What a crazy end to the school year! Who could have ever pictured this first half of 2020? Pandemics and protests would not have been imagined at the beginning of this school year. I wonder what the students will do this summer as families and districts try to figure out what the 2020-2021 school year is going to look like? As Christians we have a distinct privilege to pray for wisdom for our leaders to make the best decision that will effect us all.
As you enjoy these summer days and typically have a slower pace, please let me encourage you to spend more time with the Lord. Develop holy habits that could be continued in the school year (perhaps on an abbreviated scale) that will cultivate your relationship with the Lord. It’s easy to cry out to Him in our desperations and exasperations, but too often we forget Him in less stressful times. I would like to offer just a few suggestions for spending time with Him:
- Invest in the habit of prayerwalking.
- Be in the Word everyday.
- Pray Scripture (This is a collection of prayable Scriptures - is that a word?)
- Give thanks.
- Practice 1:16 PM
- Find an accountability partner.
- Read!
Investing in prayerwalking has been a life saver for me. One of our pastors suggested it a long time ago and I have found it to be my most engaging time in prayer. You definitely cannot fall asleep. If you’ve never tried it, the first time it’s a little awkward to pray and walk at the same time. Depending on where you are, the words can be audible or silent, but the beauty that He has created around you is a testimony to His love. I have been prayerwalking everyday for 28 years and especially look forward to any time I can get to the water’s edge to prayerwalk at sunrise.
Being in the Word everyday is critical to our success as educators. I realize how hard that is early in the morning, but it doesn’t have to be long and involved or at any specific, because He’s our coach. We need to drink in His plans and promises to be effective. A simple holy habit that I love is “flopping” in the Word. I randomly “flop” open my Bible each day and search for His message. 90% of the time I’m jazzed by what He reveals to me and I write a quick note back to Him with grateful thanks. The great app available for devotionals and tons of Bible translations is simply called Holy Bible. It’s been a life saver to have the word on my devices and available everywhere and anywhere I go.
We are asking you to promote the 1:16PM prayers this summer because we are calling every Christian in the public schools to stop and pray at 1:16PM. Based on Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes; first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. The key is reverence and discretion. For more information, visit www.one16pray.com. Help us spread the word to your sphere of influence.
Consider praying Scripture. This school year on Around the Word in 180 Days, we learned to pray the Word of God to be in the will of God. What a great lesson and blessing it has been to pray Scripture with my brothers and sisters in the public schools. All the prayers can be found on the AW 180 Days blog and all the beautiful flower verse images we used (180 of them!) are available to share with anyone you like. www.tinyurl.com/TAWFT
Consider praying Scripture. This school year on Around the Word in 180 Days, we learned to pray the Word of God to be in the will of God. What a great lesson and blessing it has been to pray Scripture with my brothers and sisters in the public schools. All the prayers can be found on the AW 180 Days blog and all the beautiful flower verse images we used (180 of them!) are available to share with anyone you like. www.tinyurl.com/TAWFT
Finally, seek an accountability partner or small group who will hold you accountable to your desires to please Him. There is no better summer investment of your time than to grow more in love with our Lord. He will guide you, provide for you, look over you and give you peace. May this be your most refreshing summer ever.
As always, I am prayerfully yours,
K
Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.
PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement and Around the Word in 180 Days:
• Visit, "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page and the Around the World in 180 days Facebook page.
May God bless you as you rest and prepare for the 2020-2021 school year.
Christian Educators Association International is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools. CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.
