As school begins, prayer begins.

Where in the world did this summer go? My son starts school this week! It’s time to finish school shopping, attend an open house to meet teachers and start packing lunches again. It’s time to develop a routine again.

So what was my summer like? Productive, but erratic.

Oh, my goodness. A blur. Our family life changed quite a lot this summer so nothing has felt familiar or routine. I always know when my routine changes because I forget to take my medicine in the morning. I have an auto-immune disease and have taken medicine every morning for 25 years. Needless to say, I have developed a morning routine. Yet this summer, I missed taking my medicine many days (not some) and sometimes days in a row. That has not happened in years, so this summer was a scheduling doozy.

What I must do BEFORE my son gets on the bus this week? Pray.

I have observed what I believe to be fear in the lives of many parents this summer. Fear about their kids friends, technology, public school. You name it. All valid, for sure. But I leave conversations knowing the ONLY Person who is going to see our kids through this changing world is God. The ONLY Person who can protect our children is God. Therefore, the WISEST thing I can do is pray a circle of protection about his school and invite God to make room for Himself there on those school grounds. Yes, I literally walk or drive a closed circle around the school. Want to try doing the same?

What I must do IMMEDIATELY after my son gets on the bus this week? Pray.

I need to curl up with my God and say a long hello and pray for people slowly and long. Why the urgency and priority? Because prayer connects this small life of ours to the POWER of God. Let’s not miss that.

I pass along three prayer reminders that you may enjoy thinking about as well:

Reminder #1 – Prayer is a miracle.

I participated in a Bible study at my church this summer on prayer and even spoke one week on intercessory prayer. My research reminded me of the MIRACLE of prayer. If you need a reminder too, you can LISTEN here.

Reminder #2 – Our government.

With all the hullabaloo in our government, this is what we are admonished to pray:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:2-4)

Reminder #3 – God does not hear all of our prayers.

You might want to curl up sometime and listen to this great talk on prayer as routine re-establishes itself for many of us in the fall. Prayer MUST be woven into the fabric of our lives and the quality of our hearts matters when determining the power of our prayers. Gulp.

As the school routine begins again, let the prayer routine begin again as well.

Picture Explanation: Yesterday I ran errands. On my way to the first stop, I passed SEVEN little churches. SEVEN, most of which held a good ol’ fashioned revival last week, or “camp meeting” as they are called around these parts. That is what churches do in July in my town. 

I thought of the mega-churches I follow on social media and the large churches I have attended. But today I saw the small ones; faithful folks in local communities meeting each week to worship God and take care of each other. The pastors aren’t known by any of us and the congregation is filled with normal folk who live normal lives. But I was struck by how much these little places look like what we are to be praying…and how we are to be living: that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:2-4)

And on my drive today I was aware of how much I like where I live. I pray blessing and honor, with a heart full of thanksgiving, upon all the “unseen” beautiful people who are living according to His Word. And I pray the same for all of us.

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