O Father,
I come, not knowing how to pray but depending upon Your faithfulness to discern my ramblings. You knew that I would find myself faltering and stammering. So, You sent Your Spirit into my heart to resurrect my lifeless petitions and lift them on my behalf into Your Presence (Romans 8:26-27). Thank You.
Because of virtual and unsupervised education, our students are now entitled, undisciplined, and unmotivated. Screen time appears to be the only thing attracting their attention. Yet, all researched evidence reveals that virtual relationships lead to depression, anxiety, pornography, and even suicidal thoughts. This burdens me and saddens my heart.
Of course, this situation drastically discourages our teachers. Since their rules of engagement have changed, many of our best educators are resigning or taking early retirement. Indeed, our education system is in crisis.
Knowing this, I panic, thinking that there is no way out of such a plight. As far as I can see, selfishness and entitlement will only decrease our society’s stability. No wonder parents and educators are frustrated and overwhelmed.
So, we turn to You. Heaven and earth belong to You, and we know You are the God Who sees all things (Genesis 14:19; Genesis 16:13). As Supreme Ruler overall, please return to Your rightful place in our education system. You are Headmaster over everything, so we invite You to walk every hallway (Ephesians 4:6). Your ways are unfathomable to us, but we do believe that nothing is impossible with You (Romans 11:33; Luke 1:37).
Thank You for being a God of hope, encouragement, and endurance (Romans 15:13, 5). Speak good news to us that we may repeat hope to others. Like the Shepherd, You are, tend Your flock, gather the lambs and gently lead the ewes (Isaiah 40:11).
Even in the prophet Isaiah’s day, youths tended to stumble when they should have been vigorous and strong, so screen-addicted students are no new problem (Isaiah 40:30). Deliverance comes when we focus on You, the Promiser, rather than on the situation. “Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk not and become weary” (Isaiah 40:31). Thank You for specializing in strength for the weary (Isaiah 40:29).
Stir up Your people to pray by increasing our understanding of prayer (Luke 11:1). Remind us that we have a powerful prayer Partner, the Holy Spirit, Who desires to pray with us. “The Spirit helps our weakness” (Romans 8:26). Indeed, great power will be released when Your Spirit enters our prayer life.
“Increase our faith,” for, without it, we just can’t please You (Luke 17:5; Hebrews 11:6). Faithing You for our education system doesn’t mean we merely believe that You are God. We must also believe that You will follow through with everything we hand over to You (2 Timothy 1:12).
Thank You for being our Rewarder (literal Greek: misthoō – “to hire” + apodidōmi – “to pay;” Hebrews 11:6). You stir us up to intercede (You hire us), and then You follow through to reward us (pay us) with answers. Yes, Father, accomplish the prayer task You have appointed for us (Psalm 138:8). In Jesus’s Name, Amen.