Prayer Guide for Back to School
Updated: Aug 19, 2022

It’s Back To School time! As parents, grandparents, guardians, friends and others in the community, we begin a new school year with many concerns, apprehensions, and hopes. What better way to begin this school year than to begin in prayer? Here is a Back to School Prayer Guide to help you both now and throughout the school year. This prayer guide is general enough to fit all types of education (public, private, co-ops, college, homeschool).
BACK TO SCHOOL PRAYER GUIDE
STUDENTS (FOR ALL STUDENTS GENERALLY, ESPECIALLY GRADES K-5):
Desire to honor God above all else
Sweet attitude toward others
Submissive spirit toward authority
Patience and understanding with others
Choosing to follow God rather than follow others
Best effort for God’s glory
Self-control
Discerning heart for truth (versus non-truth)
Godly friend choices
Being a good influence on their friends
Protection and safety (including physical and spiritual)
MIDDLE HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL:
Desire to honor God and walk consistent with their faith, to walk worthy
An awareness of being an ambassador of Christ
Developing godly friendships and relationships
Wisdom
Resist temptation and a desire for purity (both in thoughts, online and sexually)
Respond well to pressure and hardships (academics, relationships, tests)
Transitions (from building to building, changing schools, changing districts)
Safety (at school, during athletics, while driving)
Respect their teachers and authority in school
To stand for righteousness while submitting to authority
Focus on academics as they prepare for life
Be committed to sharing the Gospel as they have opportunities
Accept the learning process as part of God’s plan for their life
COLLEGE:
Live out their Christian faith in word and actions to those around them
Remain worldview sensitive as they interact with in-the-classroom and out-of-the-classroom material and others with differing belief systems
Love the learning process as part of God’s plan for their life
Love the gift of the local church and it’s gatherings, accountability, and its service to one another amidst the pressures of a typical college student life
A strong desire to fight sin and temptation – especially among others sex and lust
Purity
For growth and maturity, both spiritually and in general life wisdom
For strong friendships and future godly spouses
Contentment with where God has them
Biblical understanding of biblical manhood and womanhood
Doing one’s best for the glory of God (not settling for low expectations)
Travel safely
Provide jobs that work well with school and necessary finances

TEACHERS:
Wisdom in preparation (content, time management, various delivery methods)
Graciousness toward students (poor attitudes, disobedient, disrespectful, when sinned against)
Patience with strugglers (with getting the content, with life in general)
Handle stress in a godly manner (as it builds up throughout the year)
Purity with other teachers (friendships, attitude)
Choosing to be a mentor to the children as the children watch them
Kindness, tenderheartedness, and love
Provide them an eye and heart for the strugglers
Ambassadors of Christ wherever they are
SUPPORT STAFF (COOKS, CAFETERIA, TRANSPORTATION, OFFICE, PARAPROFESSIONALS, COUNSELORS, MAINTENANCE, CUSTODIAL, SAFETY OFFICERS):
Awareness of the necessity and importance of their positions – often the first person with whom students, staff and the public interact
Servant spirit
God-honoring relationship with students
Patience with all types of constituents
Godly communication with each other and other constituents
God-honoring conflict resolution
God-honoring attitude under pressure
Safety (general building safety, physical, transportation)
Specific to custodial staff – health and stamina
Specific to transportation staff – safety on the road, social distancing struggles
COACHES:
Desire to invest in the lives of children
Balance – balancing a desire to win versus doing every child’s best
Honor Christ in winning and defeat
Preparing athletes to be good citizens, to take the next step of life
Wisdom in decisions regarding athlete’s health
Eyes to see past the Xs and Os to see athletes who need encouragement, an example, a friend, a mentor, a loving voice
God-honoring attitude under pressure
Safety in transportation, competition, and practice for their teams
ADMINISTRATORS:
Respond godly to authority (the school board, other administrators, head masters, legislature, Department of Education)
Lead by godly example
Exhibit servant leadership
Engage others with general grace
Empathy with parents
Respond to the pressure from various constituents
Wisdom related to curriculum (common core debate, state standards, etc)
Compassion for district and school families and the hurting
Patience in the many different situations
Christ-centered perspective as they lead
Team spirit in regard to parents, guardians, and grandparents
VOLUNTEERS (IN THE CLASSROOM, OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM – OFFICE, COACHES, PTA, OTHERS):
Servant / selfless spirit
Awareness of ministry opportunities as they present themselves (maybe as simply as a smile or a word of kindness)
Sweetness of spirit toward others
Gospel / Christ-centered intention (motivated by Christ to serve the community out of love versus merely motivated to serve because it’s your child’s school)
Creativity and ingenuity as they seek to serve
Resistance to entertaining gossip
Deaf ear to politics
Parents would prioritize volunteering
God would honor the sacrifice of personal and family time to serve others
HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES:
Much of what is above also applies to this group as well
Honor God – toward each other (parents and children) in the home
Student of the Word every day
Wisdom for curriculum choices and extracurricular activities
Diligent and self-disciplined (parent and children)
Manage time well (parent and children)
Heart for learning (parents who must stay ahead in the curriculum)
Patient and wise planning
Positive example for those outside the homeschool community
Responding wisely and godly to those who may question or critique model
Encourager to other homeschoolers or those who may have questions
Co-ops (complications from COVID-19 include changing schedules, changing rules, attendance disruptions, masks, social distancing, etc)
PARENTS:
Awareness of God’s grace
Wisdom and discernment with what’s going on in the child’s life
Develop and model a heart for Christ
Wisdom to build opportunities to get into the child’s life
Awareness of the voices of influence in the child’s life
Ability and discernment to help the child critique culture
To know when and how to engage the child
Godly response to authority (school, government, teachers, coaches, etc)