Pray Network Forum

Intimacy Precedes Impact

Enjoy a new, web-based resource to encourage families to enjoy fun, easy moments in Scripture-based praying! Forty free prayer guides are available on www.YourHomeAHouseOfPrayer.com.

As a pastor in Birmingham, Alabama whose church in on a journey to becoming a "house of prayer", I knew that the Church needed tools to help families pray together more effectively - especially tools that encourage Scripture-based praying.

The prayer guides are categorized into three sections: Regular Scriptural Passages, Special Family Days, and Special Issues that families face.

Check it out - I hope you'll enjoy it!

Counterattack

It Seems To Me . . .

. . . we need only one spiritual new year's resolution.

I confess, I have never been good at setting, let alone keeping, resolutions at the start of each new year. Those who stop smoking or start diets impress me; those who keep at it longer than a few days (or hours) make me jealous. And those who go beyond good health resolutions and set spiritual goals and stick to them throughout the coming months shame and humble me.

Anyone can make a resolution; it takes commitment to stay resolved to fight the battles to achieve the objective. And commitment, someone said, is moving beyond good intentions. I have a long list of good intentions.

Which is why Don Whitney's "Questions for a New Year" in LifeWay's Pastors Today E-letter caught my attention. The author, a former pastor and then seminary professor, presents 31 questions designed to aid our spiritual transformation; one-a-day spiritual vitamins! He writes: "The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings."  I especially appreciate how he then formats his insights as questions because someone elses' declarations call for my agreement (not a bad thing) but questions call for my reflection and discernment. Much more potential of Holy Spirit partnership.

But I said we need only one spiritual new year's resolution, not 31.

"For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God," Whitney begins as he sets us on our journey with wisdom that is so obvious we often fly right past it! How many of us have prayed about our resolutions but only after we selected them. "Help me lose those 5 extra pounds or start each day at the fitness center or stop this or begin that"--probably all worthy goals but chosen without and before any prayerful dialog with the Lord.

I began reading down the list of questions . . .

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

I searched first for any questions that related specifically to prayer and found #7, praying for lost persons to find Christ (imagine what changes our nation would see if every Christ-follower began to seriously pray for his or her neighbors by name and need and for his or her neighborhoods and networks!) and #9, focusing specifically on our own prayer life (someone said we need to exchange a prayer life [usually referring to a brief time spent telling God what we need Him to do] for a life of prayer). Two in the first ten seemed like better representation for prayer than usual. Very hopeful.

My second time through the list was an "Ah-Ha" moment!

Responding to the first, then the second and third and continuing, I realized "Pray" would be a more than appropriate answer to each question.
1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? Pray. True prayer is enjoying the presence of God, not merely telling him things he already knows.
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Pray. Praying is very hard work that, once accomplished, sees impossible results.
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Pray. Especially out  loud, together.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Pray. Pray for a partner who will hold me accountable.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? Pray. What I do instead of praying is a hugh time-waster.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Pray. For the pastor. For a reviving of faith and a revising of how we function.
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? Pray. Everyone agrees with this but not everyone brings up in heaven real names of real people.
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year? Pray. By praying about and for and through every thing.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Pray. Read, study, use website resources, yes, but actually carve out time and place to pray.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity? Pray. Hands-down winner. Everything (missions, evangelism, stewardship) flows from the life of a person who has moved beyond good intentions to a life of prayer.

It seems to me . . . we need only one word to describe our one spiritual new year's resolution. (If you do not agree, will you at least agree to pray about it?)

For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

Phil Miglioratti

Originally published on the Church Prayer Leaders Network

The Ripple Effect of Praying Grandparents

During the summer, many grandparents will vacation with their grandchildren. Some will go camping. It is a great opportunity to spend extra time with the possibility of quality interaction. Now imagine you are camping with your grandchildren in the mountains. You have cooked your campfire stew for dinner and you are relaxing around the campfire beside a big lake. It is perfectly still; there is no wind. The lake is a mirror reflecting a beautiful sunset. Sticky-fingered grandchildren delight in s’mores while skipping stones across the lake’s glassy surface. They are enthralled with the traveling waves seeing who can make the biggest ripples.

