The start of a new school year is one of my favorite times! It’s just bubbling with excitement and possibility!

Whether you have a child going to a building or staying home for their education, it’s always a good idea to ask for God’s provision and guidance as they spend the next nine months learning. In addition to that, when we pray for our kids it’s a great reminder that their character isn’t just shaped by us.

We parent in partnership with our Heavenly Father. And thank the Lord for that!

You can take the following prayers and pray them all at once with your child. You could post them by your door and pray one/day before they leave the house. Maybe you don’t use these prayers at all, but they make you think of your own. However this guide finds you, I hope both you and your children will have a great school year and that you will all grow (most importantly) in your knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Prayers for the 2023-24 School Year

As I was prepping this year’s Back to School Prayer guide I was drawn to the word wisdom, so that will be our focus. Here are four ways to pray for wisdom for your children based off Scripture.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7

We can raise the smartest kids… that lack wisdom. This year, as our kids spend hours each day learning facts, let’s pray that they would grow in True Knowledge.

Dear Jesus, thank you that ________ has the opportunity to grow in knowledge at school, today. Please help him to grow in True Knowledge – the knowledge of You. I ask that you would help him desire wisdom and find joy in discipline.

The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

Heavenly wisdom affects the heart and changes behavior. The types of people that are well respected in this world and honoring to the Lord have Christ-like behavior, so let’s ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate that in our kids this year.

Holy Spirit, you are the only one that can change a heart. I ask that you would work in ________’s heart today. Please help her to be pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. I ask for a heart that would love Jesus and overflow with heavenly wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:5

When we encounter situations that are confusing we tend to rely on our own understanding. But the God who knows all and sees all is ready and willing to give us wisdom! This is a great Scripture to pray for our kids AND to remind them of. When they’re away from us and need help, the best thing they can do is pray.

Father, I just want to ask that you would remind ________ to rely on you today. If he finds himself in a situation where he needs wisdom, please prompt him to ask you instead of relying on himself.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20

Godly friendships – that’s what we want for our kids, right? Let’s not leave it to chance. Let’s talk to our kids about who they’re surrounding themselves with and ask the Lord to provide wise friends.

Dear Jesus, I ask that ________ will surround herself with wise friends and not fools today. I also pray that as you grow her character, she will be an example to her classmates. I pray that the other children will become more wise because of their friendship with her.

I don’t know about you, but I need to pray all those things for myself! However, it’s a great honor to pray them for my kids. If you have any scriptures you like to pray over your kids at the start of the school year I’d love to know!

But before you go, can I pray for you?

Lord, I pray for the person on the other side of this screen. They obviously want to honor you and raise kids that know you. I ask that you would give them wisdom in parenting. I ask that you would help them to know Jesus and experience your power in their life in ways they couldn’t even imagine. Holy Spirit please help them to love the Word of God and walk in obedience to Jesus. I pray the same for their kids and ask that their entire family would be so loving and gracious that other families would find hope and salvation because of their example. Thank you for the opportunity to pray for them. I love and praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Because there’s a better way,
Sarah