40 Days of Prayer for Education - Day 6

Day 6:

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 94:19 (NKJV)

Today I want us to focus on the fact that the comforts of God can delight our soul.

Think about the word comfort…

Words like relief, consolation, soothing, reassure, and ease come to mind.

Think about the word delight…

Words like pleasure, enjoyment, satisfaction, and joy come to mind.  

Now, let’s pray…

Dear Jesus, the Delight of our soul,

We call upon Your Holy Spirit now thanking You for placing it on the inside of us.  Thank You that when our anxieties rise up and begin to overwhelm us, all we have to do is look within ourselves; not to our own strength, but to Your Spirit that dwells within..  Thank You Jesus for being our relief, our soothing consolation and reassuring presence that puts us at ease.  Thank You for giving us pleasure, enjoyment, satisfaction, and joy. 

While we are planning for the new school year, setting up our classrooms, meeting new coworkers and students, and learning new teaching expectations, strategies, and protocols, calm the anxieties within us and replace them with Your comfort.  Your word says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength”. So, we take solace in You Jesus, our strength, because in You, God was well pleased.  You were His joy and now You are our strength. There is no worry you can’t calm, no anxiety that you can’t soothe.  For that we give You praise!

 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

40 Days of Prayer for Education - Day 5

Day 5:

“…for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you;

for I have many people in this city.”

Acts 18:10 _(NKJV)

I often end my blogs with the message, “The Lord is with you and you are loved.” In this eighteenth chapter of the book of Acts, we find another example of that familiar biblical theme.  The author, Luke, continues on with his account of the Apostle Paul’s missionary trips as Paul arrives in the city of Corinth. 

Here we find Paul working as a tentmaker with some fellow believers while spreading the gospel. When his fellow evangelist, Silas and young mentee, Timothy, show up, Paul focuses exclusively on preaching the gospel to the local Jews.

Some Jews believe and some don’t even to the point of becoming downright abusive towards Paul. Instead of returning their anger with anger and trying to force them to listen, Paul, states that he will share the gospel with the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) instead.

Although the synagogue leader and other Jews received the message of the Gospel after this, Paul apparently still must have felt some kind of way about his personal safety in that city because God came to him in a vision and told him, “I am with you.  No one will attack to hurt you; I have a lot of people in this city.”

I just want to remind you of a few things that God’s educators will need to keep at the forefront of their minds.

1)   God is with us.  That means just what it says.  He is aware of everything that is going on in us, to us, and around us.  His perfect love only wants what is best for us and those are the plans that He has for us.

2)   God did not want Paul to feel afraid or to timidly carry out his assignment.  Instead, He wanted Paul to feel free to move, preach and teach boldly anywhere in that city.  God desires the same in us. We are to operate boldly in our various assignments of sharing the Light and living as children of the Light this upcoming school year.

3)   You don’t have to know every Christian on your job.  Just know you are not the only one. They are sitting in your classroom with you, standing behind you in the copy line, serving lunch, driving the bus, leading the school, and coaching the team.  Live so that you stand out to one another. Then connect so that you can make a difference!

Today’s prayer:

Dear loving heavenly Father,

Today, we rejoice in what it means for You to be with us.  We lay claim to the heavenly protection and provision You offer and thank You for our daily supply of grace and mercy.  As we perform the daily duties of our job, enlighten us to our God-given assignments a well.  May we boldly carry out Your plans while only being concerned with Your reaction rather than the reactions of others.

Give us discernment to find Your other sons and daughters in our school and grant us the opportunity to make connections for edification, encouragement, and prayer so that where we work might be blessed even more. 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

40 Days of Prayer for Education - Day 4

Day 4:

 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that _(NIV)I will be free from pain/ _(NKJV)I may not cause pain.” And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10 New International Version (NIV)

Today’s prayer:

Dear gracious Father God in heaven,

We cry out to You today, “Oh that You would bless me.  Bless my school.  Bless my division and bless my city!” Father as we ask for You to enlarge our territory, equip us to maintain and cultivate in excellence all that You provide.  Let Your hand be with us. With Your hand, steer us in the right direction. With Your hand, comfort us in distress.  With Your hand, silence the mouth of the enemy and erase his plans against us.  With Your hand, protect us and fight on our behalf.  Almighty God keep us from all harm.  Protect us against physical violence, racial attacks, verbal abuse, disrespect, angry outbursts, slander, administrative bullying, being ostracized by coworkers, depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.  May we have a school year free from pain. Bless us to be filled with Your love, mercy, and grace that we may not be the cause of pain to anyone. Grant these requests from Your appointed educators Father God.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

40 Days of Prayer for Education - Day 3

Day 3:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

I saw a post on Facebook today from another teacher who is very anxious about the upcoming school year.  She described the reasons for her worry and ended her post with the question, “Should I be this anxious?”  I’m glad she received comments that encouraged her and gave her advice instead of just brushing off her concern with a “You can do it”.  The stress that new teachers and teachers that are changing grade levels or schools can be overwhelming. The fear that develops can be debilitating and crippling.  Unfortunately, when one gives in to it, it hinders them from trusting and allowing God to be God. 