Grandpa tells Grandma, “Just as the kids are making ripples in the water with the rocks, we can make ripples in the lives of our grandchildren with our prayers.” Our prayers for our grandchildren to invite Jesus Christ into other lives and to walk with Him throughout their lives will have a ripple effect on their families, friends, their world, and their future.

Another way we as grandparents can have a ripple effect on the lives of our grandchildren is by the way we live our lives. As we seek the Lord ourselves, investing time, energy, and effort in our own spiritual walk with the Him, our example will have a ripple effect on our children, grandchildren, and future generations.

My Great-grandfather’s Prayer

I found a letter in my family archives written by my great-grandfather in Poland, addressed to my grandfather who had immigrated to America. In the letter, he wrote that he was praying for my grandfather and his future generations. It was a special blessing for me to see in writing that my great-grandfather prayed for me before I was born. His prayers had a ripple effect on my grandparents, my parents, my life, my children and my grandchildren.

You will have the privilege to start the ripples in your family if you did not have a Christian heritage. Prayer is the greatest gift we can give our family. Material things are needed but they are temporary. Our prayers will affect them for a lifetime.

My friend’s story

I would like to share the story my friend shared with me how her grandparents influenced her life, even though her parents did not influence her spiritually. She said,

“I grew up in a non-Christian home. My father’s father was a minister and his mother was a devoted Christian. My mother’s parents were also church-going people. However, my parents rebelled against God and the church, even though they both grew up in Christian homes.

“However, my grandparents took their responsibility very seriously, and my spiritual influence was a high priority for them. I remember hearing my father’s father pray for me when I was a young child visiting in their home. Although my father’s parents died while I was a child, I respected them very much. 

     “My mother’s parents often told me, ‘We are praying for you.’ As a young child, my neighbors invited me to go to church with them and as a result, I did ask Jesus into my heart. My grandparents were thankful to know their prayers were answered before they passed away, even though my parents did not teach me about Jesus or take me to church. It means so much to me that both sets of my grandparents let me know they prayed for me. I strongly believe the prayers of my grandparents led me to invite Jesus Christ into my life, marry a Christian young man, and be actively involved in my church. I only remember my parents attending church with me one time and that was many years after I was married. However, as a result of my praying grandparents, my children and my grandchildren have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and carry on the faith.”

Even though my friend’s spiritually rebellious parents interrupted the ripple effect, the intentional prayers of her grandparents passed their heritage of faith to the future generations, and the ripples continued.

Be a Prayer Warrior

God has placed our grandchildren in to our families so we can be their prayer warriors. He has given us the awesome opportunity to partner with Him on behalf of these dear ones. He has given me nine grandchildren to pray for and He has given you your grandchildren.

It is not about the expensive gifts we give our grandchildren or the vacations we take them on, they are not lasting, however, our prayers are the most important gift we can give them.

Sometimes, as we get older and limited physically, we might feel useless. However, if we have grandchildren, God has a purpose for keeping us on this earth, to be a Prayer Warrior for your grandchildren living in this spiritually deprived world.

As grandparents, let us pray deliberately and pass on our love for God to our children, grandchildren and future generations. This ripple effect of specific prayer communicates our love and acceptance, as well as giving them an example of living a God centered life.

“Your faithfulness continues through all generations;”

(Psalm 119:90a)

Taken from Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren

by Lillian Penner. www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com

Poll: Religion's Influence Waning in America

Seven in 10 Americans say religion as a whole is losing its influence on American life.

This is a near-record high percentage since Gallup began asking the question more than 50 years ago.

Poll: Most Americans Ring in News Years with Prayer

Before the clock strikes midnight on Friday, Americans will look to the heavens before they look forward to a brand new year.>>>

“Is there anybody else praying?” This question came from an incredible prayer warrior who called the office recently, admitting that she felt dejected and alone. Telling her about the thousands who intercede for the nation, our staff had the privilege to spend the next 30 minutes encouraging this dear lady in the Lord. When the phone call ended, she knew the assurance of unity and joy.

