Day 15

Is it better to send a Christian child to public school or to a Christian school? Is it better for our Christian teens to attend a state college or a Christian college? Not to worry, I will not be answering that question for you. I believe that question stirs up great emotion on both sides and each family must determine what God is calling them to do, what is best for the child and the family. I will tell you our oldest son went to public high school for two years and then spent two years at a Christian high school. After graduation, he settled on a Christian college in Nashville, TN. Our younger son has spent three years in public high school and come next year we will determine if any changes are necessary. One thing I can tell you, without a doubt, no matter where our kids go to school, faith based or public, the teachers and workers in those buildings need our prayers. As Tracy said in a previous blog, it is our responsibility to intercede for others, especially those who influence our children. It is our privilege to place the men and women who have an influence on our next generation at the feet of Jesus. He is the Only One who can truly impact lives for the kingdom. And it is a blessing to see our next generation thriving with joy and great expectation of what their futures look like. If you do not have children, please know you are not exempt from praying for our next generation, they will become the future leaders of this country.

Day 15
The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer, Andrew Murray
What to Pray: For the Schools and Colleges

"'As for me, this is my covenant with them,' says the Lord, 'My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,' says the Lord" (Isaiah 59:21).

The future of the church, the nation, and the world depends-to an extent we scarcely conceive of-on the education of our youth. The church may be seeking to evangelize the lost, while it is giving up on its own children to secular and materialistic influences. Pray for your schools and colleges. Pray for the faculty, those who most influence the young in these halls of learning. The church has an awesome responsibility to lay a foundation for these young people before they are sent away to hear every form of half-truth and false teaching, every doctrine and philosophy of man. May the church also realize its responsibility to pray and support these young people, guiding them to God's truth, and enabling them to make wise choices. Pray too for godly teachers, even in the secular schools.

How to Pray: Not Limiting God
"How often they rebelled against Him in the desert and grieved him in the wasteland! Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power-the day he redeemed them from the oppressor" (Psalm 78:40-42).
"And he did not do many miracles there because of the lack of faith" (Matthew 13:58).
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14).
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:17, 27)

Above everything, beware of limiting God-not only by unbelief but also by imagining that you know what He can do. Expect the unexpected-more than you could ask or think. Each time you intercede, be quiet first-listen and worship. Think of all He can do, of all He delights to do for His children, of your place in Christ, your identity with Him.

You Own Prayer Requests:

Now that we are halfway through our 30 days of prayer, I want to encourage you to do as Murray says here; first, be quiet-listen and worship. Ask Him for a song that you can sing back to Him to speak of your awe and wonder of who He is. Sit, listen for the words to come to your mind and sing them back to Him, praising Him for His goodness.

First, be quiet. Sit in silence, if your mind begins to wander bring it back by saying, "Jesus, I love you." "Thank you that You are the lover of my soul and I worship you."

Continue being quiet and then ask the Spirit how and for whom can you pray. Then, listen. If you have children pray for their teachers. Pray for the teachers' willingness to know Him. Continue to be quiet and continue to ask the Spirit how to pray. If you do not have children pray for teachers and workers in your local school district.

Have your journal handy to jot down your thoughts and for whom you prayed and how you prayed that day.

Continue to be still before the Lord and know that He is God and is able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine.

Expect the unexpected!