Our students face a multitude of challenges daily, and they need our encouragement and prayers more than ever. Friends, faith, and schoolwork consume a large portion of their time and concerns. If your child is a student or you know others who are, here are four helpful prayers that you can lift up to God for them often.
A Prayer for Students to Make New Friends
Lord Jesus, school can be a welcome place or a lonely experience for our students. Guide them as they seek to make new friends. Encourage the timid students and give them boldness and strength in knowing they are loved, unique, and created by You. To the insecure, grant confidence so they can be free to help others find the same assurance in You.
Guard our students from those who bully or tease because of their own insecurities. As iron sharpens iron, may they choose friends wisely, always asking You to lead them and guide them in their relationships. Help them to be slow to anger and quick to listen. You have promised to give wisdom when we ask, so prod them to speak up when their words can make a difference. Show our students how to bless their friends, to stand up for them, and to take the initiative in helping others in times of discouragement. Help them understand that friendship is a boomerang. Kindness and unselfishness given away will return to them as a blessing. And above all, may they always consider You, Lord, as their Best Friend.
A Prayer for Students to Study Well
Lord, bless our students with the kind of study habits that help them do their best. Teach them how to manage their time and energy as good stewards of all You have given them. Show them how to develop their talents, to find the path You have set before them, and to be courageous and adventurous to try new things and learn new skills. Place our students in the kind of classroom atmosphere that will both challenge them and encourage them, but still be conducive to their particular abilities. Show them the importance of learning, remembering that You are always with them, leading them as they acknowledge You daily. Eliminate the distractions in their lives that keep them from excellence. Give them persistence and the desire to follow through with each assignment. When things seem difficult, provide the help they need. Help them to be excited about their studies, to be creative in their endeavors, and to remember Who and Whose they are at all times.
A Prayer for Students to Balance School and Faith
Lord, we want more for our students than mere survival. We pray You will make them outstanding leaders and imitators of Your character, secure in their faith. Our students deal with tests often, not just with their schoolwork, but in their spiritual lives. Help them to be bold as lions, in the sense that their faith won’t be shaken by those who attack or question it. Give them knowledge of Your Word and time to memorize and meditate often on its biblical truths. Teach them to respect others’ beliefs without compromising their own.
Like a tightrope walker, Lord, our students are trying to balance familiar Truth against a host of other unfamiliar voices that are trying to sway their beliefs and make them fall. In a world where values are decreasing, morality is fading, and persecution is increasing, help our students to walk humbly, to honor You daily, and to remain true to their calling in Christ. Let them be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks them for the hope or confidence they possess and a reason why they have chosen a relationship with You. Help them to let their Light shine at school and wherever they go so that others who observe their attitudes and actions will know that they are the real thing.
When our students make mistakes or feel they have become imbalanced, help them find the courage to admit, “I was wrong. Forgive me,” or “Lord, I need help.” Let them treasure their “difference” as a gentle yet bold believer, never to flaunt it or to hide it because of timidity or embarrassment. If they encounter challenges that pit their studies against their faith, remind them that You are always on their side and that You are their Wise Counselor, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are the One who can dispel lies and deceit. Whether they face fear or danger or simply need comfort, may they always turn to You, the One Who always hears their cries, and the One who will never leave them or forsake them.
A Prayer For Students Who are Bullied
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Lord, it’s hard to see our children hurt. Guide us to act swiftly in their defense when they are in danger physically, and compassionately remind them of who they really are when their souls are under attack. We are promised that “in this world we will have trouble,” and that’s no more evident than amongst a crop of elementary-aged children hurling mean insults at another child… or our own child.
Bless and protect our children’s hearts and minds. By the power of the Holy Spirit who helps us to recall Your Word, may we have Truth on the tips of our tongues to remind our kids what You say about them. May they always know that You love them, and that they are Yours. Stir their hearts to hear Your call on their lives early, and may their steps follow fast after You all of their days.
Help us to remember to pray for our enemies. To pray for the bullies. Bless those that harbor malice and anger in their hearts, treating others as less than what they are… Your beautiful creation. Search their hearts for hurt and call them back to You. Love their hurt away.
Father, parenting is amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Help us, Jesus. Guide us through this maze of raising a child that is God-fearing, God honoring, and Christ following. Beyond our mistakes and inabilities, we know that You chase after our children. Praise You, that it’s not all up to us. Bless our feet to walk out our calling as parents, and our children to hear Your voice above all others… ours and the bullies. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(excerpt from A Prayer for Moms of Bullied Children, Meg Bucher)
5 Encouraging Bible Verses to Stay Motivated
- Matthew 6:33 NIV, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Colossians 3:17 NLT, And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
- 1 Peter 3:15 TLB, Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT, So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG, Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
No matter what our students encounter—in the positive experiences and the challenging ones—we can surround them with prayers of deliverance and safety. They need to know more than ever that they are loved, they are accepted, and that Jesus walks beside them daily, helping them as students and young believers to succeed. Our prayers can make a difference in their lives and help them grow in godly character.
Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
This article is part of our Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Serenity Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Irish Blessings & Prayers
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Protection
Prayer for God’s Help
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer for Strength
Now available is our new Daily Prayer devotional! An easy way to start your day with prayer; read today’s prayer and sign up to receive it by email.
Photo credits in order of appearance: ©Thinkstock/Weedezign, ©Thinkstock/monkeybusinessimages, ©Thinkstock/Ridofranz, ©Thinkstock/Userc0373230_9, ©Thinkstock/artisteer
This article is part of our Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer for Peace
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Protection
Prayer for Anxiety
Prayer for Strength
Now available is our new Daily Prayer devotional and podcast! An easy way to start your day with prayer: read or listen to today’s prayer and sign up to receive it by email.