Two days ago, I shared that everything about the upcoming school year is new for me. The process of starting all over, packing up twelve years of teaching from my former school, (well… twenty-three total… I’m sort of a packrat) and going to another division, school, and grade level seriously took me through every emotion.

Let me backtrack… the fear that I wouldn’t be hired because I’m not a young teacher bringing in a wealth of new methods and energy to learn a whole lot of new ones gripped me.  The fear that the only offer I would get would be at a school I didn’t want to teach haunted me. 

                                      But God took me through…

He held my hand and sat with me through every interview (good and bad) and He blessed me with a job.

                                      However, my fear didn’t stop there…

I’ve been scared, really scared about starting this new position at my new school.  Everyone around here who’s heard me utter its name has not said a single positive thing about it.  I’ve also been scared, really scared about not finding a new house before school starts.  Everyday was filled in some kind of way with doubt and anxiety about my future.

But let me share something that I’ve been taught, and that the Lord called back to remembrance.  The word fear has been broken down into this definition:

                                               

When I heard a minister preach a word about our God-given purpose, I realized the devil really must not want me at that school to continue pestering me so much.  It was the enemy who was presenting false evidence against the word of God over my life. So, I got busy praying first for my mind and then for my new assignment, that I would be faithful to it and fulfill God’s purpose.  I also was reminded that God has no intention of harming me and His plans are ultimately for my good. The same goes for you too.  However, we must stay obedient, stay in His presence, stay faithful, and stay patient.  He is faithful and just and only gives good gifts. Jesus is not the one who gave you or I the fear we may embrace at the start of a school year or a new anything. Jesus is the One who has given us His power, His love, and His mind.

Join with me in praying today’s prayer:

Dear faithful and loving Lord Jesus,

We look to You today as the author and finisher of our faith.  We know You to be all-knowing and loving to Your sons and daughters.  We, however, do not always trust Your plans for us.  We sometimes accept the lies of satan as real and shake our heads in disbelief at the possibilities and willingness of Your abilities while trembling at the fear of the unknown.  Jesus, help our unbelief!

We ask you to bless those teachers going through major changes with Your peace…that peace that passes all understanding.  Bless our teachers who are new to the profession with the resources of time, energy, finances, lesson plans, and wise counsel to prepare for this school year. Bless our teachers who are changing grade levels with the resources of time, energy, finances, lesson plans, understanding of the new standards and unity with their new coworkers.  Bless our teachers who are changing schools and divisions with the resources of time, energy, finance, an understanding of the curriculums, unity with their new coworkers, and favor with their administrators.   Even now while we pray, we lift up ________________(_{name someone to whom this may apply}) and speak a removal of their doubt and fear and release Your peace and power in their life.  To You who are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or imagine, according to the power that works in us, to You be all the glory, honor and praise.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

 

The Lord is with you and you are loved!

40 Days of Prayer for Education - Day 2

Day 2:

Then I was constantly at His side.

I was filled with delight day after day,

rejoicing always in His presence,

Proverbs 8:30 

_{New International Version (NIV)}

Our prayer today comes from the book of Proverbs. This book has hundreds of little nuggets of wisdom that, although written thousands of years ago, has never lost its ability to be embraced regardless of generation or culture.  

We find this verse nearing the end of a self-introduction by the Spirit of Wisdom. (I always have found this fascinating.) In this, she explains where you can find her, promises associated with seeking and obtaining her, and her role as a co-laborer with the Almighty God.

While our God truly needs no help from us to do anything, He has always used His creation (all things in the heavens above and the earth below) to declare His works and His ways to mankind.  It is here in Proverbs 8 that we learn the Spirit of Wisdom was right beside Him while He created the expanse of the universe. She was there peering over His shoulder and adding her two cents while He created our galaxy, Earth, and mankind.  It was Wisdom who was an assistant in the development of what we call “creation”.  

It’s not hard to believe her when she promises that she is readily available to be a blessing as well as a path to life and favor with the Lord because she has a relationship with God.  There are several translations that give us a clearer understanding of her role.

New Living Translation:  “ I was the architect at His side.”

New King James Version:  “I was beside Him as a master craftsman.”

Dear educator, as we begin this new school year, it is my prayer that we accept the assignment given to us by Jesus. He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill that purpose in His power. Daily we are to work side by side with our Lord and Savior in our schools. Co-laboring with Him is the only way to do this job!

