A First Day Of School Prayer

No matter our age, the first day of school and meeting our new teachers and classmates can be a nerve-wracking experience! There are many reasons why a student might be nervous on his first day of school. He could be introverted and anxious to meet new people, or perhaps he is concerned about whether he will be able to do well at school. Regardless of why we are nervous on our first day of school, we are to pray and present our concerns to God in prayer.

Father in heaven, as I go to my first day of school today, bring peace to my heart. I cast all my anxieties to You. I trust You, knowing that You hold all things together. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Peace from God

The concerns you might have about your first day of school that make you feel worried, anxious, or nervous are valid! You don’t know if your professor will be a reasonable person. You don’t know if you’ll get along with your classmates. If you are in college, you don’t know if you can survive the course you chose. So many unknowns can cause our hearts to be concerned.

However, we must remember that what is unknown to us is known to God. In fact, He has gone before us (Isaiah 45:2 I will go before you  and will level the mountains[a]; I will break down gates of bronze  and cut through bars of iron.). God knows everything (Psalm 139:1–4). We can rest on God’s promise that He has gone before us and that He is the One who ordains and prepares our paths and directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course,     but the Lord establishes their steps.). Even if we make mistakes along the way, His goodness and mercy still follow us there (Psalm 23:6), always guiding us to be at the center of His will. We are in good hands because God works everything for our good, no matter what the unknown future holds (Romans 8:28; Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.).

Those truths and promises should bring us peace and comfort whenever we feel worried, anxious, nervous, or afraid on our first day of school. Our peace is anchored not in ourselves or our circumstances but in the very character of God. As we face our first day of school, we should pray before Him. When we present our concerns or worries to God in prayer, His peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6–7, NIV).

A Prayer of Humility

One common contributing factor to our anxiety or nervousness about our first day of school is our dependence on ourselves. We might be anxious or worried about being able to pass the course we chose because we are ultimately relying on our own capabilities. As believers, we are to depend on God, from whom all things come. He is self-sufficient, and we are not. From God, through God, and to God are all things (Romans 11:36, For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. ESV).

But that doesn’t mean we should sit back and do nothing! We still have a degree of human responsibility, such as being diligent in our studies and striving to exemplify Christ to our teachers and classmates. However, we do so by relying on God’s grace and strength. We can do all things, not by our own strength but through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.).

Therefore, as we pray, we cast to God whatever worries, concerns, or fears we may have regarding our new season in school and ask Him for the grace, mercy, and strength we need for those concerns.

Father in heaven, as I start school today, I am worried if I will be able to survive and do well in my studies. I am also concerned if I will be able to get along with my classmates. LORD, You are the source of everything, even the understanding and knowledge I need for my studies. Give me understanding of what I study and the grace to be diligent in it. Give me grace not to please my classmates but to reflect Christ and eventually preach Christ to them. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Another important biblical truth to remember on your first day of school is that God has placed you there with a purpose. The course or education you took, the teachers, and the classmates you will have are not mere accidents. God’s purpose for you is to be the salt and light there (Matthew 5:13–16). By God’s grace, you are to glorify God and reflect Him through your life and the Gospel you preach to those who don’t know Him yet. Our actions can often speak louder than words! So, in addition to preaching the Gospel to them, remember to demonstrate God’s glory through your ways, values, and character.