Welcome to day 21 of 21. We are called to stand in the gap for our children so that they can fulfill God’s plan for their lives. This 21-day adventure is adapted from the book Reclaim a Generation: 21 Days of Prayer for Schools by Cheryl Sacks.
Share this page so others can join us as we pray for our schools and reclaim a generation for Jesus.
WEEK 1: STUDENT LIFE
WEEK 2: SUPPORT SYSTEMS
WEEK 3: SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
WEEK 3: SPIRITUAL AWAKENING:
Preparing the Way for Hope, Healing, and Freedom
DAY 21: RECLAIM A GENERATION
“…that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”
ISAIAH 61:3b-4, ESV
Excerpt from book:
If we are to see revival in our day and reformation in our lifetime, we must influence and regain control of the educational systems of our nation. A generation has very nearly been stolen from us and must be reclaimed for the Kingdom of God. We need an invasion of prayer power and reformers into every facet of society if we are to see transformation and a Great Reformation occur! Yet we are not without hope! God’s Word is full of promises for the children and the grandchildren of the righteous:
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the Lord. ‘They [your children] will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,’ declares the Lord.”
JEREMIAH 31:16-17, NIV“Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.”
PROVERBS 11:21, ESV“And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children.”
ISAIAH 54:13, AMPC“Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”
PSALM 112:1-2, NIV“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your
descendants.”
ISAIAH 44:3, NIV“For thus says the Lord: ‘Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.’”
ISAIAH 49:25, ESV
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, we praise You that You have heard every prayer during these past 21 days as we have cried out to You on behalf of our students, teachers, families, and schools. We ask that You would be glorified, that You would be exalted over our schools and over every power and principality that would seek to influence and infiltrate our education system with the purpose to deceive and destroy the next generation. We ask You to bless the students in the preschools, home schools,
alternative, private, charter, and public schools, and the colleges and universities of America with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of You, Your Word, and Your Kingdom purposes.
We declare it is time for our Christian students and teachers to ARISE AND SHINE as Your glory rises upon them, and that nations will come to the
brightness of Your rising. (ISAIAH 60;1,3). We stand in faith on Your many prophetic promises that Your glory is going to be manifested on the earth in a dramatic and unprecedented way. Thank You that when You revealed Your glory to Moses, it was Your goodness that passed in front of him! Likewise, we remain confident, knowing that we will surely see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (in our schools) (PSALM 27:13)! Reveal Yourself and Your ways in undeniable and sovereign acts. Empower and equip our children to fulfill their sovereign purpose according to the highest plans of God, in Jesus’ name.
Heavenly Father, Creator of all life, You have dreamed a unique dream for every individual. Therefore, we cry out and say, “The destinies of our children will be preserved!” Give this emerging generation vision and a sense of purpose regarding their future. Father God, it is time! Raise up sons and daughters with godly purpose and destiny to contend for the future of our nation (ISAIAH 22:22). Raise up ones that will lead the way for righteousness and justice in every mountain of cultural influence. May they, like David, fulfill the purpose of God in their generation (ACTS 13:36).
DAY 20: IN HOMESCHOOLS AND CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom.
DANIEL 1:17, NLTYou have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
2 TIMOTHY 3:15, NLTMy prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
JOHN 17:15, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Many parents have chosen to homeschool because of the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, others because they have become aware of the unprecedented assaults on truth and biblical values their children are facing in the classroom. For these reasons and others, homeschooling rates within the United States are higher than they have been in decades. Between 2019 and 2021, homeschooling rates more than doubled. Whatever the reason parents may choose to utilize them, home schools and private schools are extremely important components of our state’s educational opportunities and we want to pray for parents and teachers as they undertake this valuable endeavor.
PRAYER POINTS:
Lord, we thank You for every private Christian school, college, preschool, and every godly homeschool in our state. Thank You for the parents, teachers, and families who are hard at work educating the next generation in excellence and with a biblical worldview.
As you did for Solomon and for Daniel, please give our Christian students maturity beyond their years and a supernatural ability to learn and to excel academically, above and beyond the norm. We invite Your manifest presence to come to these classrooms and homes and ask for a great move of God among these students, parents, and teachers! We pray for true revival to come to our Christian schools with a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would impact every family.
We ask You, Jehovah Jireh, for a great financial blessing to come to each of these and pray that You would reward and bless them for their commitment
and sacrifice: to the teacher in a Christian school with a significantly smaller paycheck, to the student paying tuition fees, and to the parent who experiences a loss of income to stay home and teach their children. Many of our Christian schools and colleges face financial challenges, and we ask for dramatic financial breakthroughs for each of them!
Protect these institutions from negative press designed to pressure them into compromising their stand for the gospel and righteousness. We pray for their governing boards to make decisions in the fear of the Lord and with great wisdom and that You would guide them in the days ahead.
Father, we fervently cry out to You for every Christian student in our schools, no matter their school or age. We ask that even our youngest Christian children would be taught Your truth from childhood and that they would have a deep understanding of the Bible. Send them teachers and pastors who can impart an intelligent biblical worldview to them and disciple them into followers of You.
