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Reading Time: 5 minutes
There’s Power when a mama prays
It is unknown who said, “As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school.” One thing I do know for sure, having been a high school math teacher, is those are some of the truest words I’ve ever heard!
As our students head back to school, we should keep something in mind. Students have the right to pray in school (especially during that upcoming math test). I think we, as mothers, have the right – or rather, the responsibility – to pray for our kiddos.
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Circle Your Students in Prayer
The last year I taught in the public school system before Sweet Firefly was born was a tough year. One class, in particular, made it almost unbearable. As soon as the bell rang, I could feel myself get anxious.
Every day, there was something.
One day I decided to walk through my classroom, touching every desk, praying for the students who would sit at those desks, in a similar way that Mark Batterson describes in his book, The Circle Maker.
The first day I ever did it, that difficult class was great. I praised God for the break that day. Not just for myself but for the small percentage of students who wanted to learn without distraction.
what happens when you circle your kids in prayer
And then came the next summer. Bug and Bubba transferred schools.
It was a summer I’ll never forget. Neither one of the kids was excited, particularly Bug. I tried my hardest to be realistic and encouraging. The truth is I was nervous. This was going to be her last year in elementary school. She had spent all of her years of school at the same place.
I was so worried.
All I could do was pray.
It didn’t start intentionally at first. Every time I passed the street of their new school, I prayed.
Lord, please make this a good year for them. Give them the teachers they need. The ones that suit their learning style. I pray it’s a good transition. Please make it smooth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Nothing fancy. I don’t think I even added any scripture.
Just a plea from the heart of a mama to her Heavenly Father.
The Power of Prayers
Your prayers are so powerful, friend. And don’t ever quit praying just because they haven’t been answered…yet.
Don’t doubt that it can happen though. You are seeking out our Heavenly Father – the Creator of the Universe. He is the One whose power raised Jesus from the grave. It is the same power that lies in you through the Holy Spirit.
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Encouragement and Steps for Mamas Praying About School
I can’t possibly encourage you any better about this than through Philippians 4:6 – 9 (NIV).
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Let’s break that down into some practical and easy-to-follow steps.
(1) Exhale. Do not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6).
(2) Pray about all of it. In every situation, present your requests to God (by prayer, in your need and with a thankful heart (Philippians 4:6).
(3) Exhale…again. You’re holding your breath, Mama. And even though we can’t possibly understand it, God’s peace will “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
(4) Change your self-talk. It is so easy to get anxious (don’t do it!). Do your thoughts fall into any of these categories? If not, change the narrative.
- Whatever is true
- Whatever is noble
- Whatever is right
- Whatever is pure
- Whatever is lovely
- Whatever is admirable
- Anything that is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8)
(5) Put it into Practice. Everything you “learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me” (Philippians 4:9). Stay in God’s word. Don’t just read it as a checklist. Study it, meditate on it, and put it into practice.
(6) Exhale…one more time. Do all these things and “the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).
What Happened After the Summer I Circled My Kids in Prayer?
The following school year was the best Bug ever had. She got straight A’s but more importantly, she took pride in her work and saw what she was capable of. She can look back at that year with fondness toward the teacher who loved and believed in her.
Bubba got services that he needed as a high-achieving-but-not-labeled-gifted kid. Services he didn’t get before because he wasn’t “qualified.”
I hate to say I was amazed. But I was. I know God can but I tend to doubt He will.
Our prayers have power. And when I doubt He will, I think back to that summer as one of the many times my loving, Heavenly Father unleashed the power within me. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave.
Back-to-School Email Prayer Challenge
And that’s where we come to the Back-to-School Prayer Challenge. For seven days, we are going to pray as a community of Powerful Prayer Warrior Mamas for the next school year – for everyone involved in the education of our students. From people in charge of legislation and policies (federal, state, and local), to the people who have direct contact with our students, and then for ourselves (because Lord knows we need it desperately, too) and finally our students.
Won’t you join me?
Whether you decide to join in on the challenge or not, I’d love to pray for you. You can do the challenge anytime! You don’t have to wait until next school year if it is already after the first day of school.
I walked those desks within the last couple months of school. Your prayers are always powerful. Join the prayer challenge and unleash the power that lies within you.
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