You Need at Least One Prayer Partner

I’ve been an empty nester for years, but a mother never forgets the back-to-school bustle of late summer. Just plotting fall events on your calendar can take hours at a time, not to mention tracking down school supplies, ordering new sports or school uniforms, and showing up for social events.
  

These tasks can feel overwhelming, but there’s also a hopeful sense of anticipation. How will the Lord work in the lives of our students this school year? And how will He lead us to come alongside our school-aged kids as parents, grandparents, family members, and friends?
 

If you’re a parent of school-aged kids, there’s nothing you can do for their education and formation that’s more important than prayer. From PTA and classroom needs to campus events and extracurricular activities, the volunteer demands are endless. If you're a homeschool parent, you're covering the gamut, both inside and outside the classroom. But the Lord has tailor made tasks for you and your schedule. He will be faithful to lead the way, so you can rest in His grace and guidance, instead of responding to school demands like a game of whack-a-mole. 
   

And may I be so bold as to say this? You need at least one prayer partner in your school community. In scripture, we see repeated wisdom from the Lord in sending out His people two-by-two. If you don’t already have a prayer partner who's associated with your school, then start praying for one. When I had kids in school, I found a great resource through Moms in Prayer International. (Back then, it was called Moms in Touch.) 
 

Many of you already pray on the way to school in the morning and in the carpool line in the afternoon. But praying with others will help you find time to plant your feet on campus and say fervent prayers for your school. There’s something powerful about claiming a piece of physical ground for the Lord’s presence, protection, and purpose. 
 

Even if you’re not on the front lines as a parent or grandparent, please ask the Lord how He wants you to pray for your local schools this year. Maybe He’ll lead you in making a comprehensive prayer list that includes school board members and administrators. Perhaps He’ll provide the opportunity to ask a teacher or two how you can best pray for them. Or maybe He’ll simply highlight a family or young person at your church to pray for.

Whether you're in a season of packing lunches every day or praying from afar, God will fan the flame of your prayers for an entire generation of young people. I’ll be praying right alongside you as we claim this promise of God:
 

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” – Psalm 92:12-15