Teaching With Jesus: 5 Shifts to Partner With God and Teach With Intention
A New School Year, A New Invitation
Before you focus on lesson plans and classroom setup, this episode invites you to pause and prepare your heart first.
In this episode, I’m walking you through 5 Shifts to Partner With God and Teach With Intention. These aren’t something you check off once, they’re an invitation to sit with God throughout your entire school year.
In this episode:
• Shift 1: Search My Heart, releasing what you’re silently carrying
• Shift 2: Renew My Mind, trading comparison and fear for God’s truth
• Shift 3: Teach Me Your Ways, moving from reactive to Spirit led
• Shift 4: Rooted in Identity, leading from security, not striving
• Shift 5: Prepare Me for Impact, stewarding your whole self and writing your vision with God
💛 “You don’t have to teach alone. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own, because God is with you.”
📖 Grab your free companion: The Teaching With Jesus Power Hour Download walks you through all 5 shifts with reflection prompts and vision pages, so you can sit with this on your own time. Click Here To Download!
💜 Stay Connected & Supported
If you’re needing prayer, encouragement, or a place to reset, I’ve created spaces where you can be poured into:
✨ Join the FREE Teaching With Jesus Community: A supportive community for Christian teachers to pray together, stay encouraged, and walk this journey with faith and peace. Click Here To Join!
📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @thetransformationalteacher
🎧 Subscribe & share this episode with another teacher who may need prayer, peace, and encouragement today.
Transcript
Hello and welcome to the Transformational Teacher Podcast.
Speaker A:I am your host, detoya, and thank you so much for being here.
Speaker A:This episode, it isn't just another back to school checklist.
Speaker A:It's a spiritual reset for your heart.
Speaker A:This is something you don't just check off once.
Speaker A:But you want to revisit this throughout your school year.
Speaker A:I want to ask you a question.
Speaker A:Have you ever walked into a new school year already tired through feeling like last year's pressure is still lingering?
Speaker A:Or maybe even carrying the worries others have spoken over your class before you even had the chance to experience it yourself?
Speaker A:Or maybe it's concerns that parents brought to you at open house.
Speaker A:Or maybe the emails you have received.
Speaker A:Whatever it is, I want you to give those cares over to God.
Speaker A:He can carry it so much better than you can.
Speaker A:We are not designed to carry it.
Speaker A:And also, you may be wondering, how am I supposed to pour out again when I haven't even been refilled?
Speaker A:You're not alone.
Speaker A:So many teachers are walking into the classroom spiritually dry.
Speaker A:But here's the truth.
Speaker A:God never called you to teach alone.
Speaker A:He never called you to walk in that classroom being spiritually dry.
Speaker A:He wants you to teach with Him.
Speaker A:He called you to teach with Him.
Speaker A:And that starts with preparing your heart, not just your lesson plans.
Speaker A:We want to make sure that we fill ourselves up daily because it is vital that we fill ourselves up so we can then go inside of our classroom and pour into the students that we serve.
Speaker A:That's why in today's episode, I'm walking you through five shifts to partner with God and teach with intention.
Speaker A:These shifts are about moving from surviving to thriving.
Speaker A:They're about aligning your heart, your your mind, your identity, your vision, and your impact with God.
Speaker A:So you're not just showing up in your classroom as a teacher.
Speaker A:You're showing up as a kingdom teacher.
Speaker A:You're showing up with authority from God.
Speaker A:So let's dive in to these five shifts.
Speaker A:Shift one is Search my heart.
Speaker A:You can't carry pressure from last year and into this year.
Speaker A:It's going to weigh you down.
Speaker A:Psalms 139, 23, 24.
Speaker A:It says, Search me God, and know my heart.
Speaker A:Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Speaker A:See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Speaker A:Sometimes we're carrying things silently that we may not even realize we're carrying.
Speaker A:It can be classroom challenges from previous years that may have drained you.
Speaker A:Frustration with a parent, exhaustion from a tough student, students that are not getting it the way that you want them to get it.
Speaker A:It could be things like unforgiveness, doubt, fear, or maybe something that you're going through at home.
Speaker A:But God, he says, let me search your heart.
