Dear Ones,
Happy Holiday weekend! I had a wonderful birthday yesterday with surprise visit, cards, gifts phone calls and then having our granddaughter and hubby here last night for dinner. Today we have the monthly birthday party so will be going to Costco early and tomorrow we plan to go to the lake. The devotional today was written about a week before the school tragedy that happened in Mpls.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
School has begun in some states, and already some teachers are overwhelmed and wonder if they can hold out and continue in the teaching profession. I read an article by Dutch Sheets and Cheryl Sacks who give us a rundown of what has happened to the schools since God was removed from them in 1962. It was the last time prayer would be given in a public school in America, and it has changed our country. After removing prayer, it was the Ten Commandments and soon the enemy filled the void bringing in pornographic books, gender confusion, mutilation of children, etc. etc.

School is no longer a safe place where friendships are formed and learning takes place, and in some schools half the students don’t even show up: in D.C. 60% of students are chronically absent. Sadly, the suicide rate has skyrocketed, and depression and anxiety fill the hearts of many students. Recently, three fifth graders were even plotting to kill an autistic boy with a knife at school. Today many teachers are not supported and are leaving their profession or even fired for standing up for policies that are against their convictions.

It was encouraging to read that we can do something, and that is to pray and intercede for our schools. One school in Arizona was radically changed when believers had a prayer walk and an all-night prayer vigil to intercede. Within a year the school went from an F school to an A school, and the following year was ranked as an A +. Let us all answer the call and start by praying for those schools near us or where our children and grandchildren attend. As it says in Isaiah 65:24, “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.”

Challenge for today: Start by praying the prayer given by Sheets and Sacks:

“Father, we stand before You in behalf of the schools of our nation. We repent for allowing you to be removed from our classrooms, hallways, and culture. Forgive us for yielding ground to darkness.

We dedicate every school in America—public, private, charter, homeschool, and every college and university—to You. We consecrate each campus as holy ground where Your presence is welcome and your purposes prevail.

In the authority of Jesus Christ, we release the light of Christ into every classroom, the truth of Your Word into every curriculum. Send a mighty revival to our campuses, O Lord, and save our children. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy