Prayers for students need our high priority, especially as they head back to school. Our college, high school, and younger age students all face a multitude of challenges daily, and they depend on our encouragement and prayers more than ever to help them succeed.
Friends, faith, and schoolwork consume a large portion of our students’ time and concerns. Whether they are studying at home or in a classroom, they will need our prayers. The situations may change, but the truths will remain.
If your child is a student or you know others who are, here are three helpful prayers that you can lift up to God for them not only as they go back to school, but all through their school year.
Prayers for Students to Make New Friends
Lord Jesus, school can be a welcome place or a lonely experience for our students. Guide them as they seek to make new friends. Encourage the timid students and give them boldness and strength in knowing they are loved, unique, and created by You. To the insecure, grant confidence so they can be free to help others find the same assurance in You.
Guard our students from those who bully or tease because of their own insecurities. As iron sharpens iron, may they choose friends wisely, always asking You to lead them and guide them in their relationships. Help them to be slow to anger and quick to listen. You have promised to give wisdom when we ask, so prod them to speak up when their words can make a difference.
Show our students how to bless their friends, to stand up for them, and to take the initiative in helping others in times of discouragement. Help them understand that friendship is a boomerang. Kindness and unselfishness given away will return to them as a blessing. And above all, may they always consider You, Lord, as their Best Friend.
Prayers for Students to Study Well
Lord, bless our students with the kind of study habits that help them do their best. Teach them how to manage their time and energy as good stewards of all You have given them. Show them how to develop their talents and to find the path You have set before them. Help them to be courageous and adventurous to try new things and learn new skills. Place our students in the kind of classroom atmosphere that will both challenge them and encourage them in their particular abilities.
Show them the importance of learning, remembering that You are always with them, leading them as they acknowledge You daily. Eliminate the distractions in their lives that keep them from excellence. Give them persistence and the desire to follow through with each assignment. When things seem difficult, provide the help they need. Help them to be excited about their studies and to be creative in their endeavors. And may they always remember Who and Whose they are at all times.
Prayers for Students to Balance School and Faith
Lord, we want more for our students than mere survival. We pray You will make them outstanding leaders and imitators of Your character, secure in their faith. Our students deal with tests often, not just with their schoolwork, but in their spiritual lives.
Help them to be bold as lions, in the sense that their faith won’t be shaken by those who attack or question it. Give them knowledge of Your Word and time to memorize and meditate often on its biblical truths. Teach them to respect others’ beliefs without compromising their own.
Like a tightrope walker, Lord, our students are trying to balance familiar Truth against a host of other unfamiliar voices that are trying to sway their beliefs and make them fall. In a world where values are decreasing, morality is fading, and persecution is increasing, help our students to walk humbly, to honor You daily.
Help Them Remain True to Their Calling
Prod them to remain true to their calling in Christ. Let them be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks them for the hope or confidence they possess and a reason why they have chosen a relationship with You. Help them to let their Light shine at school and wherever they go so that others who observe their attitudes and actions will know that they are the real thing.
When our students make mistakes, help them find the courage to admit, “I was wrong. Forgive me,” or “Lord, I need help.” Let them treasure their “difference” in being a Christian as a gentle yet bold believer. But help them never to flaunt it or to hide it because of timidity or embarrassment.
If they encounter challenges that pit their studies against their faith, remind them that You are always on their side. Show them You are their Wise Counselor, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You are the One who can dispel lies and deceit.
Whether they face fear or danger or simply need comfort, may they always turn to You, the One Who always hears their cries. Thank You for being the One who will never leave them or forsake them. Assure them that eternity is their real home, and that heaven waits for those who follow Christ, no matter what happens.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
5 Encouraging Bible Verses to Stay Motivated
- Matthew 6:33 NIV, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Colossians 3:17 NLT, And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
- 1 Peter 3:15 TLB, Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT, So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG, Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
No matter what kind of challenges our students encounter, we can surround them with prayers of deliverance and safety. They need to know more than ever that they are loved and accepted and that Jesus walks beside them daily. God wants to help them as students and young believers to succeed. Our prayers can make a difference in their lives and help them grow in godly character.
Consider This:
Even if you are single or your children/grandchildren are grown, consider “adopting” a student you know, just to encourage them this year. Pray for them by name and write encouraging notes to them through the year. Watch for opportunities to blossom them, to let them know you believe in them, and that you are praying for them. Read about one woman who did that:
*I like to post these prayers each year as another reminder for us to pray for our kids. Our students and kids need all of us to stand in the gap for them and pray. And if you are a teacher at school, or a parent helping them study at home, we are covering you in prayer as well!
Crosswalk first published these prayers I wrote, originally titled 3 Encouraging Prayers for Students.
If you missed it, you might also enjoy this post I wrote called, Five Back to School Prayers for Kids and Grandkids.
Encouragement for You
Would you like to know how much God wants to encourage you and your students? Whether it’s encouragement, peace, hope, assurance, or comfort–whatever you need–your faithful heavenly Father longs for you to come and talk with Him. You can find out more about His incredible love and faithfulness and how much He cares about you in Day-votions® with Your Faithful Father, 90 Days with the One Who Wants to Meet All Your Needs.
It’s Your Turn
What about you? Will you join me in prayers for our students this year? What would you add to the above prayers for students? I love to hear from readers. You can always write me through my contact page. Just fill out the basic name and address info, and then the email will come to me. Your name or info will never be shared with anyone without your permission.
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