Speaker A:Let me uproot what doesn't belong and plant what does.
Speaker A:And God, he desires to walk with you.
Speaker A:He desires to help you along this journey.
Speaker A:So I want you to ask yourself, what am I still carrying that I need to surrender this year?
Speaker A:Take out a piece of paper and just write whatever God tells you.
Speaker A:Write what you are carrying that you need to let go.
Speaker A:Again, let them search your heart.
Speaker A:Anything that needs to be released, release it.
Speaker A:And then throw it in the trash can as a way of saying, God, I give it to you.
Speaker A:And if it even tries to resurface, put a praise on it and say, no, I gave that to God.
Speaker A:And God, I thank you for taking it.
Speaker A:I thank you for helping me through this.
Speaker A:And once you release what's being weighing on you, the next step is to renew what's going on in your mind because your thoughts shape what happens around you.
Speaker A:So shift two is renew my mind.
Speaker A:Romans 12, verse two says, don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Speaker A:The then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Speaker A:What you meditate on will multiply in your classroom.
Speaker A:If you meditate on fear, frustration, or compare comparison or the challenges from last year, guess what?
Speaker A:That's what's going to reproduce.
Speaker A:But if you renew your mind daily with God's word, you will multiply peace, wisdom, grace, and so much more.
Speaker A:So I want you to ask yourself, what thought patterns have I let steal my peace, and what truth do I choose to believe instead?
Speaker A:You want to make sure you ask God these things.
Speaker A:And you want to make sure that you're not comparing yourself to the teacher next door to the teacher you see on social media.
Speaker A:Because here's the thing, you want to stay in the lane that God has marked out for you.
Speaker A:That is what we all have to do.
Speaker A:We have to seek God and see what it is that he wants us to do.
Speaker A:What kind of teacher does he want us to be?
Speaker A:And that is what we walk out.
Speaker A:And once your thoughts are being renewed in his truth, you're positioned to actually learn his ways and not just rely on your own strength.
Speaker A:So shift three is teach me your ways.
Speaker A: Psalms: Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:So here's the truth.
Speaker A:You're not called to wing it.
Speaker A:You're called to walk in wisdom.
Speaker A:That means you can't just lead or teach with your own strategies.
Speaker A:Because, yes, the books that we read, the classes that we take, the workshops that we attend, they're all good, and we need those things.
Speaker A:But we want to make sure that we are also seeking God's wisdom, that we are allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, that we are allowing the Holy Spirit to show us things inside of our classroom from spiritual perspective.
Speaker A:We want to ask God, show me anything that you want me to see about myself, about my students, and show me what I need to do.
Speaker A:So we want to walk out.
Speaker A:Jeremiah 33, verse 3.
Speaker A:It says, Call to me and I will answer you and tell you, and even show you great and mighty things, things which have been confined and hidden, which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.
Speaker A:We want to call out to God daily and see what it is and that he wants to reveal to us and how to walk out what he gives.
Speaker A:We need his word.
Speaker A:We need the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:We need his strength.
Speaker A:When we let him teach us, we shift from reactive to spirit led.
Speaker A:When things happen inside of our classroom, we're not just responding from a fleshly standpoint, but we're responding out of the Spirit.
Speaker A:We're allowing God to do it through us.
Speaker A:So ask yourself, what is God uprooting in Me so He can teach me his ways?
Speaker A:And as God teaches us, he also reminds us of who we are in Him.
Speaker A:Because if our identity is not rooted in him, we will keep slipping back into surviving mode or we'll slip back into old ways of.
Speaker B:Again.
Speaker A:That comparison trap coming up.
Speaker A:Oh, I got to be like this teacher.
Speaker A:No, Remember, be like the one that God has created you to be.
Speaker A:Be uniquely you.
Speaker A:See, stay in the lane that God has marked out for you.
Speaker A:You have to do what God is telling you to do inside of that classroom.
Speaker A:That is who you want to please.
Speaker A:You want to please God in all that you do.
Speaker A:So as you work, work unto the Lord and not unto man.
Speaker A:So we are going to now move into shift four, which is rooted in identity.
Speaker A:Hear me clearly.
Speaker A:You're not just a teacher.
