7 Prayers for Returning Teachers

It comes every year, the end of the Summer season and the transition into Autumn. For some, it is a time of pumpkin-everything, but for teachers, it means preparation to teach young minds. More than ever, teachers need our prayers and support. COVID has changed so much of what it means for teachers to educate students, which can prove taxing and overwhelming. Let’s join together to lift up our returning teachers as the 2021/2022 school year begins.

1. Prayers for Health in the Classroom

Father God,

We pray for the health of teachers returning to the classrooms this year. We know that COVID has placed a new level of concern for the well-being of not only students but also teachers and staff. Please give them supernatural protection over their health this school year. Help protect them not only from COVID but also from any illness and disease so that they may be able to teach without interruption. Please keep those in the classroom healthy so that schools can remain open and accessible for children to receive the education they need.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

2. Prayers for Wisdom

Father God,

Please bless the instructors with wisdom as they start this new school year. Lord, in Proverbs 3:13, we remember that “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.” In that heart stature, Lord, we pray for wisdom to be granted and poured out abundantly over educators. They have such an essential and vital role in the upbringing and life of a child, and Lord, children are little sponges absorbing knowledge. Help the words that come forward from the mouths of educators to be in alignment with truth, kindness, love, and the kind of wisdom that can only come from You. Please give them resources and all that they need to navigate this new school year well. If they struggle to know how to handle a situation, Lord, we pray sincerely that You would be their rock and the One they seek for guidance. May discernment flow.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

3. Prayers for Peace in the Classroom

Father God,

Peace is a gift in this world and something that You give. We know that Ephesians 6:12 reminds us of the heavy reality that, “ For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Lord, we pray for firm protection around classrooms, whether they be brick and mortar buildings or virtual formats, from anything that seeks to invoke fear, unrest, or anything that is not of Your Light and heart. Father, we pray that the classroom would be an atmosphere of peace so that students and teachers may come together to learn and encourage growth. Please abide in each of these classrooms. Lord, we pray that those who enter these classrooms would feel the difference of peace and ultimately know that it is You among them.

We pray this in the name of Jesus,

Amen

4. Prayers for Strength

Father God,

It is clear after nearly two years of COVID, many teachers have grown weary and exhausted from the strain of so much change in the new normal we are living in. Father, we pray for Your sustaining and life-giving Spirit to pour out over them. Remind them that it is not in their flesh that they need to find the strength to endure but in Your loving arms. You want to help them not only survive this next school year but to thrive in it. We pray teachers will rest in You every day and seek You for the next steps. Lord, we also pray that You will equip them with all they need for their new learners. Every student is different. Each child comes with a different learning style, personality, and aspects that make them one of a kind. Please help the teachers to know how to help each of these children know how to learn in a way that they can best understand. Give them the capability to do their job to the best of their abilities, for You fuel it.

In Jesus Name,

Amen 

5. Prayers for Learners

Father God,

We pray for learners of all ages. Students are not the only ones coming into the classroom to learn, for teachers of any age take new understandings with every class. Please bless all the learners this year. Please bring forth new breakthroughs of knowledge and revelations so that instructors and pupils alike can see that we live in the incredible world you have created. Give them a new hunger to unlock mysteries and a thirst for knowledge. Allow the content being taught to impact their young minds and inspire innovation and design for them in the years ahead. Please bless this school year in such a way that they have never known before.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

6. Prayers for Memories and Connection

Father God,

We know that the years spent in grade school are some of the most memory-filled times in life. We know that connections made during this time are so important, and this time in a child’s youth can impact the remainder of their lives. We pray for the memories and connections fostered during this time. Help teachers to inspire students in new ways towards the subjects they are learning. Give them the ability to create a space of vibrancy for learning, not a dull task-based environment. Please bless them with unexpected joy throughout the year. Please grant them golden times that they will cherish from this life to the next.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

7. A Prayer for the First Day

Father God,

As teachers and students embark on the first day of classes, we ask that You be ever-present. Please soothe the first day jitters that exist, and remind them that there is so much good to be unlocked this year. Help technology to run smoothly, and help these first impressions to go well. We pray for respect towards the teachers from the students and the cultivation of kindness from every person present. May this first day be abundantly blessed, and may this school year be one marked with Your favor. We thank You, God, in advance.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

More than ever, teachers need support and encouragement. They give so much every single day in an effort to not only educate but to leave an impression on their students. Praying for and supporting teachers you know can make a difference in their lives and help them not feel so alone in the day-to-day journey. Make it a point to ask specifically how you can lift up your teacher friends, and offer words of encouragement to them as well. They make the world a better place, helping the next generation grow up well.

Photo credit:© Getty Images/Drazen Zigic

Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com