Each morning before the day gets going, whether it’s over breakfast or on the drive to school, take a minute to pray over your kids with one of these. From first day jitters to friendships to anxiety, there’s one for whatever your kids might need.
First Day Jitters
Heavenly Father,
Today’s the first day, and there are butterflies in this house. Help us remember that you already know how today is going to go.
Calm the nervous feelings and give us courage today. Help us find a friendly face, a kind teacher, and new friends.
Thank you for being with us every step of the way.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Friendships
Lord,
We’re so grateful for the friends you’ve placed in our lives. Help us be a good friend to someone who needs one, and help us recognize the friends you’ve already given us.
Give us courage to say hello to someone new, and grace to be patient when friendships are hard.
Thank you for walking beside us in every relationship, today and always.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Safety
God,
We give you this day and ask for your protection over our family. Watch over the halls, the buses, the playgrounds, and every place we’ll go today.
Give wisdom to the teachers and staff keeping an eye on our kids, and help us make good choices that keep us and others safe.
Thank you for being our safe place, no matter where the day takes us.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Learning
Lord,
Open our minds today and help us be ready to learn something new. Give us focus when it’s easy to get distracted, and determination when the work feels hard.
Help us remember that trying our best matters more than getting it perfect.
Thank you for the gift of our minds and the ability to learn new things today.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confidence
Lord,
Remind us today of who you made us to be. Help us walk in knowing we don’t have to be the loudest, smartest, or funniest to matter, because our worth comes from you.
Give us courage to raise our hand, try the hard thing, and speak up when it counts.
Thank you for seeing us and loving us exactly as we are.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Kindness
God,
Soften our hearts today and help us notice who might need a kind word or a friendly smile. Give us patience with the people who are hard to be kind to.
Remind us that even small things can make someone’s whole day better.
Thank you for being kind to us first.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Anxiety
Lord,
Some days the worry feels bigger than we do. Today, we ask you to settle the anxious thoughts and calm the racing heart.
Remind us we don’t have to carry this alone, you’re already there before we even walk in the door.
Thank you for being close when we feel small. Give us peace today.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Teachers
Father,
Today we lift up the teachers who pour into our lives. Give them energy for the day ahead and patience for the moments that test it.
Help them see the impact they’re making, even when it’s hard in the moment.
Thank you for every teacher who shows up and cares. We’re so grateful for them.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Trying New Things
God,
Today this new school year is bringing many new things, and it’s easy to feel nervous and scared. Help us be brave enough to try, even if we don’t get it right the first time.
Remind us that you’re with us whether we succeed or stumble, and that trying is never wasted.
Thank you for giving us the courage to grow.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Patience
Father,
Patience isn’t always easy, especially when things don’t go our way or take longer than we’d like. Help us take a breath instead of getting frustrated, today and every day.
Give us grace for the people around us, and grace for ourselves too.
Thank you for being patient with us first.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Focus at School
Lord,
There’s a lot competing for our attention today. Help us stay focused on what’s in front of us, even when it’s tempting to drift off or get distracted.
Give us the discipline to finish what we start and the clarity to hear and understand instructions the first time.
Thank you for a mind that can learn and grow.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Standing Up for Others
God,
Today, help us notice when someone is being left out or treated unfairly, and give us the courage to do something about it.
Help us be brave enough to speak up, even when it’s not the easy or popular thing to do.
Thank you for giving us a voice we can use for good.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Making Mistakes and Bouncing Back
Father,
We’re going to get some things wrong today, and that’s okay. Help us not be so hard on ourselves when a mistake happens.
Grow in us the strength to try again and again, and remind us that a bad moment doesn’t mean a bad day.
Thank you for the grace
you give us no matter what.In Jesus’ name, amen.
Honesty
God,
Help us tell the truth today, even when it’s hard or we’re afraid of what might happen. Give us the courage to own it when we mess up instead of covering it up.
Remind us that you already know everything about us, and you love us anyway.
Thank you for being a God we can be honest with.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Gratitude
Father,
Open our eyes today to notice the good things around us, even the small ones. Help us be thankful for the people, the moments, and the everyday things we take for granted.
Give us hearts that look for reasons to be grateful, even on the hard days.
Thank you for more blessings than we can count.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Sports and Activities
God,
No matter what we’re stepping into today, whether it’s practice, a game, or an activity, help us give it our very best.
Give us good sportsmanship, win or lose, and remind us to encourage our teammates along the way.
Thank you for the strength and abilities you’ve given us.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tests and Grades
Father,
Sometimes school comes with a lot of pressure, especially with tests and grades. Help us remember that a number on a page doesn’t define who we are.
Give us focus when we study and a calm mind when we sit down to take a test. Help us do our honest best. When we feel discouraged, remind us that you’re not disappointed in us. You care about our hearts far more than our report cards.
Thank you for loving us the same on our best days and our hardest ones.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Rest and Routines
Lord,
Getting back into a routine is hard, and some mornings we’re just plain tired. Thank you for this new day anyway.
Teach us to actually stop, breathe, and be still, even when the schedule is full. Give us the energy we need for today, and help us wind down well tonight so we’re ready for tomorrow.
Thank you for caring about our sleep and our sanity, not just our schedules.
In Jesus’ name, amen.