DAY 19: IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
JOSHUA 1:9, NIV“O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
PSALM 25:1-5, NLT
Excerpt from book:
Today, college campuses serve a highly strategic purpose in the life of our nation. Not only are all of a nation’s future leaders gathering to be trained and commissioned, but even the best and brightest from the nations of the world are being sent to our colleges and universities. But there is a crisis on our college campuses today: they are in dire need of the presence of God! The reality is that many universities are not only training future leaders into occupational roles; they are also systematically shaping hearts and minds into a worldview devoid of God.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, we pray today for our colleges and universities, that they would be filled with the tangible presence of God. Father, we pray for a movement of holiness, righteousness, and purity on the college campuses of America—that will cause the student body to be washed clean by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7; Heb. 9:14)! We pray for a revelation of the beauty of Your holiness (Ps. 27:4; 29:2), that they would desire to seek You and honor You above all, to turn away from all sin, and to be holy as You are holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Lord, we ask You to break off every addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sexual immorality among the student body and the faculty. We ask for the power of Your Spirit within hearts to renounce all agreements with destructive lifestyles and sin patterns, and to find complete freedom, cleansing and healing by the blood of Jesus! We declare a turning in the hearts of students and faculty, to willingly offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to You (Romans 12:1-2). Uproot the lies that they are unable to break free. By Your power, break off every soul tie, every addiction, and every deception that would try to hold their souls captive to their own desires.
Lord, we pray that each student will have the opportunity to grow and develop spiritually as well as intellectually, and that they would be grounded in the truth. Instead of their courses and higher learning pulling them away from their faith in God, we pray students will be brought closer to You. We thank You for those students who are courageously living their faith and displaying it on campus. Give our Christian students the courage to live out their faith in an atmosphere that is often skeptical of faith.
Lord, we lift up the professors, deans, and presidents of our colleges. We ask that they not only be wise in their area of specialty but also that You give them spiritual wisdom. We pray that the Holy Spirit will use Christian professors and faculty as a mighty force for truth and that a new standard of righteousness would be raised up on our campuses.
We ask for an all-consuming hunger and desperation for Your presence on our college and university campuses, that only You can give—that students would desire You more than anything else in this life! Let nothing else satisfy them but the presence of God, touching an entire generation!
Only You can heal the brokenness that runs so deep within our campuses, Lord. Only You can restore the years the enemy has stolen from this generation. More than anything else You could give us, we ask for this one thing: that our young people might behold You all the days of their lives and dwell in Your presence (Psalm 27:4)! May they experience the fullness of Your presence—heaven on earth!
We declare that our colleges and universities will become centers for truth and revival rather than for the tearing down of the faith of our young adults. We ask You to work through Christian groups and churches on campuses to bring thousands of young men and women to faith in Jesus Christ.
DAY 18: IN HIGH SCHOOLS
Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
PROVERBS 20:11, ESVBlessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently, Oh, that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
PSALM 119:1-5, ESV
Excerpt from book:
High school can be an incredibly intense time for teens as they navigate dating and romantic relationships, friendship struggles, identity crises, bullying, exposure to drugs, alcohol, sex, immense peer pressure, and much more. It’s no wonder that almost 70 percent of Christian youth leave the Church after high school. It’s one of the most volatile seasons of life for young people, and we must pray to cover our nation’s high schools with God’s presence.
PRAYER POINTS:
God, first and foremost, we pray for a great turnaround in the statistic that 70 to 75 percent of Christian youth leave the Church after high school. Heavenly Father, we ask You to intervene in our young people’s lives and break this trend. Bring Your answers to parents, churches, and Christian schools! In Jesus’ name, keep our children close to You as they navigate the pressures of teenagehood.
We pray for godly teachers and school administrators to guide high schoolers with truth and love.
Among our students, we ask for edifying and fulfilling friendships rather than negative influences that would cause them to turn from You.
Our alternative high schools have unique student populations that are usually experiencing even higher levels of brokenness and challenges. (Many times, these students are trying to overcome significant adversities and roadblocks to education and may be dealing with juvenile incarceration, housing insecurity, pregnancy and parenting, addictions, and more, in even greater numbers than in regular high schools.) We pray You would give extra strength and grace to the teachers and administrators of these students. Pour out Your mercy on these children and give them Your Spirit to help them overcome their adversity and go on to know You, follow You, and achieve success in their lives.
We bind the spirits that lead teens in all of our schools into partying, substance abuse, and provocative behavior. Lord, cover our students in a hedge of Your protection. Cause them to feel a wholeness and acceptance that only comes from Your unfailing love for them.
May the Christian students in all of our high schools walk in boldness, proudly proclaiming Your name. Anoint them with bravery that only comes from You. We declare victory over all spirits that would bind our students in fear, preventing them from sharing openly about their faith. We pray against the fear of man, the fear of rejection, or any other trepidation that would make them feel anxious about sharing their testimony. May there be a wave of spiritual awakening in our high schools that sweeps across our state and our nation!
DAY 17: IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
LUKE 18:16, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Elementary school is a pivotal point in the lives of our children. They are young, often anxious about their first school experience, and very impressionable. For many children, elementary school can be their first exposure to bullying, teasing, cliques, and other cruel behavior. It may also be their first exposure to extreme behavior such as major tantrums and violent outbursts, which have become rampant in our elementary schools. For some children, elementary school is their first experience away from mom and dad, which may be tempting for them to “experiment” with behaviors
that do not align with who they are.