Speaker A:You're a vessel for.
Speaker A:For kingdom impact.
Speaker A:When you know who you are in Christ, you lead and you teach from a place of security, not just striving.
Speaker A:You teach from a place of authority.
Speaker A:Because remember, you are a kingdom teacher.
Speaker A:If God has called you to that classroom, he wants you to navigate throughout the year his way.
Speaker A:Not your own way, not the way that the person next door may be doing things, but he wants you to do it.
Speaker A:And his way, Colossians 2, 6, 7 says, and now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him, let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on Him.
Speaker A:Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Speaker A:So ask yourself, am I showing up as God says I am, or am I showing up who the world says I have to be?
Speaker A:When you're rooted in identity, you're ready for the last shift.
Speaker A:Because everything you've surrendered, everything you've renewed and realigned, prepares you for kingdom impact.
Speaker B:Shift 5 is prepare me for impact, Philippians 2:13.
Speaker B:It says, for it is not your strength, but it is God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work, that is strengthening and energizing and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose for his good pleasure.
Speaker B:So in all that we do in that classroom, we're doing it for Him.
Speaker B:This is where everything comes together.
Speaker B:Vision and preparation, they go hand in hand.
Speaker B:You're not just managing a classroom, you're shaping the atmosphere.
Speaker B:And here's the key.
Speaker B:The vision can't just be ours.
Speaker B:We have to sit with God, and.
Speaker A:We have to allow God to.
Speaker B:To help us create the vision.
Speaker B:This means asking him, lord, what vision do you have for me as a teacher?
Speaker B:What vision do you have for my classroom?
Speaker B:What vision do you have for my students?
Speaker B:Sometimes he might even give it to you for your students individually.
Speaker B:But again, you want to sit with him.
Speaker B:Because when you align your vision with his, you're not just striving, you're stewarding what he's already planted inside of you.
Speaker B:When you have a vision, then he's preparing you for impact, because you know where you're going, you know the direction you're heading in.
Speaker B:When you read over that vision, when you keep the vision before you, when things come up that don't line up with it, you're reminded, no, this is not what God said.
Speaker B:I don't have to accept this.
Speaker A:So I want you to ask yourself,.
Speaker B:What do I need to carry differently this year in order to make a kingdom impact?
Speaker B:And what is the vision that God.
Speaker A:Is inviting me to to write with Him?
Speaker A:So again, include God in you vision writing.
Speaker B:I'll share a little of what God is telling me to carry differently this year.
Speaker B:He keeps reminding me that stewarding this assignment means stewarding myself as a whole.
Speaker B:I have to steward my body, mind and spirit.
Speaker B:Watching what I eat, getting rest, moving my body, watch what I ponder on, what I allow into my ear and heart, what I'm reading, and so much more.
Speaker B:If I'm going to say I'm his vessel, I have to take care of the vessel.
Speaker B:So again, he's reminding me, take care of yourself so you can be present.
Speaker A:For your students, but also so you.
Speaker B:Can do all that he has called you to do.
Speaker B:So again, make sure you take time out to write that vision.
Speaker A:He's also telling me to make sure that I'm seeking Him daily and that I'm seeing things from his lens and.
Speaker A:And that whatever he says to do, that I obey.
Speaker A:So again, make sure you sit with God and allow him to give you the wisdom that is needed for this school year, because he knows you best, he knows your students best, he knows what's going to take place on this year, and he wants to help you navigate through it.
Speaker A:Here's the thing.
Speaker A:We have to walk in humility, and we have to allow him to help us.
Speaker A:And another thing that I want to encourage you to do is is pray without ceasing and to praise God at all times.
Speaker A:Praise him through the good seasons, and when you encounter a challenge, continue to praise him because God is faithful through it all and he is there to walk with you through every season of life.
Speaker A:So lean on him and trust him every step of the way.
Speaker A:Don't be moved by what you see with your natural eyes, but be moved by what the Word of God says.
Speaker A:Says.
Speaker A:And in order to be moved by what the Word of God says, you have to keep the Word of God before you at all times.
Speaker A:We want to make sure we live out Joshua 1:8.
Speaker A:It says, this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read and meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything in accordance with all that is written in it.
