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If you’re a teacher who is gearing up for the new school year, use these back-to-school prayers for teachers to seek God first in your plans.
It is time to get back to school, and this is not only true for students but for teachers as well. There is usually a lot of preparation that comes with a new school year that not only reaches your teaching plan but is also a mental, physical, and spiritual preparation.
If you’re a teacher who is gearing up for the new school year, there is one essential way of preparing that should not be overlooked, praying for your return to school, and the return of your students.
If that’s you, here are a few prayers to help you prepare yourself, and ask God to lead the way before you.
Are you a parent, too? Make sure to check out these 8 Short Back To School Prayers, as well.
Back To School Prayers for Teachers
1. Prayer for the First Day of School
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Father,
Thank You so much for a new year, and a new opportunity to teach and lead students. I know it is a gift to do what I am doing, and my prayer is that You would remind me of this truth not only at the beginning of the school year, but throughout the year, especially on the harder or longer days.
The first day can feel very overwhelming and stressful. It can be easy to focus on the wrong things or get distracted by less important concerns. What should I wear? Does my hair look fine? What will the students think of me?
But I don’t want to focus on those things today. I want to make each student feel seen, and show them Your love and grace. I know that there will be many students who will come to school with different burdens, insecurities, struggles or learning challenges.
I ask that You would help me to be sensitive to their individual circumstances, and never assume anything about their lives. Please ease any feelings of anxiety that I am feeling, and help me to rest in who I am in You before finding my identity in what I do.
I ask that Your peace would be evident through my demeanor and set those students who are stressed at ease too. Help me to set the tone for the rest of the year, and to be an encouragement to the students. Help me to be diligent, to lean on You for strength, and to show grace to my students. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
2. Prayer for New Teacher
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord,
As I embark on this new journey, I ask that You would go before me and prepare the path. I know that there is a lot that I will learn, and there will be both times of joy and frustration.
I know that nothing is either black or white, but it is a combination of both those highs and lows that makes things worthwhile. As I start this new position, I ask that You would please give me the grace to fill these shoes.
Help me to be gracious towards myself too, knowing that there will be a learning curve and that in time I will see growth if I only stay consistent.
You already know every single student who will be in my class, and who I will get the pleasure of teaching. You know every challenge that they face, You know their personalities, and the issues that will arise in the year ahead.
My prayer is that You would steady my heart and mind, and help me to deal with everything that arises patiently. I ask that You would help me to be attentive to each student, and not only learn what it is that each of them needs to be able to learn to the best of their abilities, but help me to pour into them in those specific ways too.
I ask that You would help me to get on well with the rest of the teachers, and to find one or two teachers who I can confide in and build a good friendship with. Help me not to lean on my own understanding as I go into this new chapter, but to turn to You for Your guidance and wisdom every step of the way. In Jesus’ matchless name, I pray, amen.
3. Prayer for Worn-Out Teacher
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
God,
There are days when it feels like there is nothing else I could see myself doing. When I see my students growing and how they are improving, I am reminded of what it is all about. But then there are times when it feels as though I am speaking to a brick wall, like all I say is going over their heads, and like I am not getting through to them. There are days when I feel so frustrated, I could cry.
But then there are days when the smallest wins just feel as though there is no greater feeling in the world than to see a student grasp a concept, improve on their marks, or enjoy the subject that we are working on. It can be hard to balance the two, and sometimes my weariness and frustration can feel as though it is outshining the good parts. It is even harder when there are private life circumstances that weigh on you outside of school.
You can try to separate the two, but sometimes your emotions and the heaviness of what you’re going through peak through in the classroom. In those moments it is easy to get easily angered, be impatient, or simply try to get through the day as quickly as possible.
I recognize in the moments of weariness, and burn-out that I should turn to You and lean on Your strength. Your word says those who are weary and burdened can come to You and You will give them rest. Please help me to come to You, and to find Your peaceful rest for my heart, mind and soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. Prayer for Endurance
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
Lord,
Though I am grateful that I get to do something that has such a big impact on the lives of students, I would be lying if I said there aren’t times when I feel as though I can’t keep doing it, or feeling as if I am reaching my end. I know being a teacher is not an easy job, but it is a rewarding job that can truly change the world of even just one student.
But with that comes its own challenges, and there are times when it feels like it is all amounting to nothing. There are days when it feels like all my energy has been drained from me, and that I have nothing left to go. There are times when I feel so tested by students or by situations with co-workers.
It is easy to feel discouraged in those moments, but I am reminded by Your word to consider it joy when I face trials and difficulties. Though those times are not easy, I know that they present an opportunity for my faith to be tested and for my endurance to increase. Please strengthen me in times of weakness, and lift up my head in times of discouragement. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
5. Prayers for Learners
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” – Proverbs 9:10
Father,
In Your wisdom, and guidance You have allowed me to be a teacher to specific students. I know that You have placed me here, and that all You do is done with great intent. I know that means every student who will be in my place is there on purpose too, and that You have given me the opportunity to have a positive influence on each one of them.
I pray for every student, not only those in my class but those in the school as a whole. More than anything, my prayer is that they would know You, and fear You. Though there is a lot that they can learn from textbooks, nothing compares to fearing the Lord, and no wisdom is equal to that of godly wisdom.
I ask that Your Holy Spirit would move in each of their hearts and make known the love of Christ to them. I pray for discipline for each one of them, may they be diligent and hardworking students. May they have respect for one another and for their teachers, and may we teachers show respect towards them as individuals too.
Help us to work together, instead of against one another, and bless our lessons each day. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
More school prayers:
13 Short Prayers To Pray Before Class At School