10 Promising Prayers to Start the New School Year
The excitement has begun.
Every year around this time the homeschool supplies begin flooding in and the Nicaud house is filled with back-to-school buzz. Usually, I’m right up in the mix, enthusiastic about the year ahead and spending way too much money on fun homeschool goodies.
However, the anticipation of this new school year is producing some very different emotions in me.
Last year all the kids were home. Secure, safe, and sound in my little bubble…..right where I enjoyed them being.
This year I have oneĀ at home, two in school, and two in the workforce.
With all my kids spread out in different directions, there’s no doubt it will look a bit different.
Thoughts of schedules, sports, new teachers, new environments, and new friends began swirling in my head, leaving me feeling a bit overwhelmed and school hasn’t even begun.
I’m asking God to show me what the kids and I need most in this new season.
As I sought His guidance, central topics began to emerge. I thought I’d share them with you. Maybe they will be helpful and encouraging to you as well!
Prayers to Start the New School Year
Here are the scriptures and prayers my children and I will be praying this week and throughout the year:
Provision
God will supply all my needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to me in Christ Jesus. ( adapted from Philippians 4:19)
Father, thank you that You take care of us. Lord, I trust that whatever my kids lack this year in school, You will teach them. For the ones doing school away from me, I ask that You give them teachers who are filled with compassion, understanding, and grace. I pray that I am filled with compassion, understanding, and grace as I teach my two at home. Fill their school year with abundant favor and blessing. I pray no detail will be left undone for them for this year; everything they need will be provided for them. Thank you that You are preparing me to teach this year and prepping my kids to learn. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Fruits of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (adapted from Galatians 5:22-23)
Lord, thank you that You have given us everything we need to succeed in life. Father, fill me and my children with Your Spirit,Ā producing fruit that never spoils. Help us to love unconditionally, be filled with joy overflowing, remain peaceful and patient, be kind to others, walk in goodness, faithfulness and gentleness and maintain self-control. Continue to develop these things in us as we journey through this new year. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Contentment
I will not love money, but be satisfied with what I have. God has said He will never fail me or abandon me. (adapted from Hebrews 13:5)
Father, thank you that You always provide for us. Teach us to be satisfied in You. Caution us when we begin to compare who we are or what we have to others. Let us not become envious or jealous of those around us. It’s easy for us to fall into the trap of wanting what others have. Show us what is right for us. Help us to be content with what we have, knowing that You have given us exactly what we need. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Brave
I will be strong and courageous! I will not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord my God is with me wherever I go.ā (adapted from Joshua 1:9)
Thank you, Lord, that You are always with us! When we begin to fear, remind us that You are with us. Help us to be brave when confronted with new people, new situations, or new assignments. We will not back down from new things or allow intimidation to hold us back. We will walk in the freedom and blessing that You have sacrificed to give us. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Confidence
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT
Thank you, Lord, that You go before us. You have prepared the way for us, giving usĀ the strength to accomplish everything You’ve assigned usĀ to do. When a concept is hard weĀ will push through. If weĀ feel like we areĀ failing, weĀ will trust in Your ability to help usĀ win.Ā OurĀ confidence is in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Trust
I will trust in theĀ LordĀ with all myĀ heart and notĀ depend on myĀ own understanding.Ā I will seekĀ His will in all IĀ do,Ā and He will show meĀ which path to take.
adapted from Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, weĀ walk into this year completely dependent upon You. When weĀ begin to lean on ourĀ own understanding, remind usĀ that Your ways far surpass ours. Thank you in advance for showing usĀ the right paths and leading usĀ in the way weĀ should go. We donāt know what this year has in store, but You do. WeĀ trust in Your ability to care for us. In Jesusā name, Amen!
Wisdom
If IĀ need wisdom, I will ask myĀ generous God.Ā He will give it to me. He will not rebuke meĀ for asking. Ā Ā Ā
adapted from James 1:5
Thank you, Lord, that when weĀ need wisdom, all weĀ have to do is ask. You are ready and willing to pour out Your wisdom for those who seek You. Help usĀ to walk in Your wisdom as weĀ navigate school this year. Let usĀ not just be hearers of Your Word, but doers of Your Word. Let the light of Your Word shine brightly through us, so that others may see You in us. In Jesusā name, Amen!
Understanding
Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.Ā
1 Kings 3:9 NLT
Teach usĀ Your ways Lord, that weĀ may walk with understanding hearts. Show usĀ the clear distinction between right and wrong. Help usĀ to be brave enough to stand up for whatās right and glorify You in the process. Help usĀ to have a supernatural ability to understand concepts that we learn this year. Teach us more about who You are and how each subject we learn points back to You. In Jesusā name, Amen!
Help
The Father sends the Advocate as HisĀ representativeāthat is, the Holy Spirit. He will teach meĀ everything and will remind meĀ of everything in HisĀ Word.
adapted from John 14:26
Father, thank you for giving us Your Spirit. Fill us afresh as we begin this year. We rely on You, Holy Spirit, to recall things back to our minds. Enable us to learn and soak up knowledge that draws us closer to You. Be our mouthpiece as we speak to others. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You. Help us to grow closer to you and each other. In Jesusā name, Amen!
