Back to School Prayers

It’s that time of year again! Our children are heading back to school. A new school year, a new beginning. School bells are ringing and yellow buses are running their routes. Whether our children are just starting kindergarten, entering high school, or leaving the nest for college, our hearts and hopes go with them.  

Many families spend the end of summer preparing for a new school year. Buying new clothes and school supplies and finding out about new classrooms and teachers are all part of the excitement. Family discussions about safety issues can help prepare students to face the many dangers they may face and prayer should be in those preparations.

I believe that it is very important to pray over our children as they start their new school year. I remember affectionally waking up in the middle of the night with my father covering us in prayer. The Bible teaches and Believers knows that prayers asking God for protection and guidance are essential when preparing for an unknown future. King David, writer of many of the Psalms, spent much of his life in perilous conditions. David attributed his survival to God as expressed in Psalms.

Christian prayers are conversations between God and Christ-followers. Christians believe that God is always listening.  Often children are comfortable praying to God, especially if they are young and have heard their parents pray. They don't worry about getting the words right or saying something wrong. You should encourage your children to make up their own prayers, and just talk to God as they would talk to their friends. Forcing a reluctant child to pray is not usually helpful. Instead, a parent can pray for the child as he or she listens. Remind students of the belief that prayer help is available immediately, no matter where they are or what is happening. 

There are so many negative influences out there and we have to remain prayerful and active in our children’s lives. Christians must remember that asking God for protection should not be seen as putting on a magic cloak of invincibility; children should be reminded of this point. It is not wise to go blindly and stupidly into perilous situations with an arrogant attitude because of faith in God’s protection.

A Christian parent may find it helpful to discuss the instructions Jesus gave his disciples when he sent them out on journeys to share the good news. He said, "Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naive.” Matthew 10:16-17a  (The Message).

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Dear Lord,

Thank you for the gift of education. As I send my child/children out into the world today, I know that you go before them. I ask for your presence to be their protection from all harm, both physically and emotionally.

Thank you for the teachers and administrators who have made it their life’s work to enlighten the minds of children. May they have wisdom and strength to succeed in this task daily. I pray financial blessing for our school, that they would have every resource they need to flourish this year.

Open my child’s mind to learning and their heart to understanding as they encounter new information and ideas daily. May they not become overwhelmed but rather delight in new experiences. Give their teachers eyes to see their needs and the needs of every child in the class. Grant them great grace to meet those needs today.

I ask for you to surround my child with good friends and encouraging classmates. May they be a blessing and a source of hope to those they come in contact with. Heavenly Father, I come to You and I ask You to loose your angels into our homes, school buses, schools, and playgrounds to force out all of satan’s demonic spirits and strongmen and to force them to go wherever You wish to send them. Heavenly Father, I ask You to cover their classmates, teachers, principal, school, home, playground, and family with the protective blood of Jesus Christ. I ask You to loose Your angels around them to protect and guard them from the enemy.  

God, I know that my child’s education is a partnership between our family and the school. I pray for unity and peace as together, we work to build up my child in knowledge and confidence. Thank you for providing us a wonderful,  education. In Jesus Name, Amen.