PRAYER POINTS:
Thank You, Lord, for Your heart of love and concern, especially for our youngest children! We pray for every young student in America, as well as
their teachers and aides. The Kingdom of God belongs to them, even as Your Word says. We ask that these tender young hearts and minds would keep their
innocence and purity. We pray that You would raise up an army of godly Christian teachers who are divinely gifted and called to teach and mold this
impressionable age group.
We pray for all of the social and emotional needs of our young students to be met. We pray that their hearts would be full of joy and that their elementary school experience would be uplifting, despite the circumstances.
Pour out Your Spirit on these young ones, we pray! Let there be an awakening of their spirits and minds to You. May each student in America feel and see Your presence in their lives. May all of our children, and the adults who teach and lead them, encounter Your love and truth in a supernatural way!
DAY 16: IDENTITY AND PURPOSE IN GOD’S DESIGN
We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
COLOSSIANS 1:9-10 NASB
Excerpt from book:
Our children and young adults are desperately looking for identity and purpose, asking questions like: Who am I? What makes me different? What is my purpose in this world? In fact in America, our children and youth are experiencing an identity crisis. Due to the pressure and messaging of the media—including social media like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Tik Tok, and the like—young people often have no idea who they are and feel compelled to try to be someone else. Oftentimes, what they see on social media tells them they’re not good enough—that their clothes, their home, their car, and even their bodies need to be different or better.
Our identity is the first thing God establishes about us—we are made in God’s image. Each of us is known by our Father, God, who has a design for our lives within His perfect plan.
PRAYER POINTS:
Lord, thank You for Your promise to bless our children. Because of Your blessing, our children will find their true identity and sense of purpose in belonging to You, their Father and Creator. Please silence the negative voices telling our students they are worthless or unwanted, or that they can find their identity and purpose outside of Your plan for their lives. You have a unique design and plan for every student. We ask for these plans to be preserved to give them a future and a hope! ( Jeremiah 29:11)
Almighty God, we pray for our future leaders; raise up young people with godly purpose and destiny to contend for the future of our nation! May many great young leaders like Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, Ruth, and Esther arise from our schools to bring justice and truth to every sector of society.
Raise up those who will lead the way for truth in every mountain of influence: in government, in education, in media, in entertainment and the arts, in business and finance, in families, and in the Church. May they fulfill the purpose of God in their generation. Like David, may they know their calling from a young age, that no amount of family negativity, peer pressure, or setbacks would discourage them from pursuing it. You have a plan for them that leads to life and fullness of joy.
We pray for a revelation of TRUTH to our children about who they really are in You, and for protection for our children from false information about their purpose, sexuality, and Your design for their life. We ask You to raise up spiritual watchmen (fathers, mothers, teachers, school leaders) who will watch, pray, and be a voice for truth in our schools.
We declare, in Jesus’ name, that this will be a year of blessing, revelation, refreshing, and new identity in God’s original design for each student.
Day 15: SHIFTING THE SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE
For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; And they will spring up among the grass, like poplars by streams of water.
ISAIAH 44:3-4 NASB
Excerpt from book:
It’s been a rocky couple of years in schools, filled with unprecedented and confusing changes and rules for students across the globe, heated protests by parents, large numbers of teachers leaving their jobs because of pandemic-related teaching challenges or refusing vaccine mandates, and crushing restrictions on the children themselves. No one knows with certainty what will happen in the days to come, but our prayer is that God will bring peace and calm to students in this new reality.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, thank You for this incredible promise—that You will refresh the driest places! Where the environment has been spiritually dry and cold in our schools, we ask for streams of the Holy Spirit, the Water of Life, to pour into their hallways and classrooms. Where there is fear and uncertainty, we declare in Jesus’ name there will be peace, confidence, and stability. We believe You will rain down an outpouring of Your presence that will shift the spiritual atmosphere on every school campus in our state, and cause our children to thrive and flourish like strong trees growing by the riverside.
We ask for an unprecedented, tangible presence of the Holy Spirit in our schools, displacing the darkness and flooding the atmosphere of the classrooms with Your goodness and power!
We pray that Christian students would be emboldened to share their faith in You, and courageous in their witness despite any opposition. Let them see undeniable demonstrations of Your power that will strengthen their faith. Empower all Christians there—students, teachers, and administrators—to truly be light and salt, in Jesus’ name. We ask that You touch them so powerfully that they would acknowledge publicly that they belong to You.
WEEK 2: STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Home, School, Community, and Church
DAY 14: THE CHURCH
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
MATTHEW 9:37-38, ESV“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bondservants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
ACTS 4:29-31, NASB
Excerpt from the book:
Churches can support students both by what they provide for ministry within the church family and by how they invest time and energy into their surrounding local schools. Through traditional Sunday school ministry, summer VBS/sports camps/day camps, youth groups, mission trips, and more, the Church has a golden opportunity to minister to children and teens. The leaders of these ministries desperately need our prayers—and our support!
PRAYER POINTS:
Thank You, Lord, for Your prophetic promise that we are on the verge of the greatest revival and spiritual awakening ever…and that America still has the opportunity to see the glory of God and another Great Awakening as seen in the earlier centuries. As we stand in faith before You for these promises, we obey Your command to pray fervently that You would send workers into our schools and universities where the harvest indeed is plentiful.
