A Back to School Prayer

Psalm 121:7-8

Psalm 121:7-8 closes one of the psalms titled “A song of ascents,” promising that the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, will guard His people from all evil and watch over their coming and going.

Lord, as my child goes back to school, I place them in Your care. Guard them from all evil and preserve their soul. Watch over their coming and going, on the bus, in the classroom and on the playground. Give them good friends, kind teachers and a brave heart. Help them learn and grow, and bring them home safe to me. Amen.

The Scripture

“The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.”
— Psalm 121:7-8

Prayer points from Psalm 121:7-8

Thank God for your child by name and for this new school year.
Ask the LORD to guard them from all evil and preserve their soul.
Pray over their coming and going: the ride, the halls, the classroom.
Pray for their teachers, coaches and classmates.
Ask for good friendships and the courage to be kind.
Ask God to help them learn, and to give you peace while they are away.

About this verse

Psalm 121 is one of the psalms titled “A song of ascents.” It begins with a question many people ask on a hard road: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” The answer comes at once: “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Then the psalm describes God as Protector: He will not let your foot slip, He never slumbers or sleeps, and He is the shade on your right hand, so that neither the sun by day nor the moon by night will strike you. It ends with these two verses: “The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.” Coming and going is exactly what a school day is: out the door in the morning, home again in the afternoon. This prayer is for a parent, grandparent or caregiver to pray over a child going back to school or starting at a new one.

When to pray this prayer

The night before the first day of school
At the front door or the bus stop
In the car at drop-off
When your child is nervous about a new class or school
During the school day, when they come to mind
When they come home and tell you about their day

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