Why You Need to Pray through School

Like it or not, school will be starting soon. That reality can stir in a lot of emotions in you: fear, excitement, dread, or panic. That’s okay.

For many of you reading this, you’ve gone to a camp, on a retreat, or maybe even a mission trip trip this summer. And no doubt, that trip changed your life. It changed the way you look at the world. Now the big drama is trying to figure out how your “new life” fits in with your “old life” at school. The one you had last year that other people expect to pick up on the first day of school. Yes, that gives me anxiety just writing about it. How DO you do that?

But it’s really not that complicated. You don’t have to sketch out a detailed plan of who you talk to in between which classes, which parties you go to and which ones you don’t. All you need to do this school year is PRAY. Don’t believe me? Consider these 5 points:

1. God can help us through problems. Somewhere along the way, people have forgotten that prayer WORKS. God truly hears our prayers, and He will give you what you need. A school year is filled with challenges and hardships–this will never change. But you can face these struggles with new confidence because you aren’t just thinking about them, you are praying about them.
2. You need a new perspective on your friends and enemies. I mean it. Write down their names and pray for them out loud, maybe at night before you go to bed. If you know your best friend’s parents are getting a divorce, then pray for her! If your enemy looks gloomy at school, pray that he can get through his problems. Praying for both friends and enemies is a powerful act because it forces you to be compassionate with the people who surround you. With compassion, you won’t think everything they say and do is directed at you. You realize that there’s more going on inside of them.
3. Draw your confidence from your relationship with Jesus, not with other people. The #1 relationship in your life should be You + Jesus. If this relationship is strong, then every other relationship makes more sense. These relationships will bring you more life, rather than taking life away from you. When you build your confidence on Jesus, your self esteem is more stable. People will make fun of you and it doesn’t matter as much as it did before. And you cannot have a strong relationship with the Lord if you don’t spend time with Him. That’s what prayer is all about.
4. Prayer is a refreshing break to a busy school schedule. I know, you are too busy to pray! I know it doesn’t really make sense at first, but taking time away from homework, practice, your job–whatever–actually will help you get more done. You will come back from a prayer break with new energy, clarity, and commitment. Try it!
5. Prayer helps you make good decisions that bring a good future. Sometimes we can get so obsessed with little decisions and little dramas that we don’t see the big picture of life. But when you pray your way through school, you are actively inviting God into your daily life. And all those days add up to a year, and all of those years add up to a lifetime. God will become the great Guide of your life, which will bring you true happiness today and into your future.

So I hope this article will give you a little nudge towards a big life or prayer. I want you to know that all of us on the Life Teen staff actively pray for you all throughout the week. We aren’t just people who run websites or host run camps. We care about you!