Devotional: School Days, School Days

This time of the year reminds me of two things...Luke 2:52 and "School Days, School Days, Good Ole Golden Rule Days"

Luke 2:52 is one of my favorite verses. The NASB version says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”  Jesus is the best example to follow throughout our life, no matter our age. This verse gives us a pattern for growth and the key is balance. Read how the Lord is guiding us to balanced life:

Wisdom: knowledge, learning a wide variety of things

Stature: physical strength, care of our bodies—God’s Temple

Favor with God: relationship with God through Bible study; and prayer for spiritual growth

And men: healthy relationships with others

This time of the year also reminds me of “School Days, School Days, Good Ole Golden Rule Days”.… remember that song from your childhood? It reminds us that it is the time of the year when children are heading off to school, kindergarten through college. 

Let us take a moment to think about the teachers and professors who invest years of training and preparation to effectively teach and challenge students. This year, they have been presented with an entirely new set of challenges; as some schools are meeting in person, some are meeting online, and others are planning a combination of both. Now, more than ever, we need to pray for students, teachers, administrators, and parents.

I have a prayer reminder for the beginning of each school year that encourages me to  P.A.S.S.—Pray Always for Students and Staff. Whenever you see a school, a bus, or even school supplies, let those become prayer prompts to remind us to pray.

Written by WMU of Texas President Earl Ann Bumpus