Power of a Praying Teacher: Inviting God into Your Classroom Through Personal Prayer
In today’s episode, I’m diving into the power of praying as a teacher. Depending on where you teach, you may not be able to pray out loud with your students but your personal prayer as a teacher can still make a difference. When you start your day with God and invite Him into your classroom through quiet, intentional prayer, everything begins to shift.
Prayer is where I surrender my plans, realign with God’s purpose, and receive the strength I need to lead with grace. And I want to remind you your prayers matter. They're shaping the atmosphere of your classroom before a single lesson is taught.
🗣️ In This Episode You’ll Hear:
- 🙏 What prayer really is and how it can guide your day
- 💡 Why prayer is more about surrender than performance
- 🔥 The shift that happens when we pray for our students, coworkers, and classrooms
- ✨ The spiritual covering prayer creates as you walk in your assignment
📖 Scripture Focus:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Luke 18:1
- Philippians 4:6–7
💥 Action Steps:
- Set aside 5–15 minutes to pray each morning before class
- Keep a running list of your students, coworkers, or situations to cover in prayer
- Pray over your classroom door, desks, and materials inviting God's peace into every corner
✨ Encouragement:
Depending on where you teach, you may not be able to pray out loud with your students or speak your faith openly but you can still pray as a teacher. You can invite God in before the day begins and carry a spirit of prayer throughout your day. That quiet surrender? It can shift the entire atmosphere. You are a Kingdom teacher and your prayers are powerful.
📝 Reflection Prompt:
Where is God calling you to be more intentional in prayer over your class, your school, or even your own mindset?
📘 Explore More:
Download the 5-Minute Teaching with Jesus Prayer Routine 👉 Click here to download
🟣 Join the Pause + Pray Call for Teachers Our free monthly Zoom gathering is a space for teachers to rest, reflect, and be refreshed in God's presence. 👉 Click here to register
📲 Connect with Me:
DM me with your biggest takeaway or prayer request—I’d love to lift you up. Instagram → @thetransformationalteacher
🎧 Subscribe & Share:
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast for more faith-filled encouragement and practical tools to help you walk boldly in your calling.
💌 Know a teacher who needs this episode? Send it their way and bless their day.
Transcript
Hey, friend, and welcome to the Transformational Teacher Podcast.
Speaker A:I am your host, detoya, and as always, thank you so much for being here.
Speaker A:Today's episode, it is mainly for those teachers out there, those teachers that know they have been called by God.
Speaker A:They have been commissioned to go forth inside that classroom this year and make a kingdom impact.
Speaker A:Now, yes, if you're not a teacher, feel free to listen to this episode because there are still things that you can gain from it because we are going to be talking about prayer.
Speaker A:So again, if you're not a teacher, stay tuned.
Speaker A:But if you are a teacher, let's lock in and let's get started.
Speaker A:So whether you are still soaking up summer or you're already setting up the classroom, I know it can bring a mixed emotions.
Speaker A:It might be a little excitement, pressure, and a deep longing for peace.
Speaker A:You may even want your summer to last a little longer.
Speaker A:But here's the thing.
Speaker A:What I want to encourage you to do before you dive into another lesson plan, if you're planning before you unpack another bin or supplies, I. I want to invite you to pause and breathe.
Speaker A:So even if you're still in summer mode, pause and breathe.
Speaker A:Because here's the truth.
Speaker A:We don't have to carry last year's weight into this new one.
Speaker A:We don't have to carry the anxiety into this new school year.
Speaker A:We can choose to walk into this new school year with God's peace.
Speaker A:We can keep our eyes set and focus on him so we can trust in Him.
Speaker A:And we can walk into this year, we with his peace.
Speaker A:This is your reminder that God's presence is available in every hallway, every decision you make, in every classroom.
Speaker A:If you are a believer, God's presence is right there with you and he is there to guide and direct your footsteps.
Speaker A:And one way that we can stay aligned with God is by prayer.
Speaker A:So I want to encourage you, make sure this is a year that you pray without ceasing.
Speaker A:Now, let's be honest.
Speaker A:Morning times, I'm naturally not a morning person.
Speaker A:Now, you might not be either.
Speaker A:Maybe evenings or late nights are your time with God.
Speaker A:That might be the time where you feel like the creative juices and things of that nature flow.
Speaker A:And I will say nighttime is my time.
Speaker A:But one thing that I have learned over the years, nighttime might be the time that I devote more time to God and things to that nature.
Speaker A:Or but that still doesn't mean I don't do anything in the morning, that I don't do things throughout the day because I still check in with God.
Speaker A:All throughout the day.
Speaker A:And I am intentionally making sure I do something in the morning because I have noticed when I don't give time to God, I notice the difference when I give time to Him.
Speaker A:And when I give time to God in the morning, things are better.
Speaker A:So again, I want to gently encourage you to.
Speaker A:To carve out even just a few intentional minutes in the morning.
Speaker A:Not because it has to be perfect by no means, but even five minutes can shift the whole day.
Speaker A:That's why spending time with God in prayer has become so vital for me.
Speaker A:There again were seasons where I tried to carry it all.
Speaker A:The classroom challenges, the emotional weight from home, the emotional weight just from life in general, the pressure to get everything.
Speaker B:Right, the pressure to make sure that.
Speaker A:I am doing everything that is expected to do inside the classroom.
Speaker A:But here's the thing.
Speaker A:I was doing it all in my.
Speaker B:Own strength, and it was burning me out.
Speaker B:So that is when I realized I.
Speaker A:Cannot do this alone.
Speaker B:And here's the thing, friend.
Speaker B:You were not created to carry this journey alone.
Speaker B:You were not created to carry the journey alone.
Speaker A:Hear me.
Speaker B:You were not created to carry it alone.
Speaker A:God is right there with you when walking with you.
Speaker A:And he's also placed people in your.
Speaker B:Life to help you along this journey.
Speaker A:Prayer isn't just something to check off your list.
Speaker B:Prayer is something to help you along this journey.
Speaker B:It's a way to align with God's presence, receive his strength, and invite his peace into every hallway, every classroom, every.
Speaker A:Decision you make, every staff meeting you.
Speaker B:Have to sit in, invite God's presence there.
Speaker B:Like Luke 18:1 says, Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up.
Speaker B:So again, always pray.
Speaker B:Because when we stop praying, we start fainting because we don't have that strength.
Speaker B:Because we gain strength in prayer.
Speaker B:We gain wisdom in prayer.
Speaker B:So again, we want to make sure we're keeping that spirit of prayer, prayer.
Speaker B:When we're not praying, we start trying to carry everything by ourselves.
Speaker B:And honestly, That's a lot.
Speaker B:First, Thessalonians 5, 17, Amplified says, Be unceasing and persistent in prayer.
Speaker B:The ESV says, Pray without ceasing.
Speaker B:So again, we want to make sure we make prayer a lifestyle.
Speaker B:Pray as you're walking the hallways.
Speaker B:If you're going on a bathroom break, say a prayer.
Speaker B:Make prayer a priority.
Speaker B:When we pause and pray, things shift.
Speaker B:God is amazing.
Speaker B:Philippians 4, 6, 7, Amplified 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 to known to God.
Speaker B:And here's the thing.
Speaker A:And the peace of God, that peace.
Speaker B:Which reassures the heart, that peace which transcends all understanding, that peace which stands guard over your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus is yours.
Speaker B:God doesn't just promise an answer.
Speaker A:He promises us peace.
Speaker B:And he will give us the answers as we sit with Him.
Speaker A:And I've experienced this firsthand, whether it's classroom management, that one student who tests you every time you go in that classroom in the beginning.
Speaker A:But here's the thing.
Speaker A:When we start handling it God's way, and we start handling it God's way when we invite him in to our classroom through prayer, we start to tap into the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Say, holy Spirit, help me in this situation.
Speaker A:This child naturally is trying my patience.
Speaker A:But how should I respond?
Speaker A:How can I respond in the fruit of the Spirit?
Speaker A:Because the fruit of the Spirit Spirit is on the inside of us.
Speaker A:And we have that.
Speaker A:It's ours already, but we have to cultivate it.
Speaker A:So Holy Spirit, help me with this.
Speaker A:Prayer has carried me through so much, and I believe it can help you too.
Speaker A:Now, what happens when we pray as a teacher?
Speaker A:Here are a few things.
Speaker A:Our heart begins to soften toward our students that challenge us.
Speaker A:We start to see things through God's eyes.
Speaker A:And we handle classroom situations and his way.
Speaker A:And his way is the best way.
Speaker A:We pause before reacting, letting the Holy Spirit guide our responses instead of our emotions guiding them.
Speaker A:Our ears become more in tune with God's voice.
Speaker A:Even in the middle of a chaos classroom, we humble ourselves and we reach out for help as needed.
Speaker A:Sometimes God, he directly tell you, go to this person.
Speaker A:This person has your solution.
Speaker A:We walk with courage and peace, clarity and confidence, knowing we're not leading alone, knowing that Holy Spirit is right there with us.
Speaker A:And we begin to notice the good.
Speaker A:The good in our students, the good things that have happened throughout our day, the good things in ourselves.
Speaker A:We start to celebrate those small victories.
Speaker A:We start to see, no, I am a great teacher because God has put greatness on the inside of me.
Speaker A:Prayer doesn't always remove the challenge necessarily in the beginning.
Speaker A:Sometimes the challenge may be there still.
Speaker A:But it reshapes how we see it.
Speaker A:It reshapes how we carry it, how we respond to it.
Speaker A:It shifts our posture, our mindset and our perspective.
Speaker A:And again, we start to handle things God's way.
Speaker A:That is the amazing thing about God.
Speaker A:When we pray, he changes our heart.
Speaker A:And in changing our heart, it helps to change the way we see things.
Speaker A:Now I know again, mornings can be rushed sometimes because there are days when you might feel like there's just no time to pray.
Speaker A:Trust me, I've been there too.
Speaker A:But one thing I've learned is this.
Speaker A:If I happen to wake up late and don't always have like the full 15 minutes, I would like to in the morning.
Speaker A:And last year this happened some.
Speaker A:The thing is, that doesn't mean I can't do anything.
Speaker A:Although I may not have the 15 minutes.
Speaker A:If I have five minutes, let's use that five minutes, even a few intentional minutes before leaving the house, in the car again, walking the halls, taking the chairs down, or right before the students walk in.
Speaker A:It can all make a difference because one thing that I do, I have to take the chairs down each morning.
Speaker A:So as I'm taking the chairs now, I'm praying over each child as I'm cleaning the tables, I'm washing the tables and I'm praying God cleans everything that needs to be cleansed.
Speaker A:I out of my students lives out of my lives.
Speaker A:So we're using the time that we have.
Speaker A:The key is this doing something with the right heart is better than doing nothing at all.
Speaker A:And so this summer, God laid this simple but powerful thing on my heart.
Speaker B:It is called the Five Minute Teaching.
Speaker A:With Jesus Prayer Routine.
Speaker B:It's a simple guide that designs you to pause, realign, and invite God into your day.
Speaker B:Even when time feels tight, it walks you through pausing.
Speaker A:We will take time to pray and.
Speaker B:Invite God into your day, realigning your.
Speaker A:Thoughts with him so you can walk.
Speaker B:Into that classroom anchored and not anxious.
Speaker B:You can walk into that classroom having kingdom confidence.
Speaker A:You can have peace and joy in the midst of what's going on.
Speaker B:Because you're not moved by what you.
Speaker A:See with your natural eyes.
Speaker B:You're moved by what God's word has promised you.
Speaker A:And this is also why it's important.
Speaker B:To have a vision, have a scripture.
Speaker A:That you stand on throughout the school year.
Speaker B:And I'll talk about that in later episodes.
Speaker B:But I want to encourage you download this free resource.
Speaker B:It is completely free.
Speaker B:You can Download it at thetransformationalteacher.com or you can also tap the link in the show notes.
Speaker B:And again, five intentional minutes in prayer.
Speaker B:It can shift the way you teach, lead and live today, every day.
Speaker B:Because as we're praying, we're sowing seeds and we're going to see a harvest.
Speaker A:Of of the seeds that we have sown in prayer.
Speaker B:And also I would love to invite you.
Speaker B:I'm excited about this the monthly prayer call for teachers is back.
