So, our townās school just started school on Wednesday, August 7 already, but what happened the night BEFORE school, is something I will always treasureā¦
Our youth pastor invited our entire church family to come and gather together at our local school to pray for our students, teachers and staff. As we walked around the entire premises, we asked The Holy Spirit to show us what to pray.
As we stood on the playground, we prayed that this would be a place that kids would HELP each other, not harm each otherā¦that new friendships would be made, and that unity would be felt.
As we stood where the buses would pick up the kids from school, we prayed for a hedge of protection over ALL who rode on the busā¦that the kids would get along inside the bus, be respectful to the bus driver, and that there would be powerful conversations leading to Truth.
As we stood outside the main entrance to the school, we prayed that everyone who walked through those doors, would feel Jesusā Presence in a way theyāve never felt before! We prayed that there wouldnāt be any fear or anxious hearts, but instead, that His Spirit of Peace that would guide them throughout the day, in every endeavor.
And as we stood outside of a classroom, we prayed that every classroom would be filled with loveā¦that kids would have a love of learning, knowing that learning is truly a GIFT, and that the teachers would see EACH student for who he/she was made to beā¦a child of the High King! š
So here is a list of 20 Bible verses and promises that can encourage kids as they head back to schoolā¦
- 1. Philippians 4:13 – “I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
- 2. Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- 3. Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
- 4. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and HE WILL make your paths straight.”
- 5. Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
- 6. 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on HIM because He cares for you.”
- 7. Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do NOT be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.”
- 8. Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
- 9. Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.”
- 10. Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters.”
- 11. Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives STRENGTH to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
- 12. Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- 13. Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are Godās handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- 14. Psalm 121:2 – “My help comes from the Lordā
- 15. Joshua 1:9 – āBe STRONG and COURAGEOUS! Do NOT be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD you God IS WITH YOU wherever you go!ā
- 16. Zephaniah 3:17 – āThe Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who WILL save; He WILL rejoice over you with gladness; HE WILL quiet you by His love; HE WILL exult over you with loud singing!ā š¶
- 17. Galatians 3:5-6 – āBut the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. There is no law against these things!ā
- 18. I Corinthians 16:14 – āLet ALL that you do be done in LOVE!ā
- 19. Philippians 4:6-7 – āDo 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 heart and your minds in Christ Jesus.ā
- 20. Ephesians 6:10-11 – āBe strong in the LORD and in HIS mighty Power. Put on the FULL Armor of God so that you WILL be able to STAND FIRM against ALL strategies of the devil.ā š”ļø āļø ā¤ļø
(Heads up: š š this page includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase on these links, I may receive a small commission as an Amazon Associate at no extra cost to you! I only recommended products that I absolutely LOVE myself! ā¤ļø
Here are some effective ways to encourage your kids with Bible promises as they prepare to go back to school:
- Daily Devotionals: Create a daily devotional time where you read a Bible verse together. Discuss its meaning and how it can apply to their school life.
- Memory Verses: Choose a few key verses to memorize together. Make it fun by turning it into a game or using flashcards.
- Encouraging Notes: Write encouraging notes with Bible verses on sticky notes and place them in their lunchboxes or on their bathroom mirror.
- Here are 252 note cards that I created JUST for this purpose!!
- Prayer Time: Set aside time each morning or evening to pray together. Include prayers for their school year, friends, teachers, and any concerns they may have.
- Visual Reminders: Create a visual reminder, such as a poster or bulletin board, featuring their favorite Bible verses and promises. Hang it in a prominent place in their room.
- Affirmation: Use Bible verses to affirm their strengths and abilities. Remind them that they can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).
- Encourage Kindness: Teach them to treat others with kindness using verses like Ephesians 4:32. Encourage them to be a light to their classmates.
- Goal Setting: Help them set academic and personal goals for the school year, grounding these goals in Scripture. For example, relate their efforts to Colossians 3:23 about working heartily.
- Themed Family Nights: Host a family night focused on back-to-school themes. Share stories from the Bible that relate to courage, wisdom, and friendship.
- Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate small achievements throughout the school year, tying them back to Bible promises about perseverance and success.
- Discuss Challenges: Talk about potential challenges they may face and how they can rely on Godās promises for strength and guidance.
- Incorporate Crafts: Engage in crafts that incorporate Bible verses. For example, decorate bookmarks with encouraging verses they can use in their school books.
- Encourage Community: Remind them of the importance of community and friendship, using verses like Proverbs 27:17 about iron sharpening iron.
- Use Technology: Utilize apps or online resources that provide daily Bible verses or devotionals tailored for kids.
- Involve Their Friends: Encourage your child to talk things over with their friends, and to share these Bible promises with them to encourage those who need it.
Speaking of lunchbox notes earlier, I just discovered these really cool leak proof lunchboxes, called Bentgo, and I bought one for myself! š š„ š„Ŗ I canāt believe all of the varieties they have to choose from! They have a built-in ice pack, you can put them in the dishwasher, AND since they lay nice and flat, I can easily put it in the fridge without it taking up a lot of space! I can pack it the night before, and just āgrab and goā for the next day! They are āParent Tested Parent Approvedā products, with over 250,000 5-star reviews! Wellā¦ ok then! š
They also have tons of varieties for kids, available in 30+ colors and prints!! (A few examples pictured aboveā¦Bentgo Kids prints dinosaursā¦and Bentgo Kids prints unicornsā¦Wow!! Iām already thinking about these for Christmas or birthday presents for my family!
š Another special thing to do with your child is to read one of my FAVORITE books with them to remind them of how special they truly are! ā¤ļø (When I was a public school teacher for 20 years, every year I would read You Are Special by Max Lucado (pictured above) to my students on the first day of school!) They LOVED it, and tears would fill my eyes EVERY single time! š„¹ I continue read it to my kiddos at church each year, and have given the smaller ābooklet versionā as a Christmas present, which they loved getting their own little copy!
And because I am constantly telling other parents and teachers about the gift that God has given Max Lucado for helping kids truly see how much God loves them and cares for them, here is one more of my favorite picture books written by him:
Here is a blurb of āA GREEN NOSEā¦
ā¦How silly, thought Punchinello. It wouldn’t make him faster, stronger, or even smarter. It would only make him greenerā
and make him look just like all the other Wemmicks! Why would he want that when he knows Eli (the Wood Carver) made each of them different for a reason?
But when Punchinello stops visiting Eli regularly, a painted nose somehow doesn t seem as foolish anymore. Now more than ever,
Punchinello needs to hear his maker say,
“Iāll always help you be who I made you to be.’ ā
I LOVE that ending! God will always help us be WHO He MADE us to be!! ā¤ļø
Each era seems to bring new challenges in teaching children The Truth, so there is one more resource I want to pass on for nowā¦this book is called āIf Jesus Were a Parentāā¦the author, Hal Perkins, shows how to lead a childās heart into obedience through a constant context of parental grace and honestyā¦established in Godās Truth, this book helps discover how to empower your children to connect with Jesus and follow Him with passion! I pray that you will continually be filled with His Presence! ā¤ļø š
Continue to encourage your kiddos and students with these Bible promises, my friends, and joyfully pass it on!
