by Andrea Callison
Lesson date: Any given Sunday. Time: T-minus 10 minutes until the first child casts a shadow on the door. My mission: To make certain all is prepared for this week’s Sunday School lesson. Commence consulting mental checklist now. Has the lesson been read thoroughly? Check. Are all materials needed for each craft, recipe, and other activity gathered? Check. Has each story piece been meticulously punched out and protected against the inevitable wear and tear it will face? Check. The checklist is complete. Mission accomplished.
Or is it?
While the teacher in the above illustration seems to be armed and ready to tackle the challenge at hand, one vital measure has not been taken. The teacher has neglected to bathe his or her efforts, the lesson to be taught, and the class in prayer. Without prayer, it doesn’t matter how cool the craft is or if the story figures are water-resistant. A Sunday School teacher is not fully prepared until he or she has fervently prayed over the words that will be said and each ear that those words will fall upon.
Praying for the pupils in your class should be a never-ending effort. First Thessalonians 5:17 says, "never stop praying." (CEV) However, continual prayer does not have to confine a teacher
physically to the knees 24/7. Before another Bible verse is taught or another game is played, consider preparing for the lesson by weaving non-stop prayer into common, everyday life, using one or more of these creative options.
Picture Perfect
Take a 3.5" x 5" (8.75 x 12.5 cm.) photo of each child in your class. Laminate the photo using clear Con-Tact paper, and punch a single hole in the upper left-hand corner. Place all of the pictures on a book ring. Hang the pictures on a peg or a nail near where you brush your teeth. Each week, pray for the child whose picture is on top every time you brush your teeth. Praise God for the child. At the end of the week, move to the next picture. Option: send a postcard to each child as you pray for that child during the week.
Information, Please
Create an index card for each child in your class. Print the child’s name at the top. Under the
name, print the child’s address, telephone number, birthday, age, family members’ names, and any other information. Leave space to add and change information as needed. When you know of a
need that the child has, add it to the card. Pray for the need when it’s added. Place the index cards in a card file. Place the file somewhere it will be seen often. Each month, rotate through the cards, praying for each child’s needs at least once.
Red Light, Green Light
When stopped at red lights, whisper a prayer for the next class session. Pray that God will help you to stop and listen to what He would have you to do.
No, Thanks
Think of something that has too much power over you. Perhaps it’s chocolate, the daily trip to the Coke machine, or television. Commit to giving up that item for a set amount of time (for example, throughout the next unit or quarter). Every time you are tempted to break your commitment, say "no, thanks" and pray for those who help you in the classroom. Option: Commit to do this with those who assist you and be accountable to one another.
Evenly Odd
Pray for the boys in your class on odd dates and the girls on the even dates. Ask God to help them through the times that go smoothly as well as those that cause them worry or fear.
A Familiar Ring
Each time the phone rings, ask God to help you as you teach. Pray that you’ll be able to find time to call each child and remind that child of God’s love.
What a Chore!
Choose a household chore that is hard to motivate yourself to do. Meditate on the next Sunday's lesson while you complete the task. Pray that preschoolers and kindergartners will feel that
serving God is a pleasure and not a chore.
Over the Rainbow
Each morning as you get dressed, take note of what you’re wearing. If you are wearing your favorite color, pray for the next Sunday’s lesson. Pray that God will clothe your class with His
presence.