The School of Prayer
In Romans 8:26, Paul writes that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” Indeed, we don’t. In Luke 11:1 the disciples requested: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy in the proper protocol for praying. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4
From this we know not only who we should pray for first, but what we should pray for when it comes to these individuals? Rabbis often composed prayers for their disciples to recite. Having seen Jesus pray many times, His disciples knew of His love for prayer, and they knew prayer was not just the reciting of words. Prayer is so simple that the smallest child can pray, but it is so great that the mightiest man of God cannot be said to truly have mastered prayer.
Being a Christian school, included in the various things we want to teach our students is both who to pray for and how to pray. To accomplish this, each morning we begin the day with prayer.
On Monday mornings we pray for the President, the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court, including Senators Scott and Graham, and Rep. Norman. On Tuesdays we pray for Governor McMaster, the South Carolina Supreme Court and Legislature, including Senator Gregory, and Representative Brandon Newton. On Wednesdays we pray for Mayor DeVenny, the County Council including Terry Graham, Charlene McGriff, Billy Mosteller, Larry Honecutt, Steve Harper, Jack Estridge, and Brian Carnes, the City Council including Kenneth Hood, Gonzie Mackey, Jackie Harris, Tamara Garris, Hazel Taylor, and Sara Eddins, and the police and sheriff’s departments. Also we pray for each pastor represented in each classroom.
On Thursday mornings we pray for all the CCA teachers and their families, calling each teacher by name. On Friday mornings we pray for each family represented in each classroom calling the names of each family.
What do we pray for? For the national, state and local leaders, including pastors, we pray that they will be godly examples; will fear, believe in, and honor God at all times; will be strong when pressured to compromise Biblical principles; that they will have the courage to stand alone, if need be, when Godly leadership is needed; that they will faithfully study the Bible so as to be able to answer every question and decide every issue in a way that will please God and make them glad on judgment day; and we pray that they and their families will be blessed with safety and with long, healthy lives. We ask for protection for those who are law enforcement, firemen and first responders and pray that God will give us law enforcement, firemen and first responder leaders who fear God and love America. We thank God for providing for our temporal needs and for the gift of His Son through whom we have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We ask God to help us study and obey His word so that we may not sin against Him and to give us hearts that are merciful toward our enemies.
For teachers our prayer is: “Thank you, loving Father, for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift. Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides. Thank you for teachers who expect much and love enough to demand more. Sustain teachers who give everything they have and feel abandoned when it goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Strengthen teachers who assume the blame for so many problems beyond their control. Help exhausted teachers rest. Encourage teachers to care and inspire them to nourish. Motivate teachers to keep on learning for the fun of it and make learning fun for children. Fill teachers with the wisdom to properly guide and help us as we move toward adulthood, and; Comfort teachers, filling them with your peace and calm so that when problems come they will not be overwhelmed and discouraged. Grant that they may trust you and by your Spirit soar like eagles. Thank you, God, for providing for our temporal needs and for the gift of your Son through whom we have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Help us to study and obey Your word that we may not sin against you and give us hearts that are merciful toward our enemies. Amen.”
On Fridays our prayer for parents is: “Holy and righteous Father, thank you for those in authority and for the freedom and the privilege we have of praying for them. We ask that you will give us hearts that are respectful of their authority and all authority. We pray for the families of our classroom, thank you for giving me the parents you did. Help me to treat them as I want to be treated. Thank you that they love and care for me and send me to a Christian school. I can be a challenge, and I know they need your help, so please help them as they raise me to fear and serve You. Help me to appreciate all that they do for me. Give them long and healthy lives, good jobs, and your wisdom and grace to always be obedient to your commandments. Grant that they may always exhibit the Fruit of your Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance in their lives. Grant that they will truly trust You so that in the world to come they may dwell in your house forever. Thank you, God, for providing for our temporal needs and for the gift of your Son through whom we have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Help us to study and obey Your word that we may not sin against you and give us hearts that are merciful toward our enemies. Amen.”
Week after week, thirty-six times each year we will repeat these prayers for these individuals, everyone from the president to our parents. We will be very specific as we pray for each to be a godly example, to have divine wisdom, make decisions that will please the Lord, be an encouragement and blessing to others, have good health, enjoy divine protection, and be prosperous and successful as they do so.
At CCA, we begin in kindergarten and continue through grade twelve. After thirteen years of weekly praying as we have laid out here, we believe our students will have learned both to pray daily, who to pray for and how to pray. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dares to imagine. God answers prayer. Satan trembles when he hears the prayerful pleas of the weakest saint.
We cannot think of anything more valuable that CCA teaches than to do as the disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray.”