Back To School

So, my kids are back in school already. Yours will be soon probably. Whether it's home school, private school, or public school, what are your hopes and dreams for this year?

My kids are entering sixth grade this year. For us that means middle school. As if that wasn't stressful enough we moved late last school year and are now in a new school district. The closer school got, the more stressed I became. As a parent, I desired this transition to be smooth. The closer it got, the more I prayed for things like good friends and good teachers. While those things aren't bad, even good and needed, that shouldn't have been my focus. Their hearts should be my focus.

That being so, here are the three Scripture passages I'm praying over my kids this year:

Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV):

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 first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” 

My desire is that my kids put God first. This means that they know Him, trust Him, and faithfully follow Him. And it's in that, that they will learn to love and serve others. In this, first things are put first.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV):

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Part of putting God first is putting His mission first; that's my desire for my kids. In their lives, in the life of our family and church, in the life of the community they find themselves in.

Philippians 4:4-8 (ESV):

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Knowing that when the first two are being done, there will be anxiety. My prayer for my kids is that as they experience anxiety, they take it to the One who can deal it; and do so with joy. Finally, I want them thinking about the right things.

The only way this is going to happen is when they see it in both my wife and I. So, as I'm praying this over them, I'm praying it's true in me as well.

What are your hopes for your kids this school year? What Scripture are you sharing with them and praying over them? Feel free to leave a comment and help us all grow together.