10 Prayers for Public Schools

Did you know that kids spend almost 50 percent of their year at school? If we want to pray for our kids, then it’s important to include prayers for their schools as well. There are many opportunities for prayer for public schools, from the school administration to the student who is struggling.

According to 1 Timothy 2:1, God wants us to pray for all people, and that includes the public schools in our communities. Consider these prayers and the relevant Scriptures to ignite your prayers for the schools in your local community.

1. Love

Scripture: “‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’” John 13:35 (NIV).

Prayer: Father, may the students and staff of this school experience Your love through the Christians they know in profound and authentic ways.

2. Truth

Scripture: “Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well” Proverbs 23:23 (NIV).

Prayer: Lord, release truth in this school. Help students to rightly discern truth from falsehood.

3. Principal and School Board

Scripture: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” Romans 13:1 (NIV).

Prayer: I pray blessings on the principal and each school board member (try to pray for them by name). Father, may Your will be done at their meetings.

4. Teachers

Scripture: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” Proverbs 2:6 (NIV).

Prayer: May (name of teacher) recognize the God-given responsibility he/she has for the best interests of the children they teach. May (name of teacher) walk in wisdom, integrity, kindness, grace, and truth.

5. Struggling Students

Scripture: “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV).

Prayer: Lord, I ask You to encourage those children who are struggling with their studies. Strengthen their minds. Help their teachers and parents know how to help them learn. Show them your love and their worth.

6. Protection

Scripture: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” Psalm 34:7 (NIV).

Prayer: Lord, stay the hand of violence against the children, their families, and staff of this school. Dismantle any plan to bring harm to them. Expose any weapon brought into the school premises and render it harmless.

7. Christian Programs

Scripture: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV).

Prayer: Father, I pray for abundant blessings on positive programs that bring the love of Jesus Christ into public schools. Help the groups who sponsor such programs function according to Your Word and in harmony with each other. Bless the leaders and bring forth new and growing believers.

8. Christian Students

Scripture: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV).

Prayer: Pour your favor onto the Christian students who attend school, filling them with wisdom and boldness in living out their faith. Help them share effectively the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with their classmates.

9. A Chosen Generation

Scripture: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV).

Prayer: Father, may Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. From the students at this school, raise up a generation of people who worship You in spirit and in truth and love.

10. Hope

Scripture: “‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’” Matthew 7:7 (NIV).

Prayer: Lord, may there be an open door in this school for the Gospel to be shared with students and staff. Allow full advantage to be taken of every opportunity to name the name of Jesus.

Did you know that The Navigators has a growing Bible Club Ministry in public schools? If you want to find out more about ways you may be able to partner locally to help reach children in public schools near you, contact Ernie Scalabrin at ernie.scalabrin@navigators.org.

Content adapted from the NavPress prayer card, Power-Packed Prayers for Public Schools, excerpted from Pray!, issue #20, © 2002 Ida Rose Heckard. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved.