By Cherie Werner
Have you felt it?
The frustration you feel when you’re wondering about what to do about the child who is angry all the time, the child who fights you at every turn, the child who talks incessantly, the child who cries at the drop of a hat, or the class that just won’t listen. What is the answer?
Recent trends in education have teachers using many different methods to deal with children who are struggling with behavioral and emotional issues. Some of those methods include calming corners, zones of regulation, mindfulness, and meditation. As followers of Jesus, we have an even better tool: prayer!
No matter what strategy you choose, the best thing to do is to pray. We are God’s children and as his children we have his Holy Spirit at work within us, through us, and for us. God can turn seemingly impossible situations into victories when we simply ask for his help and rely on him for answers.
All the children in our care, especially the children who struggle, will benefit from learning to turn to God in times of stress and learning to depend on him for help.
Get into the habit of praying with your students every morning and throughout the day. Pray with your class as a whole and pray short prayers with individual students as they struggle and as they find success. Ask God for help in the struggles and praise him when things go well.
Use the prayer below as a sample and then make one of your own. Let your students compose their own prayers, as well. Ask God to transform the situation and comfort his children.
Dear God, You are so (attribute from list below). Thank you for being (attribute from list below) to me. Thank you for this day. Thank you for loving me every day, all the time, no matter what. Please forgive me for (name sins). Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can follow you and do your will. Change my heart and mind so that I will be more like Jesus today. Open my eyes to see opportunities to share your love with others. Teach me to love and trust you more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Attributes for God:
loving
merciful
strong
kind
mighty
patient
gracious
helpful
As teachers and students, we face some daunting situations. When we go to God and seek his help, he may move in ways we never anticipated!
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Editor’s note:
