Prayers for a New School Year: 5 Ways to Pray

Looking for prayers for a new school year?

The teachers and staff gathered in the hallway outside the bathrooms and began praying for the safety of the students who would enter these rooms.

Praying that the students would see love and acceptance in the mirror as they washed their hands, that they would feel beautiful, the way Jesus sees them, and that they would see their classmates with
infinite value.

Prayers for a new school year are powerful! They allow you to pray prophetically over the life of your child and those prayers open the opportunity for God to work on your child’s behalf.

Prayers for students are important anytime of the year! Whether it’s the middle of the summer, back to school time, or Christmas vacation.

This is one of the prayer traditions for the new school year at my school every year. I’m blessed to be the school administrator at a private Christian school. Each fall we do a prayer walk around the school to prepare for the students to come back to school.

We stop in each room, by each bathroom, the elevator, the kitchen, the lobby and office, and the playground and pray for the events and conversations that will take place in each space during the new
school year.

As a Christian parent, you want your child’s school experience to be positive. You want them to be safe.

But you also want your child to feel loved, accepted, valued, treasured, and to learn more about Jesus.

Whether your child is in a private school, homeschool, or public school, you have specific desires for your child this year.

This year will be like no other year we have experienced. It will take a lot of prayers for the new school year this year.

Here are 5 specific things to pray about for this school year
1. Health

Right now, there is so much conflicting information and fear about catching a virus and trying so hard to stay healthy. We have spent weeks and months being tucked away safely in our homes, wearing masks, ordering our groceries online, etc.

Often, when we think about being healthy, we think specifically about physical health. You should be praying that your family will be in good health and that you will be able to discern what is best for your children’s health.

Every parent needs wisdom to know what to do to best protect and care for their family and their students go back to school. Now, more than ever, as your children begin a new school year, there is
a lot of uncertainty about health!

Claim these promises as you pray for the health of your student as they go back to school:

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 (NIV)

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 2)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

2. Safety

There are four specific types of safety and protection that you should pray about for your children. Whether they are starting their first day of school, or finishing their last day of school, God wants your children to be safe.

Claim these promises for your children this school year. Physical safety is the desire of every parent. You want to know that your child will not get hurt or be hurt while they are at school.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalm 34:7

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalms 91:11-12

Mental Safety

Pray that God will put a hedge of protection around your children and block the exposure to worldly influences that might pull them away from Jesus.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalms 17:8

Emotional Safety

As your child goes to school, makes friends, and expands their knowledge, pray that they will be able to stand up for those who may be left out or feeling lonely. That if they are faced with a situation where they are being bullied, that there will be people to stand in
the gap and support and encourage

Pray that their teachers will inspire them and encourage them to grow and learn.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

Spiritual Safety

This may be the most important part of your safety prayer. As your children grow, pray that they will question enough to dig deeper in God’s word.

Pray that their faith will grow and that there will be classmates, teachers, and mentors who will speak into the life of our
child and encourage them to follow Jesus.

I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. (Isaiah 49:25)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (I Peter 5:7-9)

3. Integrity

Honesty

As you pray for the new school year, pray that your child will tell the truth in word and in their actions. Pray that they will get caught when they are dishonest or make poor choices when the stakes are low and the consequences are not as serious as they will be later in life.

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. Proverbs 16:13

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.   Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.   Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:7)

Conversations

Children can easily fall into the habit of speaking in a disrespectful way or saying things that are unkind about others. As you pray for your child this school year, pray that
they will be kind and compassionate in their conversations and words.

Pray that they will see ways to encourage others with their words.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

4. Wisdom

One of the main reasons your child goes to school is to learn. Learning is so much more than counting, adding and subtracting, and learning how to read and write.

It is also about gaining wisdom to know how to handle situations, people, and difficulties.

Scriptures to pray for your children help you to focus your prayers on specific areas of your child’s life and the needs that they have as they get adjusted to the new school year.

Pray for your student to grow in favor and wisdom as they are growing in stature.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

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. (Matthew 11:29)

This school year, there are so many uncertainties and things you can’t possibly know yet. How will you handle certain situations? How will you encourage your child this school year?

How will you support them, discipline them, encourage them to grow in favor with God?

Claim this promise for yourself as you pray for your child this school year.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

5. Joy

Joy comes from a heart that is full of gratitude. It overflows and spills over onto those around them. Pray that your child will experience joy from living in a relationship with Jesus.

Even when the difficult days comes, pray that Jesus will fill their hearts and yours with the joy of the Lord.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)

Today, as you pray for these specific areas of your child’s life in this new school year, trust God to lead and guide your child this year. God has an incredible plan for your child! Pray these promises for your
student today as they go to school!

If you’d like some additional verses to pray over your child, 31 Bible Verses to Pray for Your Children has more specific verses to pray and claim for your child’s life.

FREE printable guide for prayers for a new school year!

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