Today’s prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I come before You as a willing worker.  Help me to utilize everything You have placed in me to fulfill the assignment to create a place in my school for Your presence to be revealed, recognized, and remembered.  May I consult with you daily and delight in Your plans.  Forgive me now Lord, if I have been complaining about my assigned school, grade level, students on my list, parents in my class, coworkers, or administrators. Instead, may I rejoice in how You choose to lead and use me this year.  Fill me, Jesus, with a heart of wonderment and amazement at Your abilities as I work side by side with You every day.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Lord is with you and you are loved! 

40 Days of Prayer for Education - Day 1

Day 1 

 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].”

Revelation 21:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)

I picked up a new card game the other day to keep our family entertained during these last few weeks of summer break.  I don’t know if you’ve heard of it or not.  It’s called, “DOS”… like “uno, dos, tres”, from the makers of the game “UNO”…of course…

Well, I figured it would be really easy to play, you know just holler out “dos” when you get down to two cards, instead of hollering out “uno” when you get down to one. Uh-uh, no ma’am!  This game has NEW cards, NEW rules, and NEW ways of getting points.  If I cracked open this deck and started playing using the rules of “UNO”, the result would be utter confusion!

Take me for instance; my family has just moved from our home of twelve years in a rural country setting to an urban area over a hundred miles east.  I am now in a new school division, at a new school, teaching a new grade level, waiting in my new apartment before moving into my new dream home. Aaaaannd I just learned last week that my new school will now have a new, earlier, start time!   But don’t cry for me (Argentina) … I also got a new salary! (Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!)

Whether or not you possess all the “newness” that I have on my plate, your return to this school year should be seen through the fresh, new eyes of Christ!  God may be the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. WE, on the other hand, are never to remain stagnant regardless of how fixed things may seem from year to year.  God charges us in His Word to grow in His grace and in His knowledge, daily dying to self, always pressing towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. He truly makes all things new! 

The beginning of a new school year will be here before we know it.  Let's not enter this

year playing by last year’s rules. Toss them!  Let's crack open a new pack and get familiar with how God wants us to play! 

Determine to read and seek wisdom in His Word. 
Determine to start everything that you do with Him and you will win!

Today’s prayer:

Dear Jesus,

I come before you today thanking You for being our Sovereign God.  Thank you for being all-wise, all-knowing, in and out of time, all-loving, and in control.  As I begin this school year, I pray that my heart is encouraged as it is knit together with yours in love.  May I have the full assurance of understanding my salvation in You, develop a deeper intimacy with You this school year and grow in Christ Jesus in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Open up this knowledge to me, bless me with the treasures of wisdom this school year so that I may give You glory as Your Holy Spirit guides me in fulfilling every assignment You have for me.  I know some things may not be easy this year and I may not like everything that comes my way, but may I always seek You first in everything, big or small and obey Your counsel. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

The Lord is with you and you are loved! 

2019-20 School Year Invitation to Prayer

Forty Days of Prayer for Education 2019

Sometime in 2015, I was given a little blank notebook. It was one those you might find in the dollar section of Target.  You know, all bedazzled, covered in shiny fabric and ready for a little girl to scribble in a multitude of hearts and rainbows.  I put it to the side for a while, (not being one to madly scribble hearts and rainbows) since I was clueless on how to use that little blank girly-girl book.  One day, after easily plucking off the fake gems, I took out a Sharpie and

wrote, “Scriptures for Teachers” on the front and resolved to fill up its pages so that I might have a pocket-sized prayer book with scripture just for my job.   While it's not the prettiest thing now, it has proven helpful over the years to provide a mid-day breather  during lunch, focus my thinking before I start my planning period, and assure me at the end of a rough day.

This year, in the spirit of newness, I’m deviating from simply reposting the blog entries from my e-book, “Forty Days of Prayer for Education” (though you're certainly welcome to go back into the archives and retrieve them), to pull from my little jewel plucked book of scriptures to share a prayer and maybe a thought or two as we prepare for this upcoming school year.  

Please feel free to send in your prayers and prayer requests.  I’d like to share them with your permission with everyone who logs on.  So join me, tell a friend and ask your church to begin to pray daily for the schools surrounding the church as well as those where their members may are working.   The wise men and women of the bible all inquired of the Lord before beginning any endeavor and sometimes they even double checked even when they heard if straight from heaven itself! 

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for blessing us with this assignment to educate YOUR students.  Thank You for this privilege.  Now as your servant Ezra did, we are coming to you to pray for a right and safe way for us and our children this school year.  Guide us in this time of prayer that we may pray fervently, effectively, and not amiss for our own personal gain.  We love and honor You,

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

* 40 Days of Prayer for Education official starts this Friday!  I'll be posting on Facebook and Twitter as well!