“PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED POWER PRAYERS”

            Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the classroom in this generation will be the
philosophy of government in the next generation.”  If we believe this statement, and I do, it seems the segment of our society dealing with public schools are in great need of the prayers of God’s people.  It is estimated there are more than 650,000 born again Christians serving in public education.                 
They serve as administrators, para-school personnel, aides and most importantly as aclassroom teacher. Parents and peers have the most impact in the lives of our nation’s youth, however, the person your child spends the most time with outside the home is their teacher(s).

            Ask anyone, “Who had the most influence on your life?” or “Who made a difference in your life?” and 90% of the time the response will be a teacher they had while growing up.

            Most educators are in the field of education because of another teacher and because they love children.  Christian teachers look upon their work as a “calling of God” and as their mission.  The Word reminds us that those who teach have a greater accountability to God.  I believe that can be applied to any teacher.  A Christian teacher in a public school classroom may be the only “link” some students, parents and fellow staff will have as a bridge to a relationship with God.

            National and local papers, television, radio and even from the pulpits of our churches we hear the “bad” news about public education.  It is almost impossible to look at the printed word, listen to radio or watch television without some mention of “poor test scores”, “physical or sexual abuse”, “kids
shooting kids and their teachers” and we hear very little about the “good” news of public education.

            The founder of Christian Educators Association International, Ben Weiss, recognized the importance of a teacher’s place in society.  He called them agents who perpetuate and enhance skills and ideas, preserve and promote the valuable things in life and mold and develop the personalities of
their students.  He said, “Teachers are in many ways the most important persons in the community.” He went on to say, “Their service is extremely valuable because it is concerned with the physical, intellectual, social and moral development of children and youth of the community and the state.”

            Now, more than ever, teachers need our prayers.  They need prayer in order to demonstrate a maturing, Christ-like life, to live in such a way as to draw others to the Savior, and to be aware of the impact they are having on their students. 

            There are five types of prayers that can empower Christian educators in public schools.   

                       JERICHO PRAYERS: Choose a school in your neighborhood.  Enlist the support of two or three others and begin to walk around that school once a week.  Pray for the teachers, the administration, the support staff, parents and students.  Pray
teachers to teach in love, for administrators to provide an atmosphere of religious |
freedom, for support staff to assist those they’re assigned to work with, for parents
to take an interest in their child’s studies and for students to have a safe educational
environment: a campus where learning can take place.

                         NEHEMIAH PRAYERS: Christian educators need those who will fast and pray as the people of God did in chapter nine of Nehemiah.  They stood and confessed the sins and the iniquities of their fathers.  They stood and read the Word of God and they        worshiped the Lord their God.  Fasting is not a secret formula to twist God’s arm  nor a legalistic prayer ritual.  Fasting is a desperate cry of the heart and an act of humility and repentance.  “When fasting is accompanied by grief over sin and repentance from sin, it leads to new resolve and compensating action; it can be both useful and therapeutic.  When it becomes an end in itself, it is sterile and counter-productive”  - John Watts

                         ESTHER PRAYERS: Called Christian teachers are placed in the classroom for just such a time.  As God sets up rulers and kings, I believe He also places the “rights,"
teacher in the “right” classroom.  When difficult situations arise such as confronting a student, an administrator, a parent, a teacher needs those who will gather and pray in order to put a shield of faith around them.  Teachers are empowered when they know they have the power of prayer with them in their daily tasks.

                        AARON AND HUR PRAYERS: Teachers get weary fighting the battles of modern education.  Often, they are called upon to spend time dealing with unruly children,
impatient principals, government paperwork and a host of other unrelated items other
than what they were called to do, teach!  Joy would fill the heart of any teacher if  they knew there were two or three members of their church praying for them on a regular basis.  Just as Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses commit to hold up  the arms of a teacher in your congregation.

                         HABAKKUK PRAYERS: The entire third chapter of Habakkuk reminds us of
God’s awesome power, His creative ability, His glory throughout the earth and the
reverential fear of who He is.  Educators can empathize with the closing versed of
chapter three.  “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines;
though all the labor of the olive may fall, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls—Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my
strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”  Teachers need to know this is their powerful God.

            We can pray for public schools when we drive to work.  Instead of “drive by shootings”, we can institute “drive by prayers.”  Each time you pass a school, pray!  Send up a “flare prayer” as an administrator I know does.  In some school circumstances, we may not have an opportunity to go apart, kneel and take lots of time to pray.  God hears the “flare prayers” too.   Some scripture prayers will empower Christian teachers in public schools to excel.  Pray they will be: