THE STARTING LINE
August 24, 2020
Prayer: Lord, lead us to join other staff members who have faith in You and dedicate this school year and our careers to you. Give us the courage to begin to naturally acknowledge You before others where we work without shame, guilt, or fear.
Scripture: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and he will do this. Psalm 37:5 NIV
One of our elementary schools has a faculty tradition started by several teachers who attended a weekly CEAI Encouragement (share, care, and prayer) group at the school. On the first teacher workday, prior to school starting in the fall, some of the teachers walk around the school and personally invite each of the staff members to come for prayer during their off duty lunch
About twenty staff members, including the principal and associate principal, gather for prayer. A scripture or scriptures is shared from what God had put on one or two of the teachers’ hearts. The group then stands, holds hands, and anyone who feels called to pray does so out loud. Thanks are offered to God along with requests for guidance and needs. Students, staff, parents, and the coming school year are committed to God in agreement and prayers are often offered for the central administration and school board members. It is legal and does not violate any separation of church and state laws. Often staff members would be wiping tears from their eyes at the end of the twenty to thirty minutes of spontaneous prayer.
Jesus said that if we acknowledge Him before others that He will acknowledge us before the Father (Matt. 10:32). The psalmist tells us that if we commit our ways to the Lord and trust Him that we will shine like the dawn. This gathering is a living example of these scriptures for it was the highest achieving low income school in the area and was a nationally recognized school. To God, not man, goes the glory for this school’s success.
Is God calling me to find other staff members to pray with and dedicate this coming year to Him? Do I naturally acknowledge God before staff, students, and parents or do I hide my faith and relationship with Him while on the job?
Agree in prayer with other staff members in order to dedicate and commit this school year to the Lord. Ask the Lord to lead you to those with whom you are to pray.
Copyright Don Clark. Email [email protected]
To God be the glory! I am retired as of June 2019. I will pray with you in His spirit and blessings to you for such devotion.