Speaker B:It's refreshed with a new name, renewed focus, and I'm excited to get back at it.
Speaker B:It is now called Pause and Pray.
Speaker B:This is a free monthly prayer and reset gathering created especially for Kingdom teachers.
Speaker B:We will meet every first Sunday and at 6:30pm Eastern Standard Time on Zoom.
Speaker B:This is the space where we will come together, pause, pray, realign with God each time, his presence, his purpose.
Speaker B:As you step into a new month.
Speaker B:You were never meant to carry this assignment alone.
Speaker B:Come, get refreshed, cover and recharge in our community.
Speaker B:We will come together and pause and pray.
Speaker B:Pray.
Speaker B:So again, I would love to have you join me.
Speaker B:Sign up at thetransformationalteacher.com or again tap the link in the show notes.
Speaker B:So again, whether you're soaking up summer break, setting up your classroom, juggling lesson plans, you may even be teaching already.
Speaker B:You may simply be trying to make.
Speaker A:It through the day.
Speaker B:Take a moment today and download the five minute Teaching with Jesus prayer routine and start using it.
Speaker B:And also join us at every first Sunday at 6:30pm Eastern Standard Time for Pause and Pray.
Speaker B:So again, God is with you.
Speaker B:He is for you.
Speaker B:He is strengthening you.
Speaker B:But you have to allow him to strengthen you.
Speaker B:He's already gone before you.
Speaker B:Let's stay aligned with God.
Speaker B:Let's stay rooted in his word.
Speaker B:Let's stay surrendered.
Speaker B:Give up your will for his will.
Speaker B:Ask God.
Speaker B:God, I give this school year over to you.
Speaker B:What is it that you want me to do now to prepare for this upcoming school year?
Speaker B:And even if you're already in school, you can still surrender your year to God and you can still ask Him, God, is there anything you want me to change pertaining to this year?
Speaker B:And let's keep teaching with Jesus.
Speaker B:It is the best way to go.
Speaker B:And again, I am looking forward to connecting with you for our Pause and Pray call.
Speaker B:So Again, head to thetransformationalteacher.com to sign up or click the link in the show notes.
Speaker B:And again, let's end with prayer.
Speaker A:But Heavenly Father, we thank you right now.
Speaker A:We thank you Lord, just for who you are.
Speaker A:We thank you Lord for your goodness.
Speaker A:We thank you for your love.
Speaker A:We thank you for your mercy.
Speaker A:We thank you for your faithfulness.
Speaker A:We thank you Father, as we enter into this new school year, Lord God, we surrender it to you.
Speaker A:Lord God, we give it over to you.
Speaker A:We give every student, Lord God, over to you.
Speaker A:And we ask, oh God, that you reveal those things that need to be revealed to us right now, so.
Speaker A:So we can prepare the way that you have called for us to prepare.
Speaker A:We thank you.
Speaker A:That says in Psalms 32, 8, that you will instruct us, you will teach us in the way that we should go.
Speaker A:You will counsel us with your loving eye.
Speaker A:So we thank you, Lord God.
Speaker A:We sit at your feet and we ask that you will counsel us.
Speaker A:We ask, oh God, that you will pour into us, Lord God, what it is that we need to do on this year.
Speaker A:We are trusting, Lord God in you on this year, Lord God, like never before.
Speaker A:Trusting that you will give us the plan that is needed for our classroom this year.
Speaker A:We will stay in the lane that you called fourth, Lord God, for us to be in.
Speaker A:We will not compare ourselves, Lord God, to the next teacher, but we will stay in the lane you've given to us, Lord God.
Speaker A:And we thank you, Lord God, for strengthening us.
Speaker A:We thank you, Father, for energizing us, Lord God, for this year.
Speaker A:And we thank you, Lord God.
Speaker A:We are committed to praying, Lord God, this year like never before.
Speaker A:We are committed to the things, Lord God, of you.
Speaker A:We thank you, Lord God, that you have called us for such a time as this.
Speaker A:And we are going to make the kingdom impact you have called us to make.
Speaker A:And we give you glory and.
Speaker A:And we give you honor.
Speaker A:In Jesus name we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:So again, I'm looking forward to you joining me for pause and pray.
Speaker A:And until next time, have a great one.