Rescue
When IĀ face troubles,Ā theĀ LordĀ comes to myĀ rescue each time.
adapted from Psalm 34:19
We thank you, Lord, that You are our ever-present help in times of trouble. We trust that any issues that arise this school year, You will take care of them. You are our refuge and our strong tower. We depend on you to protect our hearts and minds as we do school this year. Keep us safe and focused on You. In Jesusā name, Amen!
As we begin this new school year and a new season, I’m believing for God to do amazing things for me and the kids! What are you believing God for this school year? Is there something specific you are praying about? Please share it in the comments below. I’d love to pray and believeĀ with you!
**As a bonus I’m sharing bookmarks with the scriptures on it for you to print out and use for the school year! Simply click on the bookmark and you’ll be able to save it and print!**
Yes, this year is unsettling me too! Going from all home (and some not yet schooling) to all in school and the two oldest starting an outside the home program. Grieving the loss of summer and little kids growing up yet so grateful for the heart for God, their students and helping them understand the world from a biblical perspective I can see in the welcome letters from new teachers. Definitely looking forward to amazing things God has ahead for us all and ready to keep taking it all before Him.
Great post. Thanks for sharing. Btw, I LOVE how you used the flower behind your quotes. Lovely!
Thanks Gabrielle! Have a great weekend!
I love this post! Thank you for sharing. I need to do this with my children too. So inspiring and encouraging, thank you. Blessings to all of you!
Thank you, Mari-Anna! Have a wonderful weekend!
Not being a parent, I cannot fully understand yet I do. I am a retired teacher and still tutor the young children who struggle. So I do. Your prayers and the ten heavy topics for those prayers are so very important for you and the children. Covering them in prayer is vital to their well being, their safety, their knowing that their mother is praying over them. If I were the child, I would feel so very loved and special…knowing that I am being prayed over in such a powerful way. You will and have blessed many, Alisa.
Thank you for your kind words, Linda. I can imagine you have prayed for many of children in your years teaching! I always pray for my kids teachers. I know that is not always an easy job, or one that is often appreciated!
great post – will share on our Moms of Grace (church) FB group page. Five! Wow – busy and scattered but centered where we all need to be. blessings from CA
Thanks for sharing, Sue! Yes, 5 is A LOT sometimes. I always get crazy stares in public like, “Is she the mom or the babysitter?” Or maybe, “Are they all hers???” But it is definitely fun and and a blessing! Thanks for visiting today! Have a great week!
What a great post, Alisa!
I’m sharing this one on Twitter and Pinterest today.
Found your post on Modest Mom today.
Hope Monday is good for you~
Melanie
Thanks for sharing, Melanie! Have a wonderful week!
These are beautiful prayers. As I read them, I prayed them for my own daughter who started another school year last week as a teacher. I pray for her and I pray for the little 5 year olds in her class. Thanks for this, Alisa.
Thanks, Lisa! What a great idea to pray these over your daughter! Teachers definitely need to be covered. Have a beautiful week!
“So this week, rather than spend all my time planning, Iām spending it praying.” – Oh, how these words speak to me! As a chronic planner there are times I just need to stop and pray and leave all the planning behind. Thanks for offering these prayers and coordinating scriptures, friend! They are powerful!
Thanks, Leigh Ellen! I’m that chronic planner too. Sometimes it gets the best of me, which is why I’m having to choose to pray instead of plan!
I love these scriptures and will be passing them onto my kids as the first day of classes approach. I also appreciated your encouragement to spend time praying prior to planning! A welcome reminder š Visiting from #RaRaLinkup today.
Oh wow… homeschool starts back on Tuesday and my oldest son is moving to college in another state in 3 weeks and my oldest daughter is moving out on her own in 5 weeks. I so needed your post! Thanks for these and God bless your home as this year winds up again! š
Oh my goodness!!! What a big change for you, Karen! It seems we are never prepared for our kids to leave. Somehow covering them in prayer gives me peace, though! Thanks for visiting!
Love these declarations! They are actually great for anyone, even if they are not going back to school. š
Pinned this to my Prayers / Praying God’s Word pinterest board.
That is so true, Jo! Thanks for visiting and sharing today! Have a wonderful weekend.
Beautiful prayers and scriptures! I love how you are focusing on praying before the school year begins. The supplies, lesson plans and other details will fall into place, but taking time to center your heart and mind is more important.
I pray you see the fruits of the Spirit, experience provision and see God in all throughout this school year.
You are so right, Mary! It reminds me of Matthew 6:33. When we seek God first, everything else will be added! Thanks for visiting. Have a great week!
Alisa, I so appreciated this as I start back to school with so many graduate students. During those times they are in my office overwhelmed and searching for direction, this list will be a great reminder to direct their thoughts and prayers along with my own. Love your writing!!
I love that, Crystal! While I was writing the prayers, I realized half way through that they applied to me just as much as my kids! Thanks for stopping by today!
What a great and beautiful way to start a new school session. Awesome scriptures thank you so very much. Am sharing this with my teens.
Thanks this was amazing and I feel blessed