Thank You, too, for every Christian educator, para-educator, support staff, and administrator You have placed in our schools. We pray You would stir them up and help them resolve that this coming school year they will get to know You in a deeper way. May they walk more closely with You, be an example of godly character and righteousness, and show Your love and compassion to those around them.
We fervently pray You would awaken the “sleeping giant” of Your Church, and that believers would become actively engaged in children’s and youth ministries, their local schools, and our education system. Help us see this harvest field in our own backyards and find meaningful ways to serve and reach the next generation. Especially during this time of great need, when there is so much uncertainty, fear, isolation, and hopelessness, the Church has a message of hope to impart to our communities and schools. Show us how to do that!
We pray for the young student evangelists in our schools. We ask for You to remove all fear of their peers, and any compromise and intimidation. We pray they would walk in an anointing to preach the gospel with power, and that they would see a flood of undeniable healings and miracles when they pray for others. Show them creative ideas to reach out to their classmates with the message of hope and love in Jesus.
Thank You for the Christian students who will step into leadership roles with their peers during this time. We bless them and ask for a deep spiritual maturity, unshakeable courage, the zeal of the Lord, and that You would not let them be distracted from their high calling in You. Many thousands of young leaders spring up from across our state, students who are wise beyond their years, faithful to the truth, and effective apologists for the gospel. Release the fivefold ministry (Ephesians 4:11) in our schools, we pray: the leaders, the pastors, the teachers, the prophets, and the evangelists!
DAY 13: SCHOOL BOARDS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
MATTHEW 5:16, NASBI showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
ACTS 20:35, NIVIs not this the kind of fasting I have chosen… to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
ISAIAH 58:6-7, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Studies show that local school boards play a critical role in the success of their district’s schools. They have tremendous authority to make decisions at a local level including:
- Strategic planning for their community’s academic goals and establishing policies
- Approving curricular materials
- Being accountable to the community to make sure schools are well-run
- Hiring and evaluating the district superintendent
- Overseeing the budget, salaries for employees, and approving purchases
The role of school board members is one of the most important and influential in our community.
PRAYER POINTS:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our school districts and boards to You and ask for Your leadership and wisdom to be present with them as they make decisions for our schools: For our local school boards, we pray that Your plans and purposes for each district and school would be reflected in their long-term strategic planning, and we invite Your Spirit to be present in every school board meeting across our state. We pray that godly people in our communities would step forward to run for the school board and take the place of leadership in this critical junction in our nation’s history as we fight for truth at all levels of our society—particularly in education.
Lord, we pray for Your answers to the obstacles that often confront our school boards: the lack of unified vision, little urgency to implement needed reforms, resistance to change, frequent member turnover making it difficult to follow through on long-term strategies, financial shortfalls, community apathy, disunity, and a lack of stable leadership. We pray that You would bring order, peace, and clarity in these situations.
When confronted with issues that clearly violate their conscience and the Word of God, we pray that You would empower school board members to stand up for what is right. We break off the spirit of intimidation and release Your power, love, and sound mind over them (2 Timothy 1:7) to stand up for truth and real justice.
Lord, impart vision to the business community and to the elected representatives of the community as they partner with their districts. We pray that local businesses would be moved to donate and support long-term programs in struggling schools. We pray for abundant funding to be released over schools and for the prospering of students and teachers.
We ask for a new level of generosity and faith as churches and local organizations step up to provide food, clothing, and supplies for students. Give these organizations creative wisdom and strategies as they approach schools and distribute the resources that You are providing.
Raise up Christians to partner with local schools in caring for the needs of every student and their families. Send godly volunteers, mentors, tutors, and coaches to come alongside students, teachers, and their families. We declare that Your Church will shine brightly and glorify God in our schools through unprecedented acts of love, service, and kindness, in Jesus’ name!
DAY 12: PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings, and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2, ESVThe wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions, with no breath of favoritism or hint of hypocrisy. And the wise are peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness—in other people and in themselves.
JAMES 3:17-18, PHILLIPS
Excerpt from book:
Principals and administrators play a huge role in the education of our students. Their leadership sets the pace and priorities for schools. At the same time, many principals and vice principals are dealing with discipline issues with students, personnel issues with faculty and staff, and policy issues with the school district. School administrators “wear a lot of hats.”
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, as taxpayers, voters, and parents we bring our educational system before You. We pray for those in authority over our schools, including principals, administrators, and education officials at every level.
We pray for the Department of Education, the State Boards of Education, and County Education Agencies, and ask that You would bless all who work there. May Your wisdom direct them and may a fresh wind of Your Spirit blow into our state educational system at the highest levels! Where there is turmoil, we pray for peacemakers who can bring a fair and righteous outcome in a spirit of humility. We pray for the State Superintendents, and ask for the wisdom that is from above to be given to them: favor, strategy, and the ability to bring about consensus, cooperation, and reconciliation at the highest levels.
We’re grateful for all the district superintendents and school principals across the United States. Help them in their day-to-day responsibilities; let them function in a spirit of peace to bring peace and order into situations. Expand their leadership and executive abilities, we pray, and help them to implement innovative solutions to bring unity and productivity to their schools.
