Prayer for Educators

I have no words to adequately describe the frustration of American school teachers right now. 

God, 

Teachers, students, and public schools need a miracle right now. Thank you for reminding me that the ultimate goal isn't a thriving public school system (unless that is your goal for us). The ultimate goal is "populating heaven." Please help me to remember that obstacles provide opportunities. 

When there wasn't any food, Jesus fed 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. The humans didn't have what was needed, but Jesus did. 

When Moses and the Israelites faced the Red Sea, they probably had a much more desperate prayer than we do right now, although the value and worth of our students, teachers, and admin, and their salvation is just as important as every life you saved when you parted the waters. You saved a nation then, and you can save a generation now. 

When Joseph's brothers thought they were going to die of starvation, you had already put Joseph in Egypt in a position to provide for them and save their lives. 

When Peter was in prison, you provided an angel and walked him out. 

When Daniel should have been eaten by lions (this really puts our October Tik Tok challenge in perspective) you shut their mouths and saved him. How many more believed in God because of that miracle? 

When countless people should have died or continued to suffer in their illnesses, Jesus spoke and saved them. And thousands and thousands of people believed in him and were saved because of his presence and the miracles that happen when Jesus is involved. This is still happening today. 

When Jesus died, our hope should have ended. He's not dead, and if hanging on a cross and suffering death was intentional and planned since the beginning of time, then surely it is no accident to you that our students, our teachers, our administrators, our families, our custodians, our substitutes, our secretaries, our nurses, our social workers, our counselors, our SROs, our paras, our bus drivers, our librarians, and everyone else in our schools is where they are right now. 

Philippians 4:11-13

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

God, 

You've already won. 

Help us to...

pray without ceasing, 

love our neighbor (and feral 6th graders) as ourselves,

keep our eye on the prize,

build up and encourage one another,

never weary of doing good,

seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly.