Tuesday; August 23

I am not sure when your young people will head back to school, but those in Southern Maryland are beginning to trickle back into the classrooms. After a couple years of weirdness, the fall of 2022 is beginning to resemble – in some ways – a more routine year. Yet, while things are moving toward “normalcy”, our young people and their teachers need our support and our prayers. With this in mind, here are a few prayer themes that might be beneficial.

1. Safety – It is a shame, but for many of us the biggest challenge we see in schools is the exposure of children to danger. Let’s pray that our students and staff stay safe.

2. Focus – The essence of school is to teach our children how to be successful. Unfortunately, schools have out grown the basics of reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. Schools can be a positive environment for a lot of children, but first and foremost they are institutions for education.

3. Enjoyment – This may sound a little off the wall, but school should be a place where children have fun. They get to make new friends and experience new things. Through the years we have tended to take the fun out of school, could it be that’s why our children are losing interest?

4. Growth – While academics are important, schools also provide children with a way to develop in other aspects of maturity. They learn how to interact with others who may not look like or think like them. They begin to develop problem-solving skills. When they step outside their comfort zones in a controlled environment, they sow the seeds of wisdom that will serve them well through the years.

James reminds us that, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16). Let’s band together and pray that 2022 will be a great year for both staff and students.

Think About It!

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