Father, we will believe for positive and happy work environments and for healthy, professional regard and respect among all faculty, administration, and staff. We stand in faith and boldly declare that our nation’s schools will embrace biblical values and operate on the principles of our constitution and protect the rights of the weak and the “least of these,” and that our rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion will be upheld and protected in our classrooms and school districts this year.
We declare that staff and faculty will not be antagonistic toward any Christian students or teachers and their values, but that You would change the hearts and minds of those who are offended by the gospel. Transform hostility into sincere inquiry and dialogue. May the hearts of all in leadership always put the good of our students first.
DAY 11: SUPPORT STAFF
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
HEBREWS 13:16, NIVIn the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
MATTHEW 5:16, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Our school systems rely heavily on a vast army of crucial workers who make life and education happen for our children. These include para-educators and classroom assistants, librarians, counselors, tutors and specialists, school nurses, lunchroom and kitchen staff, school bus drivers, playground monitors, crossing and security staff, custodial staff, office workers, and more. When these positions are not well-funded, well-appreciated, and not filled with the highest quality of personnel, our children and their education suffer in many ways.
PRAYER POINTS:
Thank You, Lord, for this army of vital workers that often goes unnoticed and unappreciated in the roles they play. These people are the glue that holds together our schools. We pray they would experience Your pleasure and blessing on their sacrifices and investment in the lives of students.
We ask You to provide the funding needed for support programs. So many of these positions are the first to be “cut” when there are budget shortfalls. Direct administrators to use finances wisely—and avoid the waste that frequently occurs—so that all available monies can be utilized effectively for these important staffing needs.
Perhaps more than any other support staff, counselors have the greatest impact on students’ lives, influencing strategic decisions involving education, career, relationships, and morality. We pray for more qualified Christian school counselors and psychologists in our schools, who will have godly values and a biblical worldview. Please protect the support staff personnel in every way: financially, physically, their health, their emotional well-being, and their family life. For all the vital qualities and programs they contribute, we pray You would use them to bring wisdom, guidance, creativity, safety, nutrition, health, and order.
May they be governed by integrity and honor and kindness in all their interactions with students and one another. Help them to always treat students with dignity, respect, and compassion. We pray that they will experience satisfaction and significance in their jobs, and we ask You to use them in a mighty and powerful way in the lives of the students they serve.
DAY 10: TEACHERS
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
JAMES 3:1, NIVA servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
2 TIMOTHY 2:24, NLT
Excerpt from book:
The quality of the teacher has a HUGE impact on how much students learn. Good teachers have an extraordinarily powerful impact on the future lives of their students. Similarly, there can be lasting damage that poor teachers can inflict on the lives of their students. This is a tumultuous time to be a schoolteacher. They need our support, encouragement, and prayers more than ever!
PRAYER POINTS: NOTE: If you know teachers, please pray for them by name.
Father, we are deeply grateful for our nation’s schoolteachers! Thank You for their willingness to serve the next generation and for the personal sacrifice so many make as they go above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of their students. Lord, raise up more teachers who will see the education field as a ministry field. Increase the supply of educators with godly, qualified individuals who have a passion for learning and for the next generation.
Bring alongside them qualified volunteers, parents, and support staff who will make their job easier. Please streamline the workload of our teachers. Help them prioritize what is most important, and remove bureaucratic barriers that may prevent them from teaching at their best. We pray for any teacher who is exhausted from the day-to-day job stress and has lost vision and enthusiasm. Fulfill Your Word, that You “fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint” (Jeremiah 31:25). We ask that You refresh and encourage those teachers who may be so discouraged that they are on the verge of leaving.
We bless our teachers in the name of the Lord and ask for health and Your abundant blessing on their families, and most of all that they would know and serve You. Keep our teachers safe and keep them healthy.
Holy Spirit, You are the ultimate Teacher, and we invite You into our classrooms and online learning experiences to lead students and teachers alike “into all truth.”
We lift up to You those teachers whose hearts and minds are not aligned with Your Truth, and who are actively engaged in turning their students away from You and from godly principles. We pray they would not be successful in this, and that they would come to a knowledge of the Truth and of the love and salvation of Jesus Christ.
We declare that our teachers are loved and appreciated. They are not taken for granted. Hold them close as they help raise the next generation. Let them know how much they are valued as they leave a positive impact on this world.
DAY 9: HOME LIFE
He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.
MALACHI 4:6, NIVFathers, do not exasperate your children: instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
EPHESIANS 6:4, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Families are the cornerstone of our society and the frontline support system for students. Where this support system is strong, our children thrive. Where it is weak, they struggle.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, we thank You for what You are doing in families today. We bring before You every family struggling and in pain, whether from divorce, poverty, unemployment, drug or alcohol abuse, or domestic violence. Bring healing, comfort, and provision to these broken and hurting homes.
Lord, we lift up to You students who are homeless and are staying at shelters, on the street or living in cars. Your Father’s heart is for the destitute and vulnerable, and we ask that You help these students and their families in powerful ways as only You can. According to Your Word in Malachi 4:6, we cry out that the hearts of the fathers be turned to their children and the hearts of the children be turned to their fathers. We pray for those parents who simply lack the motivation, sense of responsibility, or parenting skills to raise their children well. Break off apathy or helplessness and show them where they can find help. Please bring good parenting role models into the lives of young parents or teen moms who may not have had them while growing up.