This is exactly what Jesus prayed for the disciples in John 17. He realized that God’s protection is foundational for both unity and joy. His first request for the disciples in verse 11 was, “Holy Father, keep (protect) ... those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” Protection from what? Protection from discouragement and anything that limits our effectiveness. He continued the prayer in verse 13 by asking that we might experience the full measure of His joy. He knew that the lives of His disciples, His intercessors, would be difficult—even impossible—without our Holy Father’s provision of protection, unity, and joy.

It could be easy to understand unity as a result of joy, but in reality the two are mutually dependent. This is found in verse 22, which is often overlooked, but very important.  We have a chance at unity because “the glory which [the Father] gave [Jesus]” has been given to us, “that [we] may be one.” Experiencing God’s glory through each other is critical. Unity and joy are two sides to the same coin, and God’s glory is the source of both.

Protection, joy, unity. As we consider how we are to intercede for our country this year, I challenge you to consider these foundational elements in the life of an intercessor. Ask yourself two questions: 1) Are you experiencing joy? 2) Are you experiencing unity with the body of Christ? Your answers may indicate the level of your need to pray for God’s protection.

I challenge you to pursue joy and unity with great effort. Like the faithful intercessor who called our office, take joy in the knowledge that your burden to pray is not an isolated task. You are not alone. While Jesus kept His team of disciples encouraged by His presence on earth, He prayed for believers to connect in Spirit-filled fellowship in His physical absence.

That day has come. Let’s ask that God’s destiny for our country would unfold through the unified prayers of His Church. Take time this year to pray for protection, experience His joy, and pursue unity in the Body.

It Seems to Me . . .

. . . we may talk too much when we pray. Or not enough.

As I was preparing for a week-long trip out of town, I peeked ahead on the daily cartoon calendar we have in our kitchen. On the back of each day's cartoon, is a riddle or a trivia item or, and this is what grabbed my attention, a statistic: "Every day, women speak 7,000 words; men 2,000." More unmistakable evidence that men are from Mars and women come from Venus. The Church has applied this statistic in marriage counseling for both not-yet and long-ago couples and in training leaders of mixed gender small groups with good results. This gender-based communication reality is helpful in building healthy marriages and balanced ministries.

But, as I headed out the door for the airport, I began to think of how this 7,000 versus 2,000 word count impacts prayer in our churches.

Do some women use more words than men (and thereby take longer time) when they offer a prayer? Do some men stay home from prayer meetings or avoid prayer groups or remain silent during group prayers because they perceive themselves as having a smaller vocabulary than women? Does the word count disparity also indicate a different tone or approach to praying? Are some men more reluctant to pray aloud because, well, they are also reluctant to speak-up in normal social conversation? If women answer in paragraphs, are men who talk in headlines too uncomfortable to actively participate? Does each gender pray differently when in mixed gender prayer situations than in all-women or all-men settings? Does it matter? Is this an insightful statistic or a simplistic steortype?

While it is possible this male/female differentiation has only minimal relevance to corporate (or even personal) praying, the questions ought to be asked. Behaviors should to be observed. Discussions, even debates, could be beneficial. Admittedly, observation is anecdotal and not scientific research but as a part of the prayer facilitator's skill-set, it helps him or her discern a possible cause for an ebb and flow of a prayer group. (Is there equal participation? Are only a few persons dominating the praying? Is it a good time to move into pairs or small groups? Has someone spoken too much [female or male] or not at all?) If a particular group or congregation exhibits gender-based differences, prayer coordinators can create gender-specific prayer groups (such as a Saturday morning men's prayer breakfast) or encourage small group leaders to divide men and women periodically during the time devoted to corporate prayer at their group meeting.

