I used to teach elementary school and absolutely loved it, but I had no idea going into it how demanding that career would be. I hardly ever had a weekend where I wasn't drowning in book reports. I never watched a show unless I was also cutting out bright colored shapes to add to a lesson plan. I thought about the kids and their specific needs and how I could cater to these needs when I was supposed to be sleeping. It was all-consuming.

Teachers today have it harder than ever. They endure daily struggles, ever changing curriculums, district pressures, and very little pay. On the flip side, however, teachers get to be mentors, influencers, and heroes to their students.

Because our children are so impacted by their teachers and spend so much time with them, praying for them is essential!

Now that my oldest child is in school, I try to think of ways to bless his teachers. Helping in the classroom or bringing an occasional favorite Starbucks drink is greatly appreciated and all, but I know the most important thing I can do is pray for them.

Maybe you are like me, however, and you struggle with what to pray about. Here are some prayers from Scripture that I am planning on using this year:

Thank God For Your Child's Teacher

Firstly, thank God for the new adults in your kids' lives-- teachers, teacher's aides, nursery workers, coaches, tutors, babysitters, etc. Thank Him for these special grown-ups who are willing to pour into the next generation and positively influence these young hearts. Thank him for your teachers by name. Thank God for pairing your son or daughter up with this specific teacher according to his will.

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus," (1 Corinthians 1:4).

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

God, thank you for Mr./Ms. ______________. Thank you for placing my child in her or her class and for his or her heart for students.

Pray For Your Child's Teacher To Know Jesus

If your child's teacher is not a believer, pray that God would reveal himself to him or her. Pray that God would use you and your child to show them Jesus and to be a light in the classroom. Pray that your teacher would notice something different about you and that you might have an opportunity to share about your faith. Pray that they would come to know that Jesus is the way, truth, and life! “

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

God, thank you for Mr./Ms. ______________. I pray that he/she would come to know you and surrender their life to you this year! Remind me to pray for this daily and show me how to be a light in his/her life!

If he or she does know Jesus, pray that she would continue to grow closer to Him. Pray against the enemies lies. Of course, he would want to tear down teachers since they have such a special role. Get in your favorite prayer place before school for a few minutes each day and wage war against Satan's plans for teachers! "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith." (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Pray that Christian teachers would reflect Jesus to their students. This is hard to manage in a non-Christian school, but so valuable! “Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23.

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

God, thank you so much Mr./Ms. ______________ knows you and loves you. Help him or her to grow closer to you each day and to reflect you to each of his/her students.

Pray For Your Teacher's Energy

Since teaching is so exhausting, demanding, and disheartening at times, let's pray for teachers to get enough rest at night, to be filled with new energy to meet the kiddos each day, and to ultimately be renewed by the Holy Spirit!

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

God, thank you for Mr./Ms. ______________. Thank you for his/her generosity. I pray that she prospers in all she does and I pray that you refresh and renew her for each day. Give him/her the energy needed for each day and help him/her to not grow weary in doing good

Pray For Wisdom For Your Child's Teacher

Teachers have to make hundreds of decisions each day. They need to know how to differentiate instruction to meet everyone's needs. They need to decide when to correct and discipline, how to intervene, how to problem solve, how to bring peace into a chaotic situation, etc. Pray for your child's teacher to be full of the Father's love for each child and to lean on the wisdom that comes only from Him.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:25-26)

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

Give _________ wisdom and kindness as she interacts with my child and with every child in her class.

Pray For Guidance To Best Support Your Child's Teacher

This year I am going to commit to praying every single day for my son's teacher. I told her that and she had tears in her eyes. Lucky for me, she is a Christian so I knew she would be happy to hear that she was being prayed for. Last year, his teacher wasn't a Christian, but I know she still appreciated it when we told her we were praying for her school year.

Sometimes I would include a note in my son's folder just thanking her for what a great job she was doing and I would just include something like this, "Our family is praying for you as you care for 31 four and five year olds...you are amazing!" When she missed a few days of school, my son prayed for her and colored her a picture with a prayer written out on it as well. Speak words of encouragement over your child's teacher. It will brighten their day and maybe God will prompt us to do this on those days when they might feel ready to throw in the towel in and instead will be affirmed and encouraged by our words!

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

God, please give me wisdom and make me sensitive to the needs of Mr./Ms.__________ . Help me to know just how to pray for, encourage, and bless him/her this year.

Teach Your Kids To Pray For His/Her Teacher

Here is a simple prayer you and your child can memorize and say every day.

EXAMPLE PRAYER:

Dear God, Thank you for Mr./Mrs. __________. Please remind __________ that you love him/her and fill him/her up with everything he/she needs to be a great teacher! Amen.