How to pray for schools, students this year
By Pastor Daniel Camp
South Garland (TX) Baptist Church
For students, parents and teachers, this will be a school year unlike any other. In a time when people are quick to share their opinion, believers should be quick to pray.
This year, there are children who will have their first day of kindergarten on Zoom. Their backpacks full of school supplies will spend weeks collecting dust in the corner of the bedroom. After months of talking to their parents about “when I get to go to school,” they’ll start the year learning from home. Believers should pray for those children.
This year, there are parents who will wonder whether they should bother taking a first-day-of-school photo, who will leave their child’s first-day-of-school outfit hanging up in the closet with the tags still on, who will cry first-day-of-school tears that are far more bitter than sweet. Believers should pray for those parents.
This year, there are teachers who spent hours decorating classrooms that will remain vacant. They won’t meet their students in person for weeks — if they ever do — and they will only see the smiling faces of children on their computer screens. Believers should pray for those teachers.
There are children who have spent all summer longing to play with friends, who don’t understand why the school playground is roped off. These children feel isolated and alone, and believers should pray for these children.
There are parents who have become full-time tutors, having sacrificed their own pursuits to stay home with their children. They miss the routine and the freedom of pick-up and drop-off. They miss asking, “How was your day at school?” Believers should pray for those parents.
There are teachers who are learning on the fly. Their lesson plans are changing every day, and so are their teaching methods. They’re trying their best to understand what to do. Believers should pray for those teachers.
There are children who are closer to college than kindergarten, whose visions of prom and graduation have become murky. There are parents whose calendars are devoid of recitals and football games, who don’t know what to look forward to right now. There are teachers who are pondering early retirement and wondering if this is all worth the hassle.
There are some who are disappointed and some who are excited. There are some who are angry and some who are hopeful. There are some who are afraid and some who are eager. What they all have in common is a longing for a normal year.
Believers cannot give them that. But we can give them our prayers. And in Jesus’ name, we should.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was adapted from a Facebook post shared by Pastors for Texas Children.
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Anxiety is gripping our world like never before. If you turn on the TV, radio or social media, you will see something to cause fear, panic, doubt or dread inside.
It can be paralyzing if we allow our minds to consume this information all of the time.
Now is the time to change what is infiltrating our minds. These 10 Scriptures can help when anxiety comes stomping your way:
- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but one of power, love and a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
- “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
- “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” (Matt. 11:28–29).
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).
- “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up” (Prov. 12:25).
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5–6).
- “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy” (Ps. 94:19).
- “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6).
- “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
God’s word is living and active (Heb. 4:12), so put it to work.
Caris Snider
carissnider.com
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TAB staff members help double our reach
I passed out papers to my Bible study group and talked about our ministry. One of the people in my Bible study group is a Baptist pastor. Their church provides it for people who aren’t able to pay for it. I also invited people to like TAB Media on Facebook.
Amy Hacker
Creative services associate
I purchased a subscription to the paper for a dear, sweet lady who lives in a nursing home. My hope is she will share it with several other ladies in the facility, and we’ll be able to share the good news with a lot of folks. You never know how God will work.
Annette Brown
Guest services
I shared about TAB and how to subscribe with my D-group.
Susan Stevens
Outside sales rep
I invited several friends to like TAB’s page on Facebook.
Jennifer Davis Rash
President and editor-in-chief
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Letters to the Editor
Why would a supposedly Christian newspaper laud Disney Plus’ “Hamilton” when the reviewer points out some 40 profane words and scenes suggestive of sexual conduct? An exposé, perhaps, to warn parents and others to stay away?
In the ever popular “diversity” declaration, can one imagine the outrage if non-Blacks played the part of George Washington Carver or Dr. Martin Luther King?
“Hamilton” is incorrectness carried to the limits and misleads the uninformed (including foreigners visiting our U.S.A.).
And to add to the “political correctness,” an effort was made by the play’s creators to not “distance between a contemporary audience and this story.”
Correct history is not to entertain the culture of the moment but to speak the truth. For the life of me, why would this paper devote over half a page to this nonsense?
L.E. Gosa
Fayetteville, Ala.
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I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are unwilling to forgive someone.
D.L. Moody
American evangelist and publisher (1837–1899)
There’s no human system that doesn’t bear the fingerprints of the fall. We should therefore expect God’s word to confront, at some point, the fallenness that’s injected into every human system, every political party, every ideology.
Pastor Matt Mason
Birmingham, Ala.
The very idea of the gospel is that we would be one. The world would know that we are Christians because of our oneness and because of our love.
Issues of justice, diversity and reconciliation are not extra add-ons that the church can opt out of as a matter of personal preference. They are an essential part of the gospel.
It’s going to take intentionally multiethnic and multicultural churches to bust through the chaos and confusion of the present moment and redirect our gaze to the revolutionary gospel of reconciliation.
Pastor and author John Perkins
“One Blood”
I do not believe that God sent COVID-19, but I do believe we need to stop complaining and asking “why” and start asking “what” — what do I need to do right now, what do I need to learn, what do I need to change, what do I need to prepare for? We won’t return to the old normal. We will have to learn a new normal, and we don’t know what that will be.
Cynthia Watts
Birmingham, Ala.
Following Jesus has to make it onto your schedule and into your practices or it will simply never happen. Apprenticeship to Jesus will remain an idea, not a reality in your life.
Author John Mark Comer
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”
In Gethsemane, the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from Him. It did not. After that, the idea that prayer is recommended to us as a sort of infallible gimmick may be dismissed.
Author C.S. Lewis
“How to Pray: Reflections and Essays”
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From the Twitterverse
@larrydrobertson
I hate hypocrisy. I hate it in politics. I hate it in the world of journalistic entertainment … or as some like to call it and believe it to be, the “news.” I hate it in the church. Most of all, though … I hate it in me.
@1MissionStudent
No matter where you are in life or what your “job” is, you are first and foremost a missionary! Let’s be sure to devote ourselves to Christ in all we do.
@BethMooreLPM
I just cannot recommend Jesus enough.
@scottdawson
Praying for a school year that’s not filled with the surprises we faced last year. Here’s to a boring, daily routine for teachers and students! However, I do hope you: Laugh each day. Learn each day. Love each day. Live each day.
@DustyMcLemore
Amid sports, activities, etc., let’s not neglect the spiritual formation of our children! The days between kindergarten and their wedding day are some of the most important preparation days of their lives! #TheChosenPath
@drtonyevans
When God delays, He always delays for a purpose. Trust Him.
@garyfenton07
Without gratitude, it is impossible to develop generosity as a habit. Without gratitude, generosity becomes an occasional action that will be repeated only when you feel enough guilt. With gratitude, generosity becomes a virtuous habit that is easy to continue.
@drjjwilliams
It’s good and wise to stay in our lanes. No one is omnicompetent. No one. We should not waste time trying to be an expert on everything. We will find ourselves becoming an expert in nothing. Pick a lane. Stay there. Master it. And educate those not in our lanes.
That’s fruitful.
@ChristineCaine
Make sure you take some time to look after your heart and soul. We all need to be restored, refreshed, renewed and replenished, regularly. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).
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