PAUSE and Pray: 5 Ways to Make a Powerful Difference in Our Schools

The dawn of a new school year arrives with sharpened pencils and the smell of new crayons.

Pre-K students wear backpacks that outsize them, and seniors celebrate the beginning of their last year.

Children and teenagers enjoy rekindling friendships, but dread homework.

Learner expectations are high. One kindergartener said to his mom at the end of his first day, “Mommy, you said I’d learn to read at school, but I didn’t.” Learning requires time, effort, and patience. Students need help as they navigate new friends and teachers in a world of steeper academic requirements.

Students need prayer.

Teacher expectations are high. As a former student, retired educator, mom, and grandmother, new school years excite me. I loved my teaching career, but I remember feeling like I was swimming underwater without taking a breath for the first six weeks back after summer break. Teaching requires time, effort, and patience–lots of each.

Teachers need prayer.

From my first-grade year through graduate school, butterflies danced in my stomach each year as I met new challenges. With my children in the past and now my grandchildren, the school butterflies return, but I’m learning to answer them with prayer.

For each grandchild, I pray for safety, wise teachers, academic achievement, and good friends. In addition to praying for our own families, we can include others.

Prayer Walks

A few weeks ago, I joined fellow church members in a prayer walk at the elementary school our church adopted. We walked up and down the halls praying for everyone who would soon enter the front doors.

Maybe you’d consider conducting a prayer walk at a neighborhood school early one morning or on a weekend. Gather friends, neighbors, or fellow church members. List needs and walk in pairs as you pray.

Prayer Drives

I like to pray for parents, children, and teachers as I ride by schools. Maybe you’d enjoy praying that way. We could even drive out of our way to cover more schools in prayer. We can ask students and teachers we know how we can pray for them as they learn and work.

Prayer allows us to stand in the gap and pray for people we don’t even know, as well as those we love. Prayer is a powerful tool that makes a powerful difference. 

The apostle Paul encouraged prayer.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.

(1Timothy 2:1 ESV)

Let’s PAUSE and PRAY during this school year, and let’s start today with 5 ways to make a powerful difference in our schools.

PAUSE & PRAY

1. P eople

Pray for the students, parents, and staff. Include teachers, administrators, counselors, custodians, office personnel, and cafeteria workers. Ask God to fill their hearts with joy and help them serve as a blessing to children and each other.

2. A chievement

Pray for students to learn and experience a sense of accomplishment. Lift to the Lord those who lack sufficient home support. Pray for those with who struggle and those who are learning English as an additional language.

3. U nity

Pray for parents and school personnel to work together for students, daily showing love, patience, and wisdom.

4. S afety

Ask God to keep schools in your community safe. Pray for student safety at home and at school. Ask God to lead children to form good friendships.

5. E ternal salvation

Pray for every person in the school community to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and gain salvation for now and eternity to come.  Paul’s words encourage us.

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

(Romans 10:1 ESV)

Your Turn

Please share your ideas or experiences you’ve had in praying for teachers and students.

 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

  (Colossians 4:2 ESV)

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