08/13/2026
Heavenly Father,
As we approach a new school year, we come before You with grateful hearts and ask You to place Your hand over every school, every classroom, every hallway, every bus, every playground, every field, and every person who will walk through those doors this year.
Lord, we pray for our teachers. Give them patience when the days are long, wisdom when the answers aren't easy, and joy in the work You have placed before them. Remind them that what they do matters and that the seeds they plant in the lives of their students may grow for years to come.
We pray for our paraprofessionals, support staff, administrative assistants, custodians, maintenance teams, food service professionals, nurses, bus drivers, and every person working behind the scenes. Bless the hands that prepare meals, clean classrooms, answer phones, drive our children safely, care for scraped knees, organize schedules, offer encouragement, and do the countless things that keep our schools running each day. May they know how valuable they are.
We pray for our administrators and school leaders. Give them wisdom, discernment, courage, compassion, and integrity as they make decisions. Help them lead with both strength and grace and never lose sight of the children and people entrusted to their care.
We pray for our counselors, social workers, psychologists, special education teams, and those caring for the emotional and mental well-being of our students. Give them eyes to see the child who is struggling, ears to truly hear what isn't always being said, and wisdom to know how to help.
We pray for our coaches, advisors, activity leaders, and mentors. May they teach our children more than how to win. Help them model character, perseverance, humility, teamwork, discipline, and kindness.
And Father, we especially pray for our students.
For the child excited for the first day and the child who is afraid. For the student who makes friends easily and the one wondering where they will sit at lunch. For the child who excels and the one who struggles. For the student carrying burdens that no child should have to carry.
Let each one know that they are seen, valued, loved, and created with purpose.
Protect our schools, Lord. Place Your protection around every student and every staff member as they travel to school, throughout their day, and as they return home. Guard their hearts, their minds, and their bodies.
Where there is anxiety, bring peace.
Where there is exhaustion, bring strength.
Where there is loneliness, bring connection.
Where there is conflict, bring grace.
Where there is fear, bring courage.
Where there is heaviness, bring joy.
And where someone feels unseen, send someone who notices.
May our schools be places where children feel safe to learn, grow, ask questions, make mistakes, discover their gifts, and become who You created them to be.
Give our educators renewed passion. Give our families patience and grace. Help our communities come alongside our schools rather than simply expecting from them.
And throughout this school year, remind each person that even on the ordinary days—the early mornings, the busy hallways, the piles of paperwork, the practices, the lunches served, the buses driven, the lessons taught, and the quiet conversations—their work has purpose.
Father, go before them this year. Walk beside them through it. Cover them in Your protection, fill them with Your peace, surround them with Your love, and let there be abundant joy along the way.
May this be a year of growth, friendship, learning, laughter, kindness, and blessing.
We place this school year into Your hands.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank you to all our school staff for showing up and being present with us ❤️
Thank you to Erin Sellner Honken for the beautiful floral giveaway & Betsy Bauer & McKenzie Gehrke for the cookies and giveaway baskets themed for each school ❤️💚
