We are sharing a series of blogs focused specifically on praying over the new school year. For the next 10 days we will be praying over parents, teachers, administrators, support staff and students. Please share your prayer in the comments or join us on Facebook to post your prayer there!
Gracious Father,
You are glorious and good. We praise You for being “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (Ps. 103:8). We know that every good gift comes from You (Jas. 1:17) and we come before You now, with humility, asking for You to pour out Your grace upon us.
The school year is quickly approaching, Lord, and with it comes busier schedules and demanding days. We want our children to grow and flourish, and we want You to use us to help draw them to Yourself. But we know we cannot do it apart from Your Spirit. Fill us with the power of Your Spirit so we can display wisdom, grace, and love to our kids. Your word tells us that the wisdom You give is “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (Jas. 3:17). Oh Lord, how we need Your wisdom! So often we feel inadequate to the task of parenting. We sometimes struggle with which choice to make, how to instruct, discipline, and care for our little neighbors in our home. But we trust You. You have placed them in our care, and we turn to You to give us the wisdom we need to bring them up. We know we sin and fail, so we lean into the One who never does. In our weaknesses, may we point them to You. Forgive us for our impatience and selfishness. Grow us in the fruits of Your Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) that we may love the blessings you have entrusted to us. We want to love with Your perfect love.
In this new school year, Lord, as we still deal with variables and unknowns, use us to radiate Your peace to our children. Ours is a peace that is settled no matter the external circumstances because it rests in You. Our peace is truly “other-worldly” because our hope is fixed on our true home, where our risen Savior awaits. We can endure hardships because we know the end of the story. Give us this peace. And please let it so overflow in our hearts that it spills over to our kids.
Thank You, Father, that You have promised if we are redeemed, You will “never leave us nor forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5). In this beautiful, difficult journey of parenting, You will remain faithful. You will help us and edify us. We are so grateful.
By Lizzi Sim
Lizzi has spent most her adult life in the PNW. She loves walks with her husband, conversing in silly songs with her 4 boys, and learning about theology and ethics. Lizzi always likes coffee and usually likes homeschooling.