To be clear, these descriptors are merely numbers describing overall differences. Persons who use 7,000 words a day should not aspire to speak only 2,000 (though some husbands might disagree with me) nor should 2,000-a-day speakers start employing long monologues when headlines are adequate (I know, ladies, headlines are not adequate in building and maintaining close relationships). My point is simply that as leaders of prayer meetings-groups-events, we must be listening to more than the content of those we are praying with. We must be aware of whatever might be inhibiting participation, even gender traits, so the experiences we design feel inviting to every person . . . because it seems to me some of us may talk too much when we pray. Or not enough.

Phil Miglioratti
Curhch Prayer Leader Network & Pray! Network

Convened by The U.S. Lausanne Committee / Mission America Coalition
April 4-7, Orlando

On Sunday afternoon of the last day at the Lausanne Cape Town 2010 Congress, participants gathered according to country into breakout sessions. The Mission America Coalition team helped coordinate the U.S. meeting and cast vision for a spring gathering in the United Sates that would bring those delegates together with hundreds of MAC / U.S. Lausanne Committee partners and other Christian leaders. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together practitioners, academic leaders, mission strategists, pastors, evangelists - all who carry a burden for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform neighbors and neighborhoods, nations and corporations.

Fueled by the glorious gathering of the Church in Cape Town, MAC partners, Cape Town 2010 participants, and leaders from the cities of America will come together for a catalytic consultation on evangelization. We will be in listening mode and learning mode: seeking the mind of Christ on how to reshape our efforts at evangelizing our home nation and looking for ways to partner with the global Church in reaching the nations with the message of Christ. Take advantage of early-bird registration rates at www.missionamerica.org. Then, help us shape the meeting that will shape the future - add your ideas and insights at www.orlando2011.org.

Ready to Pray Workbook

"...are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?" Mark 14:37 NIV
If you desire to go deeper in your prayer life or have ever found yourself asking these questions; "How can I intercede on behalf of another?" "Does God hear my prayers?" "How do I press through when I do not feel like praying?" scheduling or attending this study/workshop will move you to a new level in, Christ.

Price: $24.95 per book (215 pages) to order go to www.MIMToday.org

Between now and, Dec. 7, 2010 - for every book ordered, $3.00 will go towards mission ministry in, Haiti.

Every Sunday morning for over 20 years, with very few exceptions, I've been privileged to gather with a group of prayer partners to read a Psalm then spend an hour in worship-based prayer. The worship in the word is sweet and the Spirit always guides us as we take time to specifically focus on prayers for the Sunday services of the church and all God wants to do through them.

Recently, we enjoyed an hour of prayer from Psalm 92. The first verse of the Psalm is very familiar but, as often happens, struck me in a fresh way. It reads:

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2

Maybe it is just me, but I am noticing that during these ever-difficult days in our nation, people are either responding with a deeper gratitude for the simple blessings of life or they are lapsing into grumbling about how tough things are. One thing is clear; it is still GOOD to give thanks to the Lord, even in 2010 – especially in these very challenging times.

But why?

I have considered the reasons it is good to give thanks to the Lord. I see a HEAVENWARD reason, an INWARD reason, a BACKWARD reason and a FORWARD reason.

A Heavenward Adoration

With a HEAVENWARD view, it is truly good to give thanks to the Lord – because in our gratitude we again recognize the priority and power of God’s glorious and unchanging character. Our financial security, family situation and personal health may be uncertain – but He never changes. When we give thanks, our hearts and minds are “renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created” us.

In gratitude we remember that while life may feel bad, God is still good – all the time. When thankful, we can rejoice in the name of the Most High God who is sovereign, just, gracious, merciful and true - -in spite of the earthly forecast. As Psalm 92:2 says, “To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.” Gratitude makes our theology real and practical every day.

An Inward Transformation

From an INWARD standpoint, it is good to give thanks to the Lord because it changes us. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Gratitude promotes peace in the midst of the storm. “Whatever my lot – Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well’ with my soul.” We are able to count our blessings rather than complain about our burdens. Anticipation can replace anxiety and worship can replace worry when we realize how good it is to give thanks.

