Praying for Back to School in Fort Mill

Today is the first day of school for Fort Mill schools. The Tega Cay Walmart was packed yesterday as folks were out purchasing new backpacks, and school supplies.

Back to school is filled with a sense of joy and sorrow. The parents are likely eager to get back to the routine of school, but the kids are often sad about retuning to the classroom. But, it's always good to see their classmates again.

As we enter back to school prayer is one thing we often neglect or don't think much about with this seasons. It's always good to pray into new seasons. Pray for the teachers, the kids, and the school. I know I often like to pray for the teachers that my kids get and that they'll have good friends in the class who influence them well. I pray for my a good environment and safety for all. There are so many things to pray.

Here are a few ways to pray and things to keep in mind as our kids enter the back to school season again.

Pray for your kids

We want to see our kids thrive. And, we know a good teacher, coach, and classmates can all create a good or bad environment where that is either fostered or hindered. It's good to pray that the Lord give the right people in that classroom and in your child's life. Pray that no matter what the environment, your kids know who they are and that they are deeply loved by you and by God. Pray that the Lord root their identity deep in Him so that they don't chase the validation of others.

Peer pressure is real. It can be so difficult in school settings. But, when a child knows they are loved by God, they have the courage to be themselves. Also, pray that they have the courage to face whatever they encounter. That they be a leader and not a follower.

Kids face more small moral decisions in a school day than we sometimes realize — whether to be honest, whether to include someone, whether to go along with the crowd or stand apart from it. Pray that your child would have the courage to do the right thing even when no one's watching, and grace for the days they don't get it right.

I'd even recommend praying verses over your kids. You may even want to put a note in their lunch as a reminder of verses that you want to speak over them - things that you want to remind them about.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." (Isaiah 41:10)

Pray for your kids classmates

We don't know what everyone else faces. Some kids have challenges at home and bring that into school. You won't have the perfect kids around your child. Your kid isn't even perfect. Pray that your child would be a light and an encouragement to the kids around him or her. Pray that the hearts of your child's classmates would be softened. Pray that all the kids in that classroom see the example of Christ in the kids who do follow Jesus. Pray that God would heal some of the broken and wounded hearts of students.

Pray for their teachers and school staff

Being a teacher is hard. It tests patience and it's often thankless. Fortunately, Fort Mill does have good parent involvement and teachers are often supported. However, the job is still hard and doesn't pay great. Pray for patience, energy, and wisdom over every teacher your child has this year, and pray that your family would be a source of encouragement to them, not added stress.

It might be a good idea to even write an occassional card to the teacher and encourage them. You can let them know that you are praying for them and welcome any particular prayer request. No one minds prayers. I've asked a number of strangers all the time if I can pray for them. No one turns me down. Some don't have prayer requests but none turn down prayer.

Pray over the school

We certainly want to pray for safety in the schools, but we also want to pray over the spiritual landscape of the schools. We pray that God will give voice and testimony to the Christians in the school. Pray that teachers and volunteers create space or clubs for other Christians as a place to study the Bible or encourage one another.

It's good to even pray over the administration and leadership. You can pray that the environment of the school is open to the Gospel and not hostile to it. You an pray for open and hungry hearts among the teachers and students.

The school can be filled with peer pressure, competition, clicks, cancel culture or so many other things. We also have to remember the added part of phones and tech all around. We can pray that God redeem all of this.

Pray for yourself, too

Back-to-school season is a transition for parents as much as it is for kids — new schedules, new carpool lines, new activities to juggle. Pray for your own patience and peace in this season, and pray that your home would be a steady, calm place for your kids to land at the end of a long school day.

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