Pause + Pray for Teachers | Summer Reset: Reflect. Release. Receive.
Welcome to Pause + Pray for Teachers | Summer Reset: Reflect. Release. Receive.
This month, our focus is the Summer Reset.
As the school year closes, many teachers are carrying more than they realize. The weight of what was hard. The things that did not go as planned. The pressure they put on themselves. And even in the good moments, the quiet exhaustion that comes from giving so much for so long.
But before you rush into summer, God is inviting you to do something important. Pause. Breathe. And bring this year to Him.
In this prayer experience we reflected on what God did this year, released what was still heavy, and opened our hands to receive His grace and rest for the season ahead.
Although many of us are already on summer break, let's not rush through the rest of it. And if you haven't had a chance to slow down yet, this is your moment.
You made it through another school year. And that was not your strength alone. That was His grace.
Click Here to Download the Pause & Pray Summer Reset.
💜 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!
✨ Pause + Pray Call (Live): We gather monthly at 6:30 PM EST for prayer and encouragement. Each month I will share the date it will be held. Replays are also shared inside the community. Click Here To Sign Up!
📲 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 Pause and Pray.
Speaker A:Thank you all so much for being here.
Speaker A:Before we dive in, as always, I want to let you know that this call is being recorded and will be available on our YouTube channel and podcast.
Speaker A:And again, I'm thankful for you joining me live.
Speaker A:And thank you to those that are watching the replay or listening to it now.
Speaker A:We have made it to the end of another school year and I am so thankful.
Speaker A:And I know many of us you may have been on summer break for a few weeks.
Speaker A:I I've been on summer break since June 15th and I would say things have I'm thankful the year's over.
Speaker A:We have had a few challenges, you know, since we've been out on summer break, just things that's been happening.
Speaker A:But I'm grateful to God that He is faithful and that he is helping me navigate through it all.
Speaker A:So this moment here, it is the moment for us to reflect, release and receive all that God has for us.
Speaker A:We are just going to take a moment to pause, pause and embrace what God has for us this summer.
Speaker A:We're going to bring it all to Him.
Speaker A:So if you haven't already downloaded the PDF that we are going to be working through it, it'll be available for you in the replay.
Speaker A:I'm also putting it in the chat because we are going to be going through this experience together.
Speaker A:This is called the Pause and Pray Summer Reset and we're going to go through the steps to together tonight.
Speaker A:But of course this is something that you can do on your own.
Speaker A:You can go through this experience, you can go through it a little slower if you need to.
Speaker A:So our first thing that we're going to do is we are going to release and invite.
Speaker A:So we are going to lay down every care, every weight that we've been carrying.
Speaker A:We are going to give it to God.
Speaker A:Whatever you carried into this call tonight, the weight of the school year, the hard days, the things that didn't go the way you planned that it was to go, the pressure that you put on yourself, now is the time to release it.
Speaker A:It's time to release anything that has happened throughout your summer break.
Speaker A:It's time to release it.
Speaker A:Cuz here's the thing.
Speaker A:God did not intend for us to carry things to weigh us down.
Speaker A:That is why he is such a gracious father and he has to told us that we can give those cares over to him and we can give it to him tonight.
Speaker A:He wants us to come as we are.
Speaker A:He doesn't want us to wait till we get it Together.
Speaker A:Because here's the thing, we can't get it together by ourselves.
Speaker A:He wants to help us.
Speaker A:He doesn't want us to figure it out on our own.
Speaker A:And the good thing is, we don't have to.
Speaker A: s feet, as it says in Matthew: Speaker A:Then Jesus said, come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Speaker A:So I want you to just take a moment and say, God, I give it to you.
Speaker A:I give every weight.
Speaker A:I give every worry to you, Father, Everything that has been weighing me down, even those things that I don't know that I've been carrying, I lay it at your feet, Father, and reveal anything to me that I need to make sure that I give to you.
Speaker A:Give it to him right now.
Speaker A:Release it.
Speaker A:Remember, you were not created to carry those things.
Speaker A:Release it to our Heavenly Father.
Speaker A:And as I'm telling you to release it, I'm releasing it, too.
Speaker A:I'm laying it all at his feet, Father, I give it over to you.
Speaker A:Now we are going to read the Word because we've laid everything down.
Speaker A:And we are going to let God's word speak louder than anything else.
Speaker A:Allow God's word to speak louder than the pain.
Speaker A:Allow His Word to speak louder than the burdens you've been carrying, the weight that you've been carrying.
Speaker A:Allow God's Word to help you to navigate through it.
Speaker A:Now.
Speaker A:Lamentations 3:22.
Speaker A:This is a scripture that came to me after the school year was over.
Speaker A:And it says, because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed.
Speaker A:For his compassion, passions never fail.
Speaker A:And this is exactly what God has done for me throughout this school year.
Speaker A:He did not allow the things that I went through to consume me.
Speaker A:Because his love was there with me.
Speaker A:He carried me throughout the year.
Speaker A:And he carried you throughout the year because you're at this moment right now.
Speaker A:So think about everything that this year threw at you.
Speaker A:Those things that we just laid to his feet.
Speaker A:Everything that tried to take you out.
Speaker A:Everything.
Speaker A:And yet you are here tonight because of his great love that he has for you.
Speaker A:Because of his grace, because of his mercy.
Speaker A:His compassions never failed you.
Speaker A:Not one single day.
Speaker A:They did not fail you.
Speaker A:He has helped you to walk through the school year, and he wants to help you walk through this summer.
Speaker A:And again he says, give it all to me.
Speaker A:I want to carry it for you.
Speaker A:And even when those things pop back Up.
Speaker A:Here's the thing.
Speaker A:You can still give it to God.
Speaker A:So again, give it all to Him.
Speaker A:And I do encourage you as you go throughout this summer, take some moments, reflect on the year, and listen to what God has to say.
Speaker A:So we're going to take a moment now to reflect on what took place this year.
Speaker A:If you need to pause the recording anytime, make sure you pause it.
Speaker A:And we want to reflect not just on the hard parts of the year, those things that were challenging.
Speaker A:Because here's the thing, sometimes we can ponder too, on those things that didn't go our way.
Speaker A:But God, he wants us to reflect on it all.
Speaker A:The thing that I want us to reflect on is we're still standing.
Speaker A:We made it to the summer.
Speaker A:See what grew in you throughout this school year, what you didn't have before, the patience that grew, the endurance you endured, all that you went through.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:Maybe you trust God more than you did at the beginning of the year.
Speaker A:I tell you, I had to trust God like I've never had to trust him before this school year inside the classroom.
Speaker A:Because there were times where I was like God, I don't know if I can do this, but I had to learn to trust him.
Speaker A:I had to learn to humble myself even the more, and allow people in.
Speaker A:And I had to have an ear to listen.
Speaker A:My prayer life grew throughout this school year, even the more I praise God more than I ever had before.
Speaker A:I had to make sure that I didn't have things in my heart that was going to hinder me this year.
Speaker A:I grew in love this year.
Speaker A:I grew in having to allow people in my space this year.
Speaker A:So again, as we reflect, we're reflecting on everything that took place.
Speaker A:Reflect on the things that went good inside of your classroom, what things took place in you, the way God changed you.
Speaker A:Because that's one thing.
Speaker A:The things in the classroom didn't always change.
Speaker A:But God changed me throughout the year.
Speaker A:So again, even in the hard seasons, those seasons that you feel like you're not going to make it, things can still grow out of that if we allow God to have his way.
Speaker A:So again, as you reflect, make sure you're listening to see what God has to say to you.
Speaker A:We're going to read James 1, 2, 4 out of the Amplified.
Speaker A:It says, consider it nothing but joy.
Speaker A:My brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials, be assured that the testing of your faith through experience produces endurance, leading to spiritual maturity and inner peace.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:And let endurance have its perfect resort and do a thorough work so that you may Be perfect and completely developed in your faith, lacking in nothing.
Speaker A:And that is what we have to do when we're going through difficult seasons.
Speaker A:We have to allow God to grow us.
Speaker A:We have to allow God to work on us.
Speaker A:We have to become better and not bitter in those difficult seasons.
Speaker A:Because again, difficult seasons may come, but we have to go through it with our Heavenly Father.
Speaker A:We have to turn to His Word when we are going through difficult seasons, just as much as we're with God and we are turning to him when things are going well, we want to turn to him in those difficult seasons.
Speaker A:So I encourage you, turn to God daily, daily go to His Word.
Speaker A:Because again, the testing that we go through, it produces something on the inside of us.
Speaker A:If we go through it with God, God does not waste a hard year.
Speaker A:So I want you to again think about this.
