How to Pray for My School - a Guide for Students (Teens)Sample

Devotion

This stunning Psalm (as all Psalms are) places a great emphasis on the Will of God. The Psalmist repeats himself constantly when writing on the will of God. David asks God that He will instruct him in all His ways. When we read verses 4-7, we see the Psalmist pleading with God that God would teach and impart His Holy and Good will to him and asks to be instructed in the ways of God. The Psalmist makes an astonishing note in verse seven. “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions. According to your loyal love remember me if you will, for the sake of your goodness, O Yahweh” (LEB). This is unique. He asks God to remember him according to God’s loyal love, not for his sake, but for the sake of God’s goodness!

This speaks volumes about the disposition of the Psalmist’s heart. He does not want God to remember him for his sake but God’s sake. God is always good and perfect, and David is echoing this truth. Why do you think he would constantly ask God to teach him His ways? Because He knows that in God’s holy ways are eternal pleasures! David knows that living for the pleasure and glory of God is the source of man’s true pleasure and glory. In school and pretty much everywhere man finds himself, man seeks to make much of himself (glorify ourselves). But this is contrary to our design. We were designed to make much of God! That is our highest honor and glory. “He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” (John Piper). When we make much (praise) of God, we find true, soul-satisfying pleasure. There is no lasting joy in glorifying ourselves, but there is an eternity of abundant satisfaction and life in Him awaiting us!

The Bible reminds us that … whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things (James 3:16 CEV). We want to see the environment at school change for the better. We want to see the atmosphere change from one of self-exaltation and demeaning/bullying others to an atmosphere where the next generation builds each other up and lives not for their own gain but the gain of others. That is why we pray that God’s Holy Spirit will cause a desire to know and love His divine will in every pupil's heart. Only God changes the hearts of man. Only God is able. It is necessary that God’s will and the desires of His heart become the will and desires of our hearts.

When you pray, pray that:

-The pupils, teachers, coaches, and everyone who is involved in your school fall in love with the Word and will of God.

-The climate at school transforms from one of oppression to one of lifting each other up in the light of objective and absolute moral truth.