Transforming Prayer for Students

A teacher shares how modeling prayer in the classroom has changed the lives of the students as the school year has progressed. 

“Our students come from believing homes, so prayer isn’t new. However, at school during our daily Praises & Prayers time, their prayers are their own. No one is telling them what to pray for. And their hearts are so pure.

“You can really see the heart of a child coming to the Father. They are coming to their heavenly Father,” she continues. “I see this as an example of what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 18:2-4 when he was telling the disciples who is the greatest in heaven. These kids are innocent in their prayers and unashamed.

“Many days the prayers are for a good day and for their friends that are sick to feel better. There are also prayers for their families and for the people their families are reaching out to here in the city. Then, they are praising God for the answered prayers. 

“But they are kids and have to deal with their flesh, so there have been great opportunities to talk about prayer and why God might say, ‘No’ to the prayer they are praying. For example, praying for a friend to lose the competition. We talk about the heart behind our prayers. And how God is a very good Father who wants to bless His children. And we are all his children.

“As a class exercise recently, we had the 3rd-5th graders write letters to their future selves. Each letter talked about how they hope they are continuing to follow the Lord and praying to Him every day. This is because it is good to do and God has blessed them so much already. Many of the letters included examples of God answering their prayers that they prayed about in the morning with their friends.” 

Pray for:

• That the Lord would bring the right people to complete our national entity boards in 4 different countries
• For more teachers and school leaders to be mobilized to schools and projects in the region. See opportunities here.
• For more funds for the building project of Rainforest Academy that more students might be served: https://teachbeyond.org/give/project/rainforest