Okay friends, I want to be delicate here.  I know summer lulls us into sweet, sunny, dreams. . . But . . . dare I mention it?

School days are returning soon. 

I know some of you want to hit snooze on this reality–you’ll eek out every second of fun and relaxation you can before hitting the stores in a back-to-school whirlwind the day before school starts.  Others of you are oh. so. ready: You haven’t had five waking moments of peace since your kids slipped on their flip flops last spring, and you’ve already got a plan for that first morning after they ride away on the bus!

(And hats off to all you homeschool mamas who will make the transition back to “teacher” mode in the coming weeks.)

I find myself somewhere between these two extremes.  I love the popsicle days and campfire nights of summer, the relaxed schedule and extra time for just enjoying my kids. But after all that summer lovin’, I start to miss the discipline and structure that school routines give to family life.

At some point, I should actually start cleaning my house again.  Or going to bed at reasonable hours. Or doing something to my hair besides flinging it back into a ponytail.  I’m not the only one who lets these things slide a little over the summer, am I?!

So as our summer relaxation draws to a close, I’m looking forward to the challenges of the school season: A new year of learning and growing.  A new opportunity to discover the satisfaction of hard work–and giving it our best effort.  

In the flurry of back-to-school shopping, schedule planning, and getting school events on the fall calendar, it’s easy to lose sight of important things.  Like why we value education in the first place, and the way it can help our kids grow into all God created them to be. Like who our kids can bless at school and how their behavior can show others God’s love.

We might get the backpacks, lunch boxes, and wardrobes ready: But what about their attitudes? Their worries and insecurities? Are we getting their hearts ready too?

This year, I want to be more intentional about prepping my kids for the school year,  so I designed a back-to-school prayer guide for our family.  It’s a seven-day guide, covering the topics of Fear, Hard Work, Friendships, Temptations, Shining the Light, Teachers, and Sharing God’s Love. Each day offers Bible passages to read, discussion questions, a prayer suggestion, and some space to jot down specific requests.

Now I’d love to share this resource with your family too!  If you’re looking for a simple way to prepare your child’s heart for the new school year, just download the free guide below.  Then set aside ten minutes each day–perhaps after supper or right before bedtime–when you can work through the guide with your kids.

Take time to jot down some of your specific prayer requests each day.  And when you finish, tuck this guide in a safe place.  Pull it back out from time to time throughout the school year:  You’ll likely find reasons to celebrate as God answers prayers.  And you’ll probably be reminded of some requests that need ongoing prayer.

As an added bonus, I’ve included six little lunchbox notes you can tuck into their lunches or backpacks. Let them know that you you’re keeping them in your prayers during those first few nerve-wracking days of the year.

However you choose to use them, I hope these notes and the prayer guide will bless your family. Let’s send our kids to school this year with hearts that are full of God’s beautiful love!

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