Speaker A:Think about the things that took place inside of your classroom, inside of you.
Speaker A:What is one thing that God grew in you this year?
Speaker A:And I know sometimes when we're going through it, we're like, we don't see the growth.
Speaker A:But I want you to pause and I want you to reflect and allow God to show you areas where you grew at, even allow him to show you things that shifted in your classroom that you may not even realize it.
Speaker A:So again, take that time out.
Speaker A:And now we are going to respond in prayer.
Speaker A:Now it says in First Thessalonians 5, 16, 18, it says, Rejoice always and delight in your faith.
Speaker A:Be unceasing and persistent in prayer in every situation, no matter what the circumstances.
Speaker A:Be thankful and continually give thanks to God, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Speaker A:Now we're giving thanks to God for being there with us in those situations.
Speaker A:So we want to make sure we're continuously thanking God.
Speaker A:We're continuously having a spirit of prayer.
Speaker A:So we're now going to pray.
Speaker A:And again, these are the steps that you will go through in the pause and pray summer reset.
Speaker A:We're just going through the experience tonight together.
Speaker A:So again, you will have the download for you to go through.
Speaker A:So let's pray.
Speaker A:And our scripture focus is going to be Philippians 4, 6, 7.
Speaker A:And it says, do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything, every circumstance and situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific request known to God.
Speaker A:And the peace of God, that peace which reassures the heart, that peace with transcends all understanding, that peace which stands guard over your hearts and your minds.
Speaker A:And Christ Jesus is yours.
Speaker A:So that is what we want to have.
Speaker A:We want to have God's peace.
Speaker A:We want to have a peace that the world cannot take, that regardless of what we're going through.
Speaker A:Yes, we might.
Speaker A:We're going to go through things, but God can be with us in those difficult moments and we can have his peace that comes from his word, that comes from being in his presence.
Speaker A:So let's pray.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father, we thank you right now.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, for carrying us throughout this school year.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you never left our side.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you were there with us in every heel, oh God, in every valley.
Speaker A:You were right there with us.
Speaker A:We thank you, Lord God, for the moments, Lord God, that you showed up, Lord God, we didn't know what to do.
Speaker A:Those moments when we had no strength on our own.
Speaker A:You gave us your strength, Lord God.
Speaker A:So we thank you, Father, for strengthening us and energizing us throughout this school year.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you help us to hold it together, that you were right there with us in the midst of it all.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, for the help, Lord God, that you sent to us, Lord God, throughout this school year, Lord God.
Speaker A:We thank you, Lord God.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you sustained us, Lord God, throughout this school year.
Speaker A:Because we are right here in this moment.
Speaker A:And again, Father, as it says in your word, that we don't have to be anxious, we don't have to be worried about anything even as we read earlier, that we don't have to carry the weight of this school year, that we can give it over to you.
Speaker A:So we give every care, every worry, every ounce of anxiety.
Speaker A:We give it over to you, Lord God, and we ask, Father that you will help us, Lord God, to navigate through those things.
Speaker A:So, God, that we have had to deal with, Lord God, re release it into your hands, oh God.
Speaker A:Everything that was hard, everything that we couldn't fix, Lord God, every place where we felt like we were not gonna make it, Lord God, we give it over to you, Lord God.
Speaker A:And we ask, Lord God that you show us, Lord God, how to deal with this, Lord God, we ask, oh God, for your wisdom.
Speaker A:We ask, oh God for your peace, Lord God, we ask you, oh God, to show us, Lord God, what we need to do on this some throughout this summer, Lord God, to replenish ourselves, Lord God, show us what word we need to read.
Speaker A:Where do we need to find ourselves in?
Speaker A:In your word, Lord God, what Bible chapters do we need to be meditating in, Lord God, what do we need to do?
Speaker A:What books do we need to read, Lord God, on this year.
Speaker A:How do we need to take care of ourselves for God on this summer, Lord God show us the things, oh God that we need to pray, Lord God for ourselves.
Speaker A:Pray for this upcoming school year, Lord God because you know all things.
Speaker A:You already know what's to come, Lord God.
Speaker A:So show us how we need to prepare.
Speaker A:We thank you Father for revealing things to us along this journey as needed, Lord God.
Speaker A:And we ask that you speak us again about this summer.
Speaker A:Show us what we need to receive spiritually, physically, mentally, Lord God what do you want us to do, Lord God?
