that when we see our situations as extreme, You see opportunity (Rom 5:3-5). We know that You never stop working, Lord, so let Your glory be seen in each of our lives when we are facing a crisis at home (Jud 1:25; Rom 8:18).

As we navigate our daily responsibilities at school, help us express humble honesty with staff and students, being wise in our actions and allowing Your power to shine brightest in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9; Pv 11:3; 18:12). Keep our hearts focused on You, strong in hope, and infuse us with supernatural energy to accomplish the work before us, at home, and work (Is 40:31).

We praise You for this mission field, Lord, and that though we cannot see tomorrow, You hold it faithfully in Your hand, dispensing sufficient grace to us, day by day (Pv 19:21; 27:1; Jer 29:11; 2 Cor 12:9). Bless each brother and sister with an awareness of this precious gift as they navigate home responsibilities and decisions. 

When there are countless phone calls, critical decisions, piles of paperwork, and intensely emotional conversations, Father, You are at our sides in all Your glory (Heb 13:5). We pray for You to assure Your children of Your power at work in them and Your presence to comfort them as You exercise Your wisdom over the circumstances of their lives. Lord, bring about Your perfect will in their situation, lavishing Your peace upon each one (Ps 46:1,10-11; 68:28;139). Let us be deeply grateful for all that belongs to our lives – for every high and low because You direct all these things for good and we could not have done without any of them and still have this deeply enjoyed You. Praise You, dear LORD. Amen.

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Feeling Displaced and Uncertain

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.

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Provision for Students’ Needs

Joy Bennett

Dear Lord, we are all in great need of You and Your grace (1 Sam 2:7-8), for nothing good comes apart from You (Ps 16:2). We humbly ask for Your powerful guidance as we proceed from day to day (Ps 143:10). 

Lord, open our eyes to see the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of our students (2 Pet 1:3) and give us hearts to pray and serve them well, for it is You alone who have the power to meet these needs (Phil 4:19). Energize our minds to stay current with planning and grading and to provide feedback and accountability (Ps 3:3-5). As we work with our students each week, give us a passion for getting to know each one, finding the weak and strengthening them, providing for the sick, binding up the injured, and building relationships with those who stray (Ez 34:1-10). Make us mindful of resources we can provide to those in physical, mental, and emotional need. Even more, let us pray diligently for their spiritual need because Your eternal storehouses have full provision for our every need (Mat 14:13-21; Mat 15:29-39; Num 27:15-18). 

Lord, strengthen our faith and direct our thinking so that we show each of our students, and their families, Your love, compassion, mercy, and care, so that You may be glorified in the work we do as Christian teachers (Mat 5:16; Rom 4:20). Their private lives are often invisible to us and when we are intentional to reach out, we learn of their struggles and can serve them better (1 King 17:8-16). In all these things, Lord, let us seek to do Your work, by Your power, by meeting the needs of our students and even their families (Neh 9:5-6). Let Your power work consistently through us for the greatest kingdom outcomes. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.

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