(All scriptures in this prayer are quoted from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible).
Dear God, our Heavenly Father,
As another school year begins, we, the residents of Gadsden, Alabama, pray that You will carry all educators, students, counselors, principals, and other school staff in Your arms daily (Isaiah 33:2), provide them with renewed strength each day (2 Corinthians 4:16), and be a strong refuge for their schools and classrooms, to which they may continually resort (Psalm 71:3). As for the educators, we pray that You will strengthen them to manage their classroom with diligence. Along with educators, we pray for students.
Our prayers for every elementary and secondary student include applying their hearts to instruction and ears to knowledge (Proverbs 23:12), learning diligently for future success, and studying thoroughly without losing heart (Galatians 6:9), for the hand of the diligent will rule (Proverbs 12:24). For the high schoolers who plan to drop out this year, I pray that You, Heavenly Father, will give them the spirit of perseverance and the will to remain and complete their full years of schooling. May You closely watch every student to ensure they maintain everything they will learn throughout the school year. It is written, “The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge” (Proverbs 22:12). Along with teachers and students, we pray for the guidance counselors in each school system.
We pray that school counselors will help our students get the proper education to receive academic support and success, navigate their frustrations with school work and teachers, and maintain socially accepted behavior in the classroom and school to prevent getting detention or expelled. As for teachers, we pray that counselors will help them overcome the stress of managing a classroom, build better relationships with their students, and use strategies to handle indolent and defiant students. Along with teachers, students, and counselors, we pray for the principals of the schools.
We pray that You will rule every principal with vigilance, diligence, love, and peace to maintain proper leadership, management, and stewardship in each school. As the head of the schools, may they ensure that teachers stay committed to their job educating students, make certain that students continue accepted behavior in the classrooms and the school, enforce disciplinary actions to defiant students with the spirit of love and self-control, not with hatred, contention, and outburst of anger, foster peace and unity among the school and the staff and students therein, administer policies with fairness and justice for all, keep up a positive and enduring influence on the lives of students and the school staff, and nurture a continued vision to inspire growth and innovation in the schools—keeping the learning environment vigorous and productive.
In conclusion, Heavenly Father, we commit this school year into Your hands. May Your favor be upon all the staff and students. In Jesus’ name. Amen—Kenneth Sullivan.