Speaker A:Because we want to be in alignment with you, Lord God.
Speaker A:We continue to pick up our cross daily, Lord God and allow you to guide us.
Speaker A:We will trust in you, Lord, all of our hearts.
Speaker A:And we will not lean into our own understanding all of our ways.
Speaker A:We will acknowledge you.
Speaker A:We will.
Speaker A:We acknowledge you.
Speaker A:We thank you God.
Speaker A:Direct us along the best pathway for us.
Speaker A:We thank you Father for removing obstacles obstacles, Lord God out of our way, Lord God we thank you, Lord God that in you we receive comfort, Lord God we thank you, Lord God for being our way maker.
Speaker A:We thank you Father for being our strengthener, Lord God so we thank you Father for strengthening us, Lord God we thank you, Lord God that we can rest, Lord God in your presence, Lord God we thank you Father.
Speaker A:Whatever you want to do in us, Lord God do it, Lord God we surrender.
Speaker A:We surrender unto you, Lord God and we give you.
Speaker A:We give you, Lord God full range.
Speaker A:So God, we release control and we ask, Lord God that you take over, Lord God and Lord, we pray, Lord God, we pray right now, Lord God Even for this upcoming school year, Lord God we pray in advance, Lord God we are praying it forward, Lord God Place every student, Lord God where they need to be placed at, Lord God God is as we are preparing, Lord God throughout this summer, Lord God show us what we need to focus on, God we thank you God and we thank you, oh God.
Speaker A:The best is ahead of us.
Speaker A:Lo God, I thank that each one is going to enjoy their summer, Lord God, we are going to enjoy our summer.
Speaker A:We're going to enjoy our loved ones and we're just going to have a great time, Lord God throughout this summer vacation, Lord God and so we thank you Father for that.
Speaker A:And for those, oh God that are working throughout the summer, Lord God, we ask they still find those moments where they can rest, Lord God where they can unwind, Lord God so we thank you Father and those that are looking for new employment, Lord God We Pray, Lord God, that you will place it in front of them, Lord God, show them where to go.
Speaker A:Show them what places to turning resumes and what places to apply it, Lord God, because again, you know all things.
Speaker A:So we thank you Father, that's anything that we did not pray.
Speaker A:We ask Father that you intercede on the behalf and we give you all honor and glory.
Speaker A:In Jesus name we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:So again you will have this PDF for you to go throughout the steps yourself.
Speaker A:Now we're coming to reclaim and declare.
Speaker A:So we're not ending tonight in heaviness because we have released what is heavy.
Speaker A:We have prayed and now it's time to continue the work to work it out after we end tonight.
Speaker A:We don't want to end here.
Speaker A:But this here is the last step of the five steps to the pause and pray Summer reset.
Speaker A:So this last step is where we're going to take back what the enemy tried to steal from us.
Speaker A:Because I'm telling you for myself, the enemy tried to wear me out.
Speaker A:But God, he saw differently.
Speaker A:He helped me throughout the year.
Speaker A:He sent people my way.
Speaker A:And I'm so thankful to God that he did that.
Speaker A:So we are going to take back everything that the enemy stole and we're going to give God the praise.
Speaker A:And it says in Psalms 34:1, I will bless the Lord at all times.
Speaker A:His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Speaker A:So not just when it's easy, not just when things go the way we plan for them to go.
Speaker A:Not those easy years that we have, but every year, every moment that we have, we want to praise God.
Speaker A:Because this is the thing that I know about God, that he never leaves us.
Speaker A:Sometimes we might decide to walk away, but God never walks away from us.
Speaker A:So I want to encourage you, give God praise through it all.
Speaker A:So again, it's a daily choice.
Speaker A:We can choose to praise God.
Speaker A:And I want you to praise God with me.
Speaker A:And I'm telling you praise.
Speaker A:It helps you to feel better.
Speaker A:And I'm going to share one testimony, quick testimony from this past school year.
Speaker A:There was one day who it was a day.
Speaker A:And I was, you know, inside the classroom.
Speaker A:Me and this person that came into my classroom, she was coming to observe and, you know, give me some help and everything.
Speaker A:And we stepped out in the hallway and I just got so overwhelmed by what was taking place in the tears, they start to flow.
Speaker A:And she told me to step away, go to the bathroom and just, you know, come back when you, when you're ready.
Speaker A:I'm going to go inside with Your students and everything.
