Physically

Praying for Our Students, Day 1

  Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2 (NIV)

              Oren was never one of my students, but everyone knew him. His smile brightened the grouchiest face and his sweet spirit left everyone filled with joy. At a young age, Oren was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and struggled to remain strong and healthy. Each year, Oren missed more days than the year before, but his teachers always worked hard to catch him up.

              Then one day, we got the news: Oren passed away. The entire school mourned his passing and shared stories about him. I enjoyed hearing about the life of this sweet child and I had no doubt, he was in the arms of Jesus.

              Kids like Oren remind us that we need to pray for the physical health and well-being of our students on a regular basis. Even though Oren was never healed on this side of heaven, God used him to heal the sour hearts of people he encountered with his joyful spirit of grace.

              Many of our kids live in situations that would turn our stomachs. Unsanitary housing. Expired or ill-prepared food. Limited clean water. No way to wash clothes. Homes filled with drug and alcohol use. Unsafe people with perverted intentions. Physically or sexually abusive caretakers. Sick family members. Dilapidated housing with no air or heat. This list could go on and on. The reality: we need to pray more specifically for our students.

              For the rest of today’s reading, I am going to list categories that we can use as a guide as we pray for our students.

1.      Physical health of students, siblings, and caregivers.

2.      Protection from disease or illness related to unsafe or unsanitary conditions at home.

3.      Protection from physical harm/abuse caused by caregivers, other adults, or older people connected to the family.

4.      Physical resources of sustaining food and fresh water to be in full supply for everyone in the home on a regular basis.

5.      Awareness of hazards related to the structure of the home that could cause harm to the student and family.

6.      Protection from trying or being forced to try drugs, alcohol, or any other disorienting substance.

7.      Ability to use their hands, feet, and other body parts effectively in school, on the athletic field, or at home.

8.      Healthy bone and muscle growth, along with healthy internal organ growth and maturity.

9.      Financial feasibility for medical appointments, necessary medications, and other medically required needs.

10.  Safety and protection so students can obtain healthy amounts of good sleep on a nightly basis.

Do the Heart Work

1.      What are some other physical areas we can cover in prayer related to our students?

2.      In what ways can you alter your prayer life related to the physical well-being of your students?

3.      Do you trust God enough to pray about these physical needs? Explain.

Digging Deeper

Read Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

                  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

              Jesus tells his followers in the Sermon on the Mount that God will take care of all their needs, that they should only trust in him and stop worrying. God will take care of our students too, but wouldn’t it be great to see him answer each of our prayers?

If You Get Spare Time 

              My challenge is to make intentional time and pray for your students by name. Pray specifically if you know the home situation and if you don’t, still pray as the Spirit leads. Keep a record of the prayers you are praying and check off every answered prayer. Watch God show up and provide exactly what your students need, right on time.