15 Bible Verses to Pray Over Your Kids This School Year

Why is it so critical to pray for our children when they start a new school year?

You might think the obvious answer might be, “because of all those influences at school.”

But really, there’s so much more to praying for our kids’ school year than the peer pressure they encounter.

Three Important Reasons We Want to be in Prayer for Our Kids in School

1) We want to be in prayer for our children to be able to focus in school.

School work can be challenging for a lot of kids, especially when they have to sit at a desk! (I might say that we should pray for the teachers in that situation too! Haha).

2) Another important thing I pray about for my children is that they’ll do well in school. Not just in the academics, but also in character growth.

If your child is struggling in school, there are practical ways you can help them. But don’t forget to pray about that seventh grade math assignment that seems challenging or when your first grader has a tough time reading! Working through tough assignments can build their character.

3) We also want to pray for our children’s hearts.

Two main things I speak over my four children in prayer is for them to have a heart of compassion for their classmates and a teachable heart. You can do this too! You want them to grow in God’s will for their life during the school year.

The dynamics of who they’re with and what class they’re placed in can have a great effect, as can their teacher!

So with that in mind, back to school season really is a great time of year to intentionally focus in on how we can pray over our kids’ education, their relationship with the Lord (and others!) and the choices they will make during this time.

TIP: One really simple way to remind yourself to pray specifically about school stuff is to post some Bible verses on your fridge or at your bathroom mirror. Pray through them for your kids each day!

15 Bible Verses to Pray Over Your Kids This School Year

Prayers for our Kids’ School Year: God’s Guidance and Focus

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Peter 3:17-18 – You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Isaiah 30:21 – Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Prayers for our Kids’ School Year: Wisdom and Encouragement

1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Proverbs 4:6-7 – Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.

Colossians 2:2-3 – …that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

James 3:17 – But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

Prayers for Our Kids’ School Year: Compassion and Love

Micah 6:8 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Galatians 6:10 – So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Matthew 22:37-39 – And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Prayers for Our Kids’ School Year: God’s Will

Psalm 32:8 – I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Philippians 1:6 – For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 16:3, 9 – Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established….The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.

Join me in the Back to School Prayer Challenge!

I created a 10 Day Back to School Prayer Challenge for moms!

I’ll email you a Scripture each day for 10 days, plus a prayer already written out, so you can pray intentionally over your children, even if these first few mornings back at school are crazy busy!

Plus, I’ll send you a FREE printable 31 Day Back to School Prayer Calendar to go along with the challenge and help you carry it through longer than the 10 days!

Believe me, I’ll be using it too :) Although developing a habit of prayer is something that I struggle with on and off, I know what the results are when I am purposeful in praying for my kids.

I want you to experience that same peace and confidence that comes from seeing God work and being reminded of His presence in your child’s heart and life through Scriptural prayer!

10 Day Back to School Prayer Challenge Details

How it works:

1. Subscribe in the box at the end of this post to get our FREE printable 31 Days of Back to School Prayer Calendar (I explain that in detail HERE if you want more specifics).
2. Each day for 10 days, you’ll receive an email with a Scripture and prayer for your kids (using the first 10 days from the calendar)
3. Optional: Go even deeper by Purchasing a copy of my 31 Days of School Year Prayers for Your Children devotional, which will be digitally sent to you. It is a printable product that you can print and place in a folder (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

Get access to the free prayer calendar and the challenge when you subscribe via email! Just enter your email address in the box below.

The challenge begins with Day 1 on the calendar.

Will you join me in intentionally praying over our children’s school year for 10 days?

Once you subscribe and confirm your email, you’ll receive your calendar straight to your inbox and then the challenge emails will begin.