We lift up those parents who are doing their best but maybe have to work two jobs, or who are single or divorced and living apart from their children, etc., and are simply unable to be present with them as much as they would like. Pour out Your grace on them, and provide Your comforting presence to the children. Draw the parents to seek You for the provision of creative ideas and resources to enable them to be the strong forces in their children’s lives they want to be.
Raise up effective spiritual fathers and mothers, we pray! Bring positive, godly role models into the lives of children who need them, including grandparents, aunts and uncles, coaches, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and others. Give these adults a heart to invest in the next generation.
DAY 8: TAKING GROUND: RECLAIMING TRUTH AND VALUES
So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
ISAIAH 59:14, NIVThen you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
JOHN 8:32, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Truth, in our culture, is under assault. In fact, it has been said, in the face of the constant barrage of untruths and half-truths that have infiltrated and dominated our news, schools, entertainment, and academia in recent years, that we actually live in a “post-truth era.” Does this mean the truth has been mysteriously lost, and that it cannot be found? Of course not. It does mean that the truth must be sought out and contended for like never before.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, thank You for Jesus’ promise that the truth will set us free. We pray for our children, that You will place people around them who will help them walk in the truth; Your Word is truth!
We pray for teachers and parents, Father: for discernment to recognize deception and false ideologies, and the faith and courage to push back against the sources and fight for truth.
We, also, pray for administrators and school board members, that they would be gatekeepers of truth in their school districts, and that the lies of the enemy would not get past them. Put godly people in these positions, Lord, to serve Your purposes and defend Your truth in our classrooms.
We declare that the efforts of those who are trying to create curricula and initiatives in our schools to actively promote lies and anti-God philosophies and activities will be thwarted and defeated at every turn.
We ask that You increase discernment, Lord, in even the youngest of students, and that they would learn to correctly handle and apply the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15) to everything they learn, no matter what the subject matter is.
We proclaim, in the powerful name of Jesus, that this generation will rise up as warriors for truth, take back the ground the enemy has stolen, and reclaim their godly heritage in our nation!
Week 1: Student Life
Excelling in Studies and Growing in Godly Character
DAY 7: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.
ISAIAH 1:17, MSG.God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:8, MSG“Vision is the #1 predictor of success in school. It’s much more predictive than test scores.”
JOHN HEPPENTHAL,
FORMER ARIZONA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Excerpt from book:
Many schools are overwhelmed with helping students who may require additional help due to their home circumstances, such as lack of parental presence or support, or poverty. They may be immigrants or refugees from different parts of the world. Teachers face an enormous challenge in trying to include and educate children from such a variation of educational backgrounds and families of origin.
We know that obstacles such as poverty, lack of access to transportation, addiction and substance abuse within the home, broken families, depression and other mental illness, generational curses, familial expectations and norms, undiagnosed learning disabilities, racial inequality, homelessness, and more, can all be mitigating factors in the academic
success of any student. However, God, through His supernatural power, can make a way!
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, Your word tells us that without a vision people perish (Proverbs 29:18).
Lord, we pray for VISION for administrators, principals, teachers, parents, and students! Give them Your vision of what their schools can become and stir their faith and hope to action. Let them see that NOTHING is impossible with God, no matter how bad the situation!
Father of Light, we ask You to plant a vision within our students to see academic success as a real possibility in their lives. Give them a vision to overcome the challenges they live with.
We pray for mentors and tutors to come alongside each one who is struggling and give them the educational support and vital encouragement needed to finish their schooling.
Please open the windows of heaven over our struggling schools for finances and good staff, that they would receive a blessing they can’t contain! Lord, we ask that You would be glorified when their needs are supernaturally met.
Help our students who are struggling—whether with learning disabilities or with troubled families or anything else that would hinder them. We pray that You would restore their confidence and motivation, that failures and setbacks would not discourage them. And we ask that You release the specialized teachers these students need.
Encourage all who feel like giving up to press through to victory!
DAY 6: GENDER AND SEXUALITY
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
GENESIS 1:27, NIV
Excerpt from book:
Sexuality, once an educational responsibility of parents, has moved not just into the mainstream of education, but to the extreme. Not only are today’s students being exposed to extremely graphic sexually themed material in some districts, in the name of “sex-ed,” but they are also being exposed to pressure to accept and embrace transgenderism.
Some schools have been bringing in “Drag Queens” to teach students about alternative lifestyles, calling them “models of diversity.” These individuals teach, entertain, and educate kids about being transgender. There are LGBTQ+ curriculums being written and taught in public schools across the nation, and one program has come to be known as “Drag Queen Story Hour.”
According to Intercessors for America, as reported in US News on January 28, 2022, at a middle school in Massachusetts, the school principal allowed her staff members to meet secretly with an 11-year-old girl interested in becoming a boy and her 12-year-old brother interested in becoming a girl. A teacher who knew the parents notified them immediately. The parents then notified the school principal of their disapproval. The school principal defended the counseling sessions but fired the teacher immediately for violating the privacy rights of the minor students by alerting the students’ parents.
