Did your kids go back to school today? Are you breathing a sigh of relief or are you a little teary because your kiddos have left the nest? Either way, back-to-school is a great time to pray for your kids, their teachers + classmates, and even yourself.
There are two types of prayers I love to pray:
- The no-holds-barred, emotional prayers that come from whatever I’m dealing with at the moment.
- Prayers that come directly from truths in Scripture.
If you’re dealing with some strong emotions today, I just want to remind you that it’s totally ok to tell God what you’re dealing with.
You don’t have to pray perfectly worded prayers because prayer is just a conversation. So, whether you’re excited to have some quiet, nervous about the school year, or frustrated by the drop off line… just talk to God about it.
If off-the-cuff chatter with God is your norm, I want to offer you some more scripted prayers that you can pray today, and throughout the school year, for your family and all the people your kids will encounter.
It’s super easy! All you’re going to do is take a Scripture and add in the name of whoever you want to pray for. You can choose your own verses, but here are a few good ones and what it looks like to pray them for someone specific.
‘LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT. AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT: ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
Matthew 22:37-39
PRAYER: God, thank you for Evan. I pray this school year that you would help him to love you with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his mind. I also pray that you would help him to love his teacher and classmates as himself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING.
Proverbs 9:10
PRAYER: God, thank you for Taya. I pray this school year that as she grows in her knowledge and understanding of math, english, and science that she would grow even more in her knowledge of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” DECLARES THE LORD, “PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.”
Jeremiah 29:11
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for Evan’s classmates. I ask that you would use our family to show them your love. And I pray they would come to know that you have plans for THEM; plans to prosper and not to harm them, plans to give them a hope and a future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY SON, DO NOT FORGET MY TEACHING, BUT KEEP MY COMMANDS IN YOUR HEART, FOR THEY WILL PROLONG YOUR LIFE MANY YEARS AND BRING YOU PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
Proverbs 3:1-2
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for Taya’s teacher. As she’s teaching her class this year and helping them to keep HER commands I pray that she would come to know and keep YOUR commands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
These are just some examples and I hope they opened your mind to a different way to pray.
But before you go I’d love to pray for YOU ?
God, I thank you for the person reading this blog. This school year is a new opportunity for you to show them your love, care, and provision. It’s also a new opportunity for you to shine your light through them. I pray first, and foremost, that they would love you with all their heart, soul, and mind. I pray that you would strengthen their family. I pray that you would protect their mind and the minds of their children. I pray that you would hold them all close and bring them so much joy that the people they come into contact this year would be drawn to You because of them. Thank you, God, for who you are, what you’ve done, and what you’ll do this year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Because there’s a better way,
Trent + Sarah
ps. Do you have a Scripture you love to pray? Let us know in a comment!?