Psalm 107:22 declares, “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. “ Just as Old Testament sacrifices were accompanied by thanksgiving, so we sometimes have to sacrifice in order to give thanks. We sacrifice our self-trust, human reason, personal expectations, disappointments and even our very real pain in the midst of trials. We come to our Living God and say “thank you” in faith. The result is that we are able to declare His works with joy. Joy is an abiding well-being that transcends circumstances because is it rooted in spiritual reality. Truly, gratitude rearranges the interior of my troubled and doubting heart.

A Backward Recognition

From a BACKWARD angle, it is good to give thanks for the Lord because we recognize the pattern of His wonderful works in our life. Christians can be very forgetful, just like nine of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 who never came back to thank Jesus for healing their bodies. One returned to receive a healing of soul in his worshipful gratitude.

Psalm 107 repeats the call five times, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! “ (vv. 1, 8, 15, 21 & 31). Reflect on His wonderful works in the story of your life. What has He done for you? Can you see the pattern of His faithfulness and care? Don’t forget all He has done. His past works will change the way you look at your present situation and your future path.

A Forward Anticipation

Finally, it is good to give thanks to the Lord from a FORWARD standpoint. We learn that some things in this life simply cannot be trusted. The Stock Market. Politicians. Big business. Media. People. Ourselves. But, when we give thanks we are reminded in the One in whom we can trust for the next chapter of life. “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, then life is worth the living just because He lives.” If the living God is good, has been good – the He will be good with every step I take into the future.

God’s Good Will

Hebrews 13:15 gives this command to our hearts, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is clear, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So, God’s good will for your life is to give thanks – and there are many reasons to do it. Let the fruit of your lips give thanks to His name today. By Jesus Christ, and through His life in you, it can happen – and it will be good. He has promised.

© Daniel Henderson - www.strategicrenewal.com

The New Vision for the Mom's Day of Prayer Ministry in 2011 is for each Saturday of the year to have a MDOP. 47 weekends - 47 MDOP Coordinators - 47 Churches! The only Saturdays we are leaving out are January 1st and all the Saturdays in December. Please visit the MDOP website at www.momsdayofprayer.com.

As one MDOP attendee said, "I wonder how many of our precious children will be spared from suicide, rape, abortion, sexual misconduct, running away, loneliness, pain, depression, eternity in Hell, drug and alcohol addiction, etc. etc. et., because of the Mom's Day of Prayer."

Can you imagine 47 weekend of 2011 filled with praying moms, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters?

Sign up now! Kathy Coleman, MDOP founder

Praying As a United Community for Our Children, Teachers, Parents and Schools by Linda D. Fegins

Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children" (Lam. 2:19).

It’s back to school time. There have been back to school rallies. Many ministries have been calling for prayer for the children, teachers, administrators and school staff as they return back to school. The day of September 1, 2010 Messiah Baptist Church Intercessory Prayer Team under the guidance of Kimberly Bracey ( Team Leader Linda Fegins) as well as various ministries such as the Global Prayer Intercessors founded by Minetta Hare, and the Lydia Circle Prayer Team ( Director Linda Fegins) held prayer meetings by conference call, three way telephone calls and at church praying for protection, guidance and wisdom for our school children , youth and college students , parents and staff. There is no doubt that “Moms In Touch International” (MITI) founded by Fern Nichols, a group of mothers around the country who simply desire to affect communities and schools through the power of prayer have been going before the throne of God. A diversified group of mothers of MITI serve as prayer warriors who battle in the spiritual realm for the lives of children and teenagers as they go off to school for at least one hour every week. They are women united with one purpose: a passion to pray for their children.

Through prayer, our lives, our children’s lives, and our world can be changed. Public schools, such as the Detroit Public School system, and other inner-city schools around the nation with all the violence, disorganization, poor administration, and politics on the school boards can be transformed by prayer. Then change will occur by our obedience if God calls us to action. He will show us how to use the power that believers have within through the Holy Spirit to transform our schools. Through united consistent prayer, God will give us the power, wisdom, knowledge, and creativity to solve the many school problems that plague our city schools and school board. Through prayer the right leaders will arise and the community should be able to come together to take productive and strategic action.

