back to school prayer
Today's the day! Many of us will be crying as we drop off a first time student today. Some of us will be standing on the yellow line singing the Hallelujah Chorus as the bus drives away. Still others are a whirling mixture of emotions. No matter what's going on inside you, today's the day. Our kids walk out of our door, and even if we have been desperate for that moment of downtime, we are just as much struck by the heart pangs that their absence brings. We'll be waiting to hear how their days went, worrying about how it's going, hopeful that the year will be off to a good start.
Mamas, we'd be fools if we didn't take those moments, when all of a sudden there's a quiet, even as littler ones play, to pray for them. It's been a long and busy summer, culminating in sending them off today, so here are a couple ways we can pray for our kids today.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Father, God, we ask that as our kids go out into their schools today that You would fill their minds and hearts with Your Word. That as we've talked with them in the car, as we tucked them into bed at night, as we prayed with them in the morning, as we sat through those church services with wiggly toddlers, that all of that would not return void. We know it won't! Lord, fill them with your Word.
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord...”
Father, this! That they would have a spirit of power and love and self-control. We know You've given it, help them to realize they have it, to rely on you, to use the gifts that you've given them.
Father, God, sometimes it's so hard in these school age years, even for us as adults, when all we want is to fit in, to not stand out. Lord, I pray that they would never be ashamed of You. That You would be their most prized affection.
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
We pray today that even in their youth, they would be an example to their friends, their schools, even us. Let the fruit of your Spirit overflow from their lives.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Lord, help our kids to make wise choices, in the words that they speak and the things that they do, but also in the company they keep. Father, provide friends who will spur them on towards You. Provide other adults who will encourage them, guide them and always point them to You. It's so easy to want to be the everything in our kids' lives. Give us humble hearts to see the good that others pouring into our kids will do.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Mostly, Father, we know that these are your children. You have created them and loved them. So today we once again lay them at your feet, asking your protection over them, but even more your tugging on their hearts within them. Let them know you. Let them praise you all the days of their lives. Amen.