Speaker A:For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be seeking successful.
Speaker A:So again, keep the Word of God before you meditate on his word.
Speaker A:Spend time in his presence and make sure you praise him all throughout your school year.
Speaker A:Put a praise on it.
Speaker A:When things come up that don't line up with what God told you, put a praise on it and praise him through it.
Speaker A:So these five shifts, search my heart, renew my mind, teach me your ways rooted in identity.
Speaker A:And prepare me for impact.
Speaker A:They're not just a framework, they're an invitation.
Speaker A:An invitation for you to sit with God and allow God to help you as you go throughout this school year.
Speaker A:You don't have to teach alone.
Speaker A:You don't have to figure it all out on your own because God is with you and I would love to walk alongside of it with you.
Speaker A:If this episode starts something in you, I have a free companion journal for you, the Teaching with Jesus Power Hour download.
Speaker A:It walks you through all five shifts with reflection prompts and vision pages.
Speaker A:So you can sit with this in your own time and you'll be able to go through this.
Speaker A:You will be able to sit with God, ask him, what is the vision for my classroom?
Speaker A:I will link it in the show notes for you all to be able to grab that.
Speaker A:And if you want to stay connected with other Christian teachers walking this same journey, I would love for you to come join us inside of the Teaching with Jesus community.
Speaker A:That's where I'll be sharing more and including, you know, different things that we will do throughout the school year.
Speaker A:So I would love for you to come join me.
Speaker A:So let's pray.
Speaker A:Well, Heavenly Father, I thank you right now.
Speaker A:I thank you, Lord God, for every teacher, Lord God, I praise you, Lord God, for what you're going to do throughout this year.
Speaker A:I praise you, Lord God, that we have the victory, Lord God, I thank you, Lord God, for each individual that plays a part in our school.
Speaker A:Lord God, I pray, Lord God, and I praise that your blessings, Lord God, overtake us like never before, Lord God, I pray that every need, that every teacher, that every school has, lo God, is met with heaven's best.
Speaker A:I thank you right now that this will be our best school year ever.
Speaker A:Lord God, I pray that we allow you to search our hearts.
Speaker A:Lord God, show us what needs to be uprooted, Lord God, show us what needs to be planted inside of us, Lord God, we surrender, Lord God, fully to you.
Speaker A:And we give every care, every worry, Lord God, every ounce of anxiety.
Speaker A:We give it over to you, Lord.
Speaker A:And we ask, Lord God, that you help us.
Speaker A:Lord God, we praise you, Lord God, that you are faithful God, you are a loving God.
Speaker A:We thank you for your mercy.
Speaker A:We thank you for your favor, Lord God.
Speaker A:And as we go forth inside of our classroom, we don't go alone, but we go with you.
Speaker A:We thank you, Lord God, for paving the way, Lord God, we thank you Father for even showing us how to set up our classroom, showing us what our classroom management system needs to look like.
Speaker A:Show us, Lord God what we need to do, Lord God on this year and we thank you Father and we praise you in advance, Lord God for what you are going to do throughout this school year.
Speaker A:If we hit any stumbling blocks, Lord God, we know they won't overtake us.
Speaker A:We know that you will remove obstacles out of our way.
Speaker A:We know that you will help us, Lord God to navigate throughout this school year, Lord God so we thank you for guiding and directing our footsteps.
Speaker A:We thank you for giving us the wisdom that is needed.
Speaker A:We think it says in your word if we ask for wisdom that you will give it unto us.
Speaker A:So I pray that we take the time out to ask you for wisdom, Lord God so we thank you Father for that.
Speaker A:And we are seekers, Lord God of your kingdom, Lord God each morning we awaken, Lord God that we will give you a praise.
Speaker A:We will allow you to hear our voice, Lord God each and every day Lord so we just thank you Father for your faithfulness and again we thank you for all that you're going to do.
Speaker A:We give you glory and we give you honor.
Speaker A:In Jesus name we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Well again I look forward to connecting with you more inside of the teaching with Jesus Community and I will be sure to put all the links in the show notes for the Teaching with Jesus Community and also for you to grab the companion journal.
Speaker A:We'll speak with you later.