Angry parents have learned that punishment evades public school perpetrators because powerful institutions support them in their immorality. The U.S. Department of Education and the National Education Association are two chief supporters of this ideology. These organizations provide tools for teachers, counselors, and administrators to assist students with gender transition. In reality, many times they are the ones actually seeding the confusion, through counseling sessions that encourage
children to question their gender, all without the parents’ knowledge or consent. The U.S. Department of Education also provides major support of LGBTQ issues in public schools. The U.S. DOE secured COVID19 money and distributed the money to the states under a program called the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER). A significant portion of the $122 billion is designated for “mental health support,” including guidelines for lending assistance to specifically Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning (LGBTQ2+) youth.
Our children need our prayers for protection and purity, and the preservation of their innocence. Schoolteachers and administrators need wisdom and courage to push back against immoral guidelines and curricula that promote these ideologies and behaviors. Legislators, too, need wisdom and courage to prevail when legislation comes through asking for a vote on promoting these programs.
PRAYER POINTS:
Lord, we recognize we do not battle against mere flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers in heavenly places. There is a spiritual agenda to destroy the innocence and purity of our children and corrupt them and lead them down the wrong path with regard to their God-given sexuality and identity.
God, as we face these enemy forces that would lead our students into sexual sin, we declare that You have promised to preserve the godly inheritance of parents and our nation—and that heritage is our children.
We take authority in Jesus’ name over every wicked spirit that brings these messages of corruption, perversion, and immorality to our precious children. This day, we ask for Your deliverance for our schools and our children from these enemy forces.
We pray these graphic sexual curriculums would not be approved for use in our schools, that these ”clubs” that promote perverted ideologies would be canceled and prohibited, and that teachers with activist agendas to corrupt our youth would be exposed and expelled, in Jesus’ name.
We pray that laws for curriculum transparency would be enacted in every state. We pray that teachers, school boards, administrators, and counselors would be required (and held accountable) to notify parents regarding surveys offered to students, books to be read, or speakers that will be coming in. We pray all deception and efforts made in secrecy to influence and corrupt our children would be exposed and brought into the light, in Jesus’ name (see Matt.10:26; Luke 12:2).
Lord, we pray for our children, that Your Spirit would fill them with a desire and value for purity. Help them to stand strong against peer pressure and the lies of the enemy and our culture. Give them courage and strength not to give in to temptation, but to look for and seize the way of escape that You always provide.
2 https://www.parentsrightsined.org/drag-queen-ed.html
4 https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021-Fall_CSSO-Letter_COVID-19-Relief.pdf
DAY 5: STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 TIMOTHY 2:22, NIVWhoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
PROVERBS 17:9, NIVDo not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 CORINTHIANS 15:33, NIV
Excerpt from book:
To the extent that teachers and curricula are involved in shaping young people’s minds, we can pray that there would be alignment with God’s heart and will. As young adults are experimenting with new ideas, values, and behaviors, we pray they will be turned away from relationships and interactions that are damaging and hurtful to themselves and others.
Lord, we lift up our students of all ages to you, asking for Your help, guidance, protection, discernment, and grace as they navigate the sometimes precarious minefield of human relationships.
PRAYER POINTS:
We pray for a spirit of inclusiveness that would help our children respect honor, and accept all people based on the fact that we are all made in Your image, no matter where we come from, what we look like, or any other factor. You love us all unconditionally; help our children to experience and extend that love to one another.
We boldly come against the vindictive behavior of bullying. We pray that there would be a change in the culture that feeds this maliciousness. As part of that culture change, we ask that You make Your people shine! Let Christians be known as courageous student champions who defend victims and can bring healing and peace into a situation. Help them to be inclusive with one another; so no one feels “left out.” We pray for those who feel alone, help them to find healthy relationships and feel a part of a company of friends.
As our great Defender, we ask that You shield Christian students and teachers from those who would seek to bully, intimidate, or silence them. We ask that Your raise up many who are not ashamed of the gospel and who will exercise their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion with boldness and graciousness.
We pray against the sexualization of our children and the constant messaging from media that they need a romantic relationship to feel accepted. We pray against sexual harassment and every form of sexual innuendo, immorality, and abuse in our schools.
Holy Spirit, lead our children into choosing positive, healthy relationships in friends and in dating. We pray they will have an inclusive mentality that refuses to shut out those who may be different from them, and that honors everyone from all races and walks of life.
Raise up strong and godly leadership among Christian groups and campus clubs, we pray, and help them minister effectively to those around them. As the gospel advances on campuses, may the culture shift to one of love, respect, joy, and peace among all students.
DAY 4: EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
1 PETER 5:7, ESVDear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 JOHN 1:2, NIV
Excerpt from book:
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly one-third of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder, and these numbers have been rising steadily. While there are a number of factors that are likely contributing to student anxiety, one that stands out as particularly noteworthy is the increased influence of social media. Social media platforms are frequently cesspools of bullying, comparison, provocation, and darkness.
PRAYER POINTS:
Lord, we pray for the emotional and mental well-being of our students, knowing that every day they face pressure from others, as well as from what they see online, in the news, or on their smartphones.
We ask that any messages that inspire fear or lower their self-esteem and their self-worth be replaced with Your unceasing acceptance of them and love for them. May they always know that their worth is unchanging! They are special, with an original design and plan for their life!