Speaker A:So I did that.
Speaker A:And when I got in the bathroom, as I'm walking to the bathroom, first the tears are coming.
Speaker A:And as I got in the bathroom, I just paused and I looked in the mirror and I said, God, I need your help.
Speaker A:And then I got me some tissue, I wiped my eyes.
Speaker A:And as I'm right there in front of the mirror, I started praising God.
Speaker A:I remember what my pastor has been talking about.
Speaker A:We've been talking about praise.
Speaker A:And I know that praise works.
Speaker A:So I started praising God.
Speaker A:I started thanking God for everything that has taken place.
Speaker A:I thank God for how he helped me to navigate through those difficult moments.
Speaker A:I thank God for the change that I've seen in myself.
Speaker A:I thank God for the change that I have seen in the students.
Speaker A:Although there was more change that needed to happen.
Speaker A:I thank God for what he did, and I thank God that he didn't leave me.
Speaker A:And I just continue giving thanks to him.
Speaker A:And then guess what happened?
Speaker A:The heaviness I was feeling, it was being lifted off of me.
Speaker A:I started to smile.
Speaker A:And again I got myself together, and I was able to go back inside of that classroom with my students.
Speaker A:Because the joy, God's joy, it came back into me.
Speaker A:So I again, I encourage you to praise God through it all.
Speaker A:Again, praise him through it all.
Speaker A:So let's take a moment together and just praise God.
Speaker A:God, we thank you.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you've never left outside.
Speaker A:Hallelujah.
Speaker A:God, we give honor and glory to you, God, we thank you, Father.
Speaker A:Glory, glory, glory.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you never left outside.
Speaker A:We thank you that you're with us, Lord God, in the good times.
Speaker A:And you're with us in the challenging times.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, that you never leave our side.
Speaker A:So again, I encourage you, give God thanks through it all.
Speaker A:So now again, as I said, step five is reclaim and declare.
Speaker A:So let's do this together.
Speaker A:Enemy, you tried, but you did not win.
Speaker A:I reclaim everything God has for me.
Speaker A:His.
Speaker A:His peace, his joy, his strength, and my confidence in who God has called me to be.
Speaker A:This will be a great summer regardless.
Speaker A:And I will praise the Lord for his guidance along the journey.
Speaker A:So again, we want to praise God through it all.
Speaker A:Because even this summer, some things may not go your way.
Speaker A:And I'll tell you, this summer, some things have already not gone my way.
Speaker A:But through it all, I'm choosing to give God thanks.
Speaker A:And yes, it hurts.
Speaker A:Yes, sometimes I cry with things that has taken place.
Speaker A:But I'm still thankful that God is there with me.
Speaker A:And when I have a moment, I have the moment.
Speaker A:I release the tears, they flow and I turn to God.
Speaker A:And this is also why it's so important to have a church family and also to be willing to reach out to your loved ones because they want to be there for you.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:So again give God the praise.
Speaker A:So we just paused, we prayed, we reflected, we release, we received from God.
Speaker A:Don't let this just be a moment.
Speaker A:Let it be the beginning of a rhythm.
Speaker A:And you do not have to build this rhythm alone because you are not alone.
Speaker A:And remember, I am here with you and I pray that this time that it blessed you.
Speaker A:And again, you're not alone.
Speaker A:And I want to invite you into a space.
Speaker A:If you're not already a part of the teaching with Jesus community, I would love to have you in there.
Speaker A:It's a home for Christian teachers to pray, grow and teach with Jesus together.
Speaker A:And again, I'm going to post the link in the replay and it'll be in the show notes on the podcast.
Speaker A:Again, you are not alone.
Speaker A:The doors open in the seat is there for you.
Speaker A:And again, throughout the summer we'll be going through some things together inside the community.
Speaker A:And again, I'm looking forward to connecting with you and continue to pray, continue to trust God, continue to keep showing up and spending time with God.
Speaker A:God is with you and I am right there with you on this journey.
Speaker A:And again, remember, praise God through it all.
Speaker A:Praise him through it all.
Speaker A:And I want to thank you so much for being here with me tonight.
Speaker A:I will be sending the replay soon along with the PDF download for the Pause and Pray Summer Reset, which is this right here.
Speaker A:I will be sending that to you and I will also send you the link to join the community.
Speaker A:Well, again, thank you so much for joining me and we will see you all next time.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you so much.
