I held it together until I reached my car, but as I slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door; the tears came. It was my first time ever attempting a drop-off line with my son. I got confused and entered the wrong way, only to have to back out and find my correct place at the back of the line. Sounding brave for your child is a new skill I am trying to learn. I gave a great pep talk in the car and kept a false air of excitement and positivity until my son exited my car. Only then did I fall apart. Whether you cried on the first day of school or rejoiced for some normalcy back in your life, this last year and a half have been a strain on all kids and parents. I have found myself feeling helpless as we try to navigate what is best for our children in a pandemic world. When I feel powerless, I try to focus on prayer. Here is the good news: God promises that His word does not return to Him empty. When we quote the words of God over our children and our situations, through prayer, there is power in every word. I have been reading Isaiah 55:10-11 over and over.

“As the rain and the snow     come down from heaven, and do not return to it     without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,     so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,  so is my word that goes out from my mouth:     It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire     and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

We know the words in the Bible are just a collection of letters and sounds, but the purposes behind them are what will accomplish something lasting. It’s not the words themselves that accomplish anything as if they are magic, but what they do in our hearts that is so powerful. Bible verses reveal the heart of God all while bringing our heart closer to His.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”   

Here are 3 powerful scriptures you can be praying over your child this school year:

Protection and Guidance:

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:1-2 Prayer: God, I thank you for being a shelter that we can dwell in. I pray that my child will rest in the shadow of the Almighty this school year. When hard times arise for my child, I ask that (he/she) would remember that YOU are their refuge and fortress. Show my child that they can trust in You to meet their needs this year, God.

Prayer for Strength:

"Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 Prayer: God, Thank you for being an everlasting God and the Creator of the ends of the earth. Even when my child grows tired and weary this school year, please remind us that you never do. I know you give strength to the weary, so I ask when my child feels that they are not enough, you would be their strength. Increase the power of my child when they feel weak. Help us to hope in you God no matter what happens this school year. Renew my child’s strength day by day so they will run and not grow weary; walk and not be faint.”

Peace and Anxiety:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ^"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7 Prayer: God, thank you for your command to not be anxious about anything. You know there is anxiety not only in me, but in my child this school year, so I am taking it to you in prayer. My request is that you help my child process and handle anxiety as it arises. Teach them to trust in you as their ultimate helper. Bring the peace of God to their hearts and minds. With all that is going on, guard their hearts and minds from anything that will cause them anxiety.”   We can pray all we want for our kids, but ultimately they belong to God. Praying scripture is my way of consistently reminding my heart to trust in God and HIS purposes and ways instead of mine. He will accomplish HIS purposes through His word and not mine. My momma heart needs to be reminded that God loves my child more than I ever could.