We pray against all the ways social media can be a toxic weapon in the lives of our children and teens, We pray against the spirits of comparison, jealousy, and greed that have robbed them of their youth and innocence. We pray against the ways cyberbullying and mean-spirited online interactions have allowed fear, inadequacy, isolation, and rejection to fester.
In Jesus’ name, we declare that the mental and emotional well-being of our students will not be defined by what others say about them, nor will it be defined by what they think of themselves! We declare contentment, confidence, self-love, generosity, kindness, and joy over the lives of today’s youth. We ask that students have the boldness to step away from social media when they know it is harmful, even when it is not the popular choice to do so.
DAY 3: PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
3 JOHN 1:2, NASBYour bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit …honor God with your bodies.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20, NIV
Excerpt from book:
The youth of our nation face a health crisis of epic proportions, including things like alcohol and drug abuse, sex and STDs, obesity, and depression. Today’s children face threats of violence never before seen in this country. Shootings—even the unthinkable horror of school shootings—riots, beatings, and more fill our headlines. On top of this, every student across the nation has been living through a global pandemic for the last two to three years! There are a myriad of health concerns, ranging from physical, mental, and emotional.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, we pray for the physical health, well-being, and safety of all our students. We ask that, as our Divine Physician, You would protect our students, heal the ones battling sickness or disease, and release them from any and all forms of addiction in Jesus’ name!
We pray that families would be equipped to disciple youth in a godly way, imparting practical wisdom that leads to a healthy lifestyle. Transform the health of entire households, starting with the parents and filtering down to the students! Please inspire a real change in eating and exercise habits, and help our students be nourished with wholesome food.
We declare, in Jesus’ name, that our campuses are safe from illnesses, and specifically the COVID-19 virus and its variants. We pray that the pandemic would not affect or influence their health, safety, and peace of mind. We ask You to set up a hedge of protection in the spiritual realm that would result in havens of safety and health for the students in our state.
May Your hand of wisdom rest on every student and parent as they grapple with the decision of whether or not to take the COVID-19 vaccine if they have not made this decision already, or its boosters. May each family make a decision that aligns with how Your Spirit is guiding them. We pray against a culture of pressure or divisiveness in our school about this issue.
We call on You for an end to the pervasive drug culture in our schools. Please protect our children and young people from getting involved in gangs, drugs, sex, and other destructive activities.
God, we also pray You would keep our school campuses safe from anyone with ill intent who would seek to bring harm through shooting or other forms of terror and violence. Equip every school with frontline workers who would have eyes out for “wolves” who would in any way harm the students.
DAY 2: TRUTH IN CURRICULA
Be careful not to let anyone rob you of this faith through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:8, GOD’S WORD TRANSLATION“The education of youth should be watched with the most scrupulous attention… It lays the foundations on which both law and gospel rest for success.”
—NOAH WEBSTER, WELL KNOWN AMERICAN EDUCATOR
Excerpt from book:
In the last few years, the assault on truth has escalated. Parents across the nation have risen up to reclaim truth in their school districts. As the praying church, we need to stand united! We must pray for our children, our teachers, and our school boards, that these destructive agendas do not make their way into the curricula of our local schools.
PRAYER POINTS:
Lord, we ask that You shine Your light upon our schools and drive out all darkness, spiritual blindness, perversion of truth, and hostility toward You and Your truth.
We pray that all attempts to use curricula in our schools as a way to disciple our young people in humanism, moral relativism and other godless ideologies would be stopped. We pray that our education system would honor You. We ask You to raise up godly men and women to be on textbook selection committees for every school district in our nation. We ask for teachers and school boards to select curriculum that preserves our godly heritage as a nation.
Lord, we ask that You lead and guide those in positions of decision-making in our schools to set fair policies that protect the rights of our teachers and students to openly present their biblical points of view in an open, fair, and non-threatening manner.
Father, when teachers and students are confronted with subject matter that goes against their biblical worldview, we call upon You to give them the right words to speak with wisdom, strength, and gentleness.
Raise up watchmen and gatekeepers for truth and excellence in our schools who would guard over what is taught to our young people!
DAY 1: EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS
Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her… I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity…
PROVERBS 8:10-12, 17-18, NIV
Excerpt from book:
The U.S. Department of Education reports that the high school graduation rate is 80%, however, less than half can proficiently read or even complete math problems.
PRAYER POINTS:
Father, we lift before You the schools from kindergartens to universities. We pray that they would adhere to high standards that will properly equip students for the next steps in their careers and in life.
We pray Proverbs 8:1-21 over our students. God, make their time in the classroom count— may You maximize their time and impart supernatural wisdom. Your Word says that with wisdom comes good judgment, knowledge, discernment, common sense, insight, strength, and success.
We ask that You pour out a love for learning and a hunger for knowledge, and ignite in our students a drive for academic success. Give them a deep desire to seek godly wisdom and its blessings. We pray they will value their education and be so motivated that they would let nothing stand in the way of graduating! May they be lifelong learners who excel in their respective fields.
We will trust You for fresh, innovative solutions from heaven at both the state and local levels in how to raise our graduation rates and increase competency in academics. We need future leaders who are well-equipped for the task. May we educate and equip our students in a way that empowers them to thrive.