Believe that intercessors can change your school district with the weapon of prayer. Believe that positive results will occur such as peace and safety, better test scores, higher graduation rates, and more school funds to meet the needs of our children. Pray that student-led prayer groups will spring forth. Yes, the crisis in our schools is discouraging and is wide spread. But remember that where sin increases, grace increases all the more (see Ro. 5:20).

I know that many intercessors already have prayer assignments from the Lord. But I would challenge the intercessors, parents and teachers to ask Him if He might also want you to "adopt" a public school for your prayer agenda.

Prayer Points for Our Children, Teachers, Parents and Administrators

Finally for what should we pray? We want to pray specifically and effectively on one accord. I have a few suggestions; some are what the Lord has given me and others I have gathered from other prayer warriors and other articles on prayer.

Children and Youth

Pray:

• Daily for the safety of our children and that God will deliver them from evil and thwart every scheme of the enemy.
• Pray that our children will be open to learning new knowledge and that God would give them the wisdom to know how to understand and use that knowledge. We need to pray that our children have the ability to discriminate between good knowledge and bad knowledge. Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older he will remain upon it. (Proverbs 22:6)
• Pray that our children will be serious minded and work hard to acquire both secular and spiritual knowledge. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
• Pray for the hearts of the students to be receptive to the gospel of peace and that God will call many to Himself. (Acts 2:38-40)
• Pray for our sons and daughters to make wise choices and to develop solid friendships with those who are following God. (Psalms 144;12-15)
• Pray for relief of those children who are homeless and need shelter, food and health care. Pray that Christ will restore their home for the future. (Psalms 107:41)
• Ask God to cause your children to be examples for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (I Timothy 4:12)
• Pray for those students that experience rejection and bullying from other students and teachers. Ask God to provide them with people that love and respect them unconditionally. (John 13:34; Romans 15:7)
• Pray for those students that are struggling academically. Ask God to encourage them and strengthen their minds. Pray that God will give their teachers and parent’s wisdom to know how to best help them learn.
• Pray they will not feel like failures, but will learn discipline. (I Thessalonians 5:14)

Teachers

Pray:

• Pray for our school teachers to have the wisdom needed to effectively impart knowledge to their students. A wise teacher makes learning a joy… (Proverbs 15:2a)
• Pray for our school teachers that God will give them the grace to deal with day-to-day frustrations and problems.
• Pray that our school teachers would exhibit the life of Christ before our children. That they would be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.
• Pray to the one in charge of the harvesting, and ask him to recruit more effective teachers with integrity for our schools. ( See Matthew 9:38)
• Ask God to rise up Godly educators who are dedicated to their field and can capture the hearts and minds of our nation’s youth on each level of education. (Colossians 1:9-10)
• Pray our educators will pray unceasingly for guidance and wisdom to become the examples to their students. (I Peter 2:21) Pray they will know how to pray for their students.
• Pray that teachers will impart godly wisdom to form godly character in their students. (Luke 6:40)

Parents

Pray:

• Pray for parents that they will love and support their children’s education at school, at home, and at church.
• Pray for family stability and that God’s principles for the family will be honored and promoted in our schools. (Genesis 28:14)
• Pray “Lord, without your help we are helpless, so as parents, be our guide as to how we can best communicate and encourage our teachers and how we can train our children.”

Administrators

Pray:

• Pray for the standard of excellence to be restored in our educational institutes and that our educators will pass on that spirit of excellence, requiring excellence, rather than sloth and ignorance. (Ecclesiastes 2:13-14)
• Pray for the needed tools and proper facilities to teach our children.(Philippians 4:19)
• Pray for the election of godly leaders on our school boards and in the administration of our schools. (I Timothy 2:1)
• Pray for the support staff in the schools to treat the children with dignity and respect.