“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  School Prayer

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  This week our prayer emphasis will focus on praying about the education of our children.  Education in math, science, language, and other school subjects are important but not nearly as important as our teaching the things of God to the next generations.  This week we will focus on praying for the various levels of primary education.  Each of them have an important part in preparing young people for the work God has created in advance for them to do.  I hear many people complain about prayer being removed from school but I’m also concerned, perhaps more so, about prayer for our schools not being present in our lives.  Pray that you would do your part in investing in the lives of young people.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying each day for the schools in your area.  Pray for the home schools, private schools, and public schools as they each meet a need in our educational system.  Thank you! 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Preschool Students and Families.  Pray that families of preschool aged children would find the best options possible to provide the foundational elements of education in these young lives.  Pray that these children and their families would experience the welcoming call of Jesus.  “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”  Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Preschool Staff and Teachers.  Pray for those who work with preschool students.  Pray that they would welcome these little ones in the name of Jesus.  Pray that those working with preschoolers would do so as ones welcoming God.  “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”  Mark 9:37 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Elementary School Students and Families.  Pray that God would reveal the mystery of life in Christ to these young students.  Pray that their families would have godly wisdom in choosing the schools that best meet the student’s needs.  “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’”  Matthew 11:25(NIV)

Thursday:  Elementary School Staff and Teachers.  Pray for those who work with elementary students on a regular basis as teachers, school staff, volunteers, and/or parents.  Pray that they would be filled with great patience as they teach and share their life.  “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.  We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”  1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (NIV)

Friday:  Junior and Senior High School Students and Families.  Pray that teen and pre-teen students would know the value of obedience.  Pray that the families would work together in a manner that values each person.  Pray for wisdom in making schooling choices and choices regarding each students future beyond high school.  “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”  Colossians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Saturday:  Junior and Senior High School Staff and Teachers.  Pray for the staff and teachers who work with Jr/Sr high school students.  Pray that their teaching would be filled with godly wisdom.  Pray that they would recognize the importance of what they do and teach true wisdom that leads to life.  “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.”  Proverbs 13:14 (NIV)