As a mom of four young kids, three of whom are school-age, I desire our children to not only grow academically but also in wisdom and character as they learn in this new school year!
Whatever school season we’re in, I want them to learn to go to God’s Word both in happy and uncertain times. If they’re facing a new challenge, I want my children to know that God will always lead them in the right direction.
As they experience new things and make new friends, it’s my deepest hope that they will stand strong and find their identity in Christ.
This season of our kids’ lives is where they form their understanding of the world and their sense of identity. Christian parents want them to be grounded in their faith and know God’s love for them. They are the next generation of Christians who will be called to stand for Jesus wherever they are.
And here is the truth: All the A+ grades in the world do no good if our children do not grow in godly wisdom throughout their school years!
21 Powerful Back to School Prayers to Pray Over Your Kids
First published 8/3/2016, when my third child was going off to preschool!
Prayer is not only a way to submit our requests to God, but to declare the power of God’s Word and His work over our families. These 21 school year prayers will strengthen them and give them wisdom as they begin school again, whether it be homeschooling, a public school, or otherwise! Each includes a sample prayer with a coordinating Bible verse.
Obviously, you can pray these over your children at any time. But they’re specifically worded for school year topics to help prompt you in your prayers.
If you want to be spiritually prepared for this upcoming school year, I’d encourage you to use the specific prayers I’ve shared in this post. It’s one of the best ways to support your children as they head out on their new adventure of a new year!
I have four children but I’m going to write each prayer as if it refers to a single child, using him or her throughout the prayers. You can substitute with your child’s own name.
These powerful prayers are perfect for:
- Preschoolers
- Elementary students (especially your child’s first day of kindergarten!)
- Middle school students
- High school students
21 Powerful School Year Prayers for Your Kids
Prayer #1
Lord, I pray that my children will hear your voice and increase in learning. Proverbs 1:5
Prayer #2
Lord, I ask that you would direct my child’s mind to know, investigate and seek truth and to understand the difference between wise and foolish choices. Ecclesiastes 7:25
Prayer #3
God, please help my children make the best use of their time, both when they do school work and when they go about the rest of their day. Ephesians 5:15-16
Prayer #4
I pray that my children would be reminded, whether they are at home or in school, that their lives are hidden with Christ. Help them to set their minds on the things above. Colossians 3:2-3
Prayer #5
Lord, please give my children joy in doing their work. Help them to see that the joy of the Lord is their strength as they work on more difficult schoolwork and projects. Philippians 4:4
Prayer #6
As my kids interact with their siblings or classmates, help them to honor others and look to the needs of others over their own. Romans 12:10
Prayer #7
God, remind my children that they are called to obey those who are in leadership over them. Whether that be a schoolteacher, professor, administrator, or a parent at home, help them to act in a way that makes teaching them a joy to the person in authority. Hebrews 13:17
Prayer #8
During times of confusion or difficulty, let your Holy Spirit impress upon my child to seek the wisdom that you promise to give to those who ask. James 1:5
Prayer #9
Help my children to be a friend to those who need one and to notice when others need encouragement. Proverbs 17:17
Prayer #10
When my child feels frustrated and experiences the “growing pains” of life and learning, help them to heed instructions so that they will not go astray. Proverbs 10:17
Prayer #11
Remind my children of my love for them, whether they are with me all day or in the schoolroom learning. Help them know they can come to me with any need or just for a hug and a prayer. 1 John 4:7
Prayer #12
In the midst of busy school days, help my kids to see the beauty, providence, and power of God in each circumstance of their lives. Psalm 33, especially verses 4, 5, and 22.
Prayer #13
Dear God, bless my child with a sense of belonging. Help my child to find good friends who will encourage and build her up. Help my child to remember that her life is hidden in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:3
Prayer #14
Heavenly Father, I ask that you would teach my child to make wise choices in the classroom, in the lunchroom, and on the playground. Lead and direct my child in every situation. Ephesians 5:15
Prayer #15
O Lord, we know that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Help my child to know that he can always put his faith in you and hope in you throughout his school experience. Hebrews 11:1
Prayer #16
Dear Jesus, help my child’s words to be pleasing to you. Help my child to use the right words at the right time as she interacts with her classmates, teachers, and school administrators. Remind her that you are her redeemer and that you love her no matter what. Psalm 19:14
Prayer #17
Dear Lord, I know that you will give wisdom and understanding to my child. Help him to know the difference between right and wrong so that he can act accordingly. Proverbs 2:6
Prayer #18
God, help my child to experience the peace of God above all things during her school year. Philippians 4:7
Prayer #19
Heavenly Father, when my child faces peer pressure, help him to stand strong and follow the truth. Help him to find loyal friends to be a good influence and support. Romans 12:2
Prayer #20
Lord, use your Holy Spirit to teach my child not to rely on her own strength but on Yours. Grant her divine protection as she walks into the school building each day and strives to make good choices. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
This last one is a prayer for you as a mom for this time of year!
Prayer #21
O God, I know I need to trust you as a parent during this school year. Give me a spirit of gratitude when I’m tempted to be frustrated with school situations, my child’s teachers, or other difficult situations. Help me to experience God’s peace and to reflect that peace to my child. Give me the courage to handle any matters that need to be addressed with wisdom and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Proverbs 4:6-7
Back to School Prayers Printable PDF
CLICK HERE to download your free school prayers printable and keep it in a visual place to remind yourself to pray for your kids’ school year!
Join our free 10-Day Back to School Prayer Challenge for Moms!
Join us via email for 10 days of praying intentionally over our children’s school year, so they can get things off to a great start! God’s Word is living and active and when we cover our children with Scripture-based prayers, it can make all the difference in their day!
Subscribe via email below to join the challenge.
How it works:
- Subscribe in the box at the end of this email to get a free 31-day prayer calendar with Scriptures and a matching school-year-related character quality to pray about for your kids.
- Each day for 10 days, you’ll receive an email with a Scripture and specific prayer for your kids (using the first 10 days from the calendar)
- Optional: Go deeper by purchasing our 31 Days of School Year Prayers for Your Children devotional, which will be digitally sent to you via email. It is a printable product (not a physical book) that will include the prayer calendar plus:
- Daily Devotion with a Bible verse (that matches the daily verses on the calendar)
- Space to write or journal the verse in your favorite translation
- A thought-provoking question related to the verse
- Space to write a prayer for your child/children
- Bible verse print to display in your home
- PNG image of the calendar so you can save it to your photos on your phone for quick reference
Instantly download the 31 DAYS OF SCHOOL YEAR PRAYERS FOR YOUR CHILDREN DEVOTIONAL in our online shop!
Meanwhile, get access to the free prayer calendar and the 10-Day Prayer Challenge when you subscribe via email! Just enter your email address in the box below.
Once you confirm, you’ll receive your calendar straight to your inbox and then the challenge emails will begin shortly afterwards! Thanks!
Photo by Leisy Vidal on Unsplash
Join our 10 Day Back to School Prayer Challenge!
You'll receive our free 31 day back to school prayer calendar as well as 10 encouraging emails with specific prayers for your children!
2 Comments on 21 Powerful Back to School Prayers to Pray Over Your Kids
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This is nostalgic! I used to do this for my daughter. But now she does it on her own. She would pick a verse, memorize it and write it down on her Bible notebook. Thanks for this!
That’s so fun! What a great habit for your daughter to have on her own!