A Prayer for Back to School

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Ugh. Oh my. Back to school? I do not feel prepared to even think about school supplies- much less shop and prepare for school to begin!

But there is one thing I typically begin doing, even before now.

The one thing that saves me from going crazy over whether or not our schooling decisions are the right ones for the year.

The one thing that keeps me from obsessing over whether or not the shoes will last for more than one season.

Or whether I should have bought the mechanical style pencils or not.

That one thing…. is to pray.

So I pass on my prayer for back to school to you.

And together, we can give it to God-

this future school year with its ups and downs, curves and flatlines, valleys and mountains.

We can offer up school prayers for our kids in Jesus’ name with the understanding that He is the Keeper of their souls. His promises stand true and He will guard their hearts.

Whether you seek patience in this season or need a fresh compassion from the Lord, whether your children are in college, high school, middle school, elementary or preschool, God is their refuge and strength.

A Prayer for Back to School

Dear Father,

In a season of life when parenting decisions

seem to loom larger than life itself,

we humbly ask for your guidance.

While the shoes still smell new…

and the pencils point crisply,

our hearts sense the need

for a stronger connection with your love

and a deeper reliance on your grace.

Would You help us to remember that

You know every thought we have as a parent?

Would You remind us that the feeling of having

our hearts walk around outside our bodies

is one You are ever so familiar with?

And would You provide the wisdom from above

as we walk this new ground for a new school year?

We praise Your name for doing so.

Amen.

Continue this back-to-school prayer with these prayers for your students based on scriptures!

A prayer against school-related anxiety

Lord, I release my worries and fears to you about the school year. Whenever it feels tempting to let school steal our joy, help us remember your word. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

A prayer for my child to remember they are loved

Father, help ____________________ remember that they are so loved by you. As much as I love my child, you love them even more. I pray that ______________ would know that they are a reward to me, a blessing and gift from heaven that I long to love well. May ________________________ feel that love today and remember that “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

A prayer for a strong mind

Lord, protect my child’s mind from the enemy. Let nothing penetrate that would prevent ____________ from seeking to follow you. Provide the discernment to make decisions that matter regarding schoolwork. God, I pray Romans 12:2 over my student this year: ““Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

A prayer for awareness

God, bring an awareness to ____________________ that can only come from you. Provide a radar for evil that causes _______________________ to run away from anything that isn’t from you. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Give my student the vigilance of 1 Peter 5:8.

A prayer for love to abound

Father, may love flow from you and through my child at school. May __________________ love you with everything within and may they love others with the love that comes from you. I ask for obedience to Matthew 27:32-29 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

A prayer against fear

Lord, I pray against fear and worry. Both for my student and for me. God, bring fresh courage in the face of scary circumstances. Whether change or a feeling of vulnerability, bring safety from harm. Make Deuteronomy 31:6 a shield for my student: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

A prayer to be light

Father, I pray for _________________________’s classroom to be a place where they are known as light and love. In these uncertain times, let ____________________ be known as peace-loving and God-honoring. May the good ________________ does be a testament to Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

A prayer for friendship

Lord, please bring the right friends into ________________________________’s life. I pray that a sweet friendship would refresh the soul of my student as Proverbs 17:17 says. May friendship be a precious commodity throughout the day, at lunch, and every school setting and may ___________________ be a sweet friend, as much as having sweet friends.

Many blessings to you as you begin the new school year!

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll appreciate the Back to School Prayer Tool.