See You At The Pole Sept 25…

 

 

 

 

 

 

I use to think we would have to change laws to get Jesus back into our schools.  Now, I realize we can bring Him in one child at a time.

Next Wednesday, September 25, is the annual See You At the Pole prayer event at our schools.  Students will gather before school begins to pray.  Hope you will encourage your student to participate.  Click below to download a free copy of 14 possible prayers your student could pray and/or give away.  The prayers can be cut-out and read or used as an aide to inspire your own prayer.

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Below is a blog post I wrote last year after attending the event…

This week I had the amazing opportunity to observe a student led prayer initiative around the Middle School sun dial. How exciting to see a group of students gathered to pray together and out loud! It took courage, boldness and faith. The students gathered, with one student leading an introductory prayer.  Each student present and gathered around the circle prayed until the prayer circle was complete.

 

I walked away thinking…we need to teach these children how to pray.

 

Please don’t misinterpret my conviction. I don’t ever remember praying around the flag pole as a Middle School student and I certainly don’t remember locking hands with the students around me and offering up a prayer to heaven to be heard by all.

Rather, what I realized was there is a war waging all around us and they seem oblivious. The enemy is actively pursuing our children, our schools, our marriages, our churches, our communities and our nation. Look around…school shootings, promiscuity abounds, nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, almost 2/3 of children raised in the church are leaving the church, there’s opioid addictions of epidemic proportions and everything on the news spews virulent discord and crime.

And most of the prayers offered up were…Lord, help us to have an amazing day. Or, Lord help me to do well on my math test. And they are right. God wants to be involved with their math test. He wants an intimate walk with us and that includes math. And God does want to bless us. But if we’re not careful sometimes the prayers we pray sound more like we are God, and God is here to serve us. Serve me Lord, with an amazing day. Serve me Lord, by helping me do well on my math test.

I’m afraid although we may filling our children with knowledge; we may be robbing them of purpose. Are they missing the bigger picture, the greater good?

 

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us how to pray…Luke 11:1

There it is. Maybe praying doesn’t come naturally? Maybe it is something that needs to be taught and practiced, in order to be powerful and effective. James 5:16 The truth is God wants to use us to overcome the evil in this world with good. Romans 12:21 He told us to suit up in the full armor of God using our shield of faith and our sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:10-19

I came home with an idea. On Sunday evenings, while hosting MS Girls Bible Study, I am going to start teaching these girls how to pray. Pray the Word of God. After all God’s will has been made know by His Word. I am going to bring a stack of index cards (probably colorful because we’re girls). I will provide a list of bible verses. Throughout the rest of the year, during bible study, we will add one new verse on an index card, secure the index cards together with a ring holder and tie them together with a pretty ribbon (because we’re girls). We will take turns going around the circle and praying out loud converting our verses into prayers. The girls will then have a reference for what to pray for and will have practiced how to pray. Then hopefully, God will use them to change the world for His kingdom and His glory because they will pray the will of God.

Some good reasons to pray the Word of God…

1. Jesus said…Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). There is power and stability in the Word of God.

2. …so is my word that goes out of from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

3. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. We are instructed to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18. This is in part how we are to take our stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 6.

4. In Daniel chapter 3, Daniel had sought out and gained understanding from scripture regarding the desolation of Jerusalem. He then fasted and prayed in sackcloth and ashes. He praised God, confessed the sins of his people, begged God to hear the prayers of his people and reminded God of His word. After that…angels literally started showing up and giving Daniel visions. I’m thinking maybe we should take cue from Daniel.

5. And finally, Jesus taught us to pray saying…thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it in in heaven…God has revealed His will through His word. When we pray the word of God we are in essence praying the will of God to be done on earth. (Mat 6:10)

Of course, this is not the only way to pray or the only component of our prayers. We must praise Him, give Him thanks, confess and make intercession etc. But scripture even aids us in these by teaching us how to praise and give thanks and knowing what needs to be confessed and interceded.

My hope is as we incorporate more scripture into our prayers we will have a greater understanding of God’s heart, mind and His will as revealed through His word. May God then use us through our prayers and actions to make intercession and accomplish His will. God’s word will not return void, I just pray He will use me to achieve the purpose for which He sent it!

I want our children to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that they may receive mercy and find grace to help them in their time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) I want God to use them and their prayers to overcome evil with good. I want them to speak God’s truth in love so that God may bind up the broken hearted and set the captives free. I want their prayers to push back the schemes of the devil and his plans for the destruction of our marriages, homes and churches. I want God to use them and their prayers to snuff out the hunger for drugs or sexual immorality and replace it with an ever-increasing hunger and thirst for righteousness.

7 verses I might start with…

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Mat 22:37 Lord, teach me how to love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

2. If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 Lord, teach me how to hold to your teaching. Lord, teach me the truth and let the truth set me free.

3. If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be give to him. James 1:5 Lord, I ask you for wisdom, pour it out generously unto me.

4. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given unto you as well. Mat 6:33 Lord, teach me how to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness trusting that you will provide for my needs as your word promises.

5. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 Lord teach me to fear you and through you gain wisdom and knowledge. Lord I know all knowledge and wisdom come from you. Open up my mind to understand how you have created this world and all that is in it. May you expand my wisdom, understanding and knowledge as a testimony to You. May you and your ways be glorified forever.

6. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6: 8 Lord teach me how to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with you oh Lord.

7. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Ephesians 5:16 Lord, teach me to walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Lord, teach me how to pray…