Teachers, like all people, need consistent prayer in these days of unprecedented complexities.  Praying nurtures your own spirituality, and it helps you in all areas of your profession. In this weekly prayer call for Teachers Who Pray, we focus our collective supplications on superintendents, high stakes testing, student engagement, and teacher workloads. Join us as we praise the name of the Lord and implore him to give the best for us, our superiors, and the students we are serving.

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Prayercast: Teachers’ Prayer Call For Superintendents, High Stakes Testing, Student Engagement, And Teacher Workloads

Psalms 116:1, “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my supplications.” Dear God, we boldly come to the throne of your grace, love, and mercy for and towards us in humble adoration of you. We know that there are not enough ways for us to be able to tell you how we love you, appreciate and want to serve you, but we still open up our mouths and confess it. There are many songs written about you in Scripture that give light and confirmation to how good you are. We see time and time again in the Scriptures your faithfulness, God. We praise you because you never have changed and you never will change.

God, you are our Father, and how blessed we are to be able to come to you and call you our Father, to have you not only as our God but also as our Father. We see your kindness even in tough and heartbreaking situations. We see how you work all things together for the good of those who love you, who are called according to your purpose. You have kept us during the highs and the lows and you have kept us at times when we have been and felt dragged down, defeated, tired, or disappointed, and yet you remain the same even in all those changing of seasons, Father God. Your mercy, love, and faithfulness remain the same. We thank you for this.

God, we praise you because we can run to you. Not only that, but we can run to you and we are safe. Scripture says when we look to the hills, our help comes from you, Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. We see that not just in Scripture have been our own lives of the countless times that you have shown up again and again to save us, to encourage us, to lead us, to even rejoice with us in the times of good things because we know that every good and perfect gift comes from you.

Father God, we continue to lift you up today and we never want to enter your gates without thanksgiving and, of course, without praise. Right now, we exalt you above anything going on in our lives, Father God. We cast out every lie and imagination that seeks to exalt itself above you. We put you in your rightful place in our lives, Father. We seek to serve you and do your will alone, even when it is not the will of our hearts, minds, or flesh.

We look forward to our hearts and minds aligning up with your will and you helping us control our flesh to stay on that path that you have for us, God because we know your Scripture says anything we ask for in the name of Jesus, according to your will, is given to us. It is your will for us to be imitators of Christ, to carry out the mission that you have for us, to speak only those things that we should be speaking, to focus on good, lovely, and admirable things, Father God, every good thing that lines up with your will.

We thank you for aligning our hearts and minds so that we desire your will to be our will, no matter the situation, God. We continue to lift you up and to be the light to others that you have called us and help us and lead us to do God, to not walk according to the flesh or the ways of this world or dark principalities, but in your mighty matchless holy above all ways.

Once again, we rejoice and acknowledge of who we are in you. We are victorious, mighty men and women of God in your children and kingdom citizens because that is what you have said out of your love for us. You have spoken life over each and every one of us and we accept that right now, Father God. Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

Confession prayer. We acknowledge our sins and affirm God’s truth. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. Praise your name, God. You have done amazing things. Glory and honor unto you. Lord, we confess that Jesus is Lord and we believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, and by faith, we are saved. Have mercy on us, God, according to your unfailing love. According to your great compassion, blot out our transgressions. Wash away our immorality and cleanse us from our sin.

Forgive us of our conscious and unconscious wrongdoing. Lord, forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lord, we state our sins to each other. Please, at this time, any sins that you would like to confess to God, please say them out loud. Procrastination, not studying my word, impatience, and we pray for one another so that we are healed in our mind and body.

Lord, we confess that we have not conducted ourselves in a manner that gave you the glory. We affirm to each other to the glory of God, exhibiting Christ-like identity, character, and works. Lord, we confess that we have not shown humility toward others. We commit to presenting ourselves to be long-suffering and patient in spirit, demonstrating the fruit of the spirit of gentleness and meekness with our students, parents, administration, and coworkers during challenging times and always.

Lord, we confess that we have not always stood on our faith and trusted in the knowledge that all things work together for our good. We affirm to trust that God has allowed each challenge in our lives for a reason. Lord, you are wiser than we are and we choose your will to be done, trusting that you will use each opportunity or conflict we encounter during the school day to work in and through us for your glory.

Lord, we confess that we have not always sought the wisdom of God to handle the day-to-day events that occur in our school buildings. We affirm godly wisdom to lead our classroom. We affirm godly wisdom to make the correct instructional decisions. We affirm godly wisdom to plan our lessons effectively. Lord, we affirm we are capable and competent teachers.

Lord, we confess to falling astray and allowing ourselves to conform to the culture of the world, to think and feel negatively about our teaching job, filled with anxiety and stress to the degree that it makes it hard for us to show up and get through the day. We affirm that our minds are transformed, and our attention is fixed on you, God, so we align with your word. We receive a renewed perspective about the assignment you have called us to do.

Lord, we affirm we are a light for Jesus in our classrooms and that we will operate differently than those in the world. We affirm to renew our minds with God’s word and to have new mercies for our students and all those we interact with daily. Lord, we confess that your plan is better than ours. We affirm that we will live surrendered and obey. By the mercies of God, we present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Our prayer of thanksgiving. Psalm 1:11, “I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.” How amazing are the deeds of the Lord? All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works.

How gracious and merciful is our Lord? He gives food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations. All He does is just and good and all His commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity. He paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise Him forever.

Father God, we thank you for who you are. You are altogether lovely. You are the cleanser of our souls. You are the God of generations and always active on our behalf. You, Lord God, are the key to everything and you are the elevator of the humble. Lord, we thank you for opening up your throne to us unconditionally every moment of every day. Thank you, Lord God, for that.

Lord, we thank you for the extra days of rest this past week and time to enjoy our family and friends so we could return to school today refreshed with grateful hearts. Lord, we thank you for our teaching jobs, where you use us daily to be peacemakers, encouragers, and prayer warriors. Father, thank you for the insights you give us into the personal lives of our students and staff members so we are able to pray for them and be your ambassadors right there in our classrooms and our school buildings. Lord God, thank you for that.

Lord, we thank you for our teaching jobs, where you use us daily to be peacemakers, encouragers, and prayer warriors. Share on X

Thank you for the excitement and joy of the upcoming Advent and Christmas celebrations, where we will be able to participate in conversations about our faith and the reason you came to earth for our salvation. Lord God, use us in that way. Lord, thank you for your healing hand that is over us now, over those who are suffering right now, Lord. Thank you for the healing that you’re doing in our staff and our students right now, Lord God. You are always working, Lord.

Lord, we thank you that every day that we walk into our buildings, you go with us. You are present there with us. You know every situation. You know every child. You know every staff member. You know their needs, Lord. Help us, Lord, to meet them where they’re at with your grace and mercy, Lord God. Lord, we just can’t thank you enough for putting us in the positions that we have. We take them for granted. Lord, forgive us, but where you have placed us, Lord, is exactly where you want us to do your work. Thank you for that, Lord.

Help us not to take that for granted, Lord. We thank you even in the storm that some of us are in our personal lives or in our workplaces, Lord. We thank you for the ways that you are refining us, Lord, changing us, Lord, and drawing us to yourself, Lord. Lord, we thank you that you are that loving Father that, before the son was even home, was already running toward him with his arms outstretched, Lord. We are those prodigals, Lord, running towards you and before we even see you, Lord, you’re waiting for us, Lord.

Thank you for that image that you gave us in your word, Lord, of that loving Father welcoming us back. It’s a daily thing, Lord God. We stray and then we come back to you. Thank you for always loving us completely. Thank you for always welcoming us, Lord. Lord, we love you and it’s in your name we thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Prayer of supplication. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you to make our request known concerning local school superintendents, chancellors, CEOs, deans, provosts, and all other titles used for those who manage and oversee groups of schools, whether they are public or private. Your word urges us to intercede and give thanks to those who are in authority so that we may live peacefully in quiet lives and all godliness. This is good and it pleases you, God, our Father. We pray that you forgive us for neglecting to do this and we do now and receive for those men and women who manage schools. We thank you for them and we place them in your sovereign hands. We join the prayers of those who have been praying for these leaders to make wise decisions, for these leaders to turn to you, and for these leaders to make decisions that will help edify and properly educate children and young adults. For these leaders to no longer take actions that hurt, harm, and damage the lives of children and young adults.

We thank you for the hearts of leaders that have been made new by your Holy Spirit and we pray for a great spiritual awakening in the area of education. Your word tells us that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Father, we are anticipating more and more of these leaders turning to you and there will be a great rejoicing in these school systems and throughout our land. We believe that you have already begun to do this great work.

Lord, we pray for the students who are starting, even now, to prepare and think about high-stakes testing for colleges, high schools, STEM and STEAM schools, and performing art schools. There may be auditions, recitals, portfolios, athletic videos, language proficiency tests, or whatever examinations and evaluations these students are feeling pressured to perform well in, either from their parents, family members, or from internal motivation and competition.

Lord, we pray especially for the children and young adults who have made decisions to follow you. I pray that they will not be anxious, that instead they will cry out to you and we ask that they will turn to your word and that they will understand you order their steps and you work all things together for their good because they love you and they’re called according to your purpose.

Father, we pray for the children who may not follow you but have parents who do. As these parents entrust the path of their children in your hands, we pray that they will not be double-minded but truly trust you and assure their children that you’ll work everything out. Finally, you pray for those students who have not asked you to be the Lord of their lives. We pray that these high-stakes assessments and evaluations will be a time that they will call out to you and that this will be a turning point in their lives.

Lord, we pray now for student engagement or the lack thereof when we are teaching and we thank you for the precious students who are in the category of what your word mentions in Proverbs. It says in Proverbs, “Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man and he’ll increase in learning.” Father, we thank you for those students who desire to learn and will continue to have a love for learning, and we will provide more and more opportunities for them to flourish.

We intercede for the students who have minds that are distracted or troubled, whether it be from depression, disinterest, loneliness, rejection, neglect, confusion, despair, darkness, or obstacles to learning. We realize that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We pray for these students that you supernaturally bring about a breakthrough in their lives, that they would be like Saul of Tarsus who immediately had something like scales fall from his eyes and he could see again.

Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That… Share on X

We pray that, like in Isaiah, these students will be able to leap like a deer. The mute tongue shall shout for joy and waters of understanding and knowledge will dust forth in the wilderness of their minds and the streams and the deserts of their souls. Lord, we cry out to you concerning these students. You know how to reach them. Show us how to pray for them and show us how to teach them.

Finally, we pray about educator’s workloads. Paraphrasing the words of Paul in the first chapter of his second letter to the church, “Lord, our workloads, at times, are so bad we think we don’t think we are going to make it. We feel like it’s all over for us. We are at the end of our rope.” As it turns out, this is the best thing that could happen. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we are forced to trust God totally.

It turns out that it is not a bad idea since the God who He is, the God who raises the dead and He does it, He rescues us from certain doom and He’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. In closing, I pray Ephesians 1:18-19, “I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” Amen.