Five Saturday Prayers for Sunday School Teachers

If you’re teaching Sunday School tomorrow morning, here are five simple things to pray today for tomorrow!

My husband, who also happens to be the pastor at my church, put together these five prayers for our Sunday School Appreciation and Kick-Off Breakfast this year. I loved them so much that I thought they were worth sharing here too.

Teaching Sunday School is such a good and important work, but it can also be easy to spend Saturday thinking about whether you have the lesson ready, the craft printed, or enough snacks, and forget to prepare your own heart.

So before Sunday morning comes, here are five things to pray…

1. Fill Me Before I Pour Out (A Prayer for the Teacher’s Heart)

John 15:5 — “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Lord, before I try to teach anyone about you tomorrow, meet me here today. Don't let me teach out of obligation or exhaustion. Instead, fill me with love for you first, so what overflows to these children is real. Forgive me where I've been going through the motions. Make my own heart glad in you tonight, so I have something true to give tomorrow.

2. Let the Word Take Root (A Prayer for the Lesson)

Isaiah 55:11 — “My word... shall not return to me empty.”

Lord, I can prepare the lesson, but only you can plant it in a heart. Take what I have prepared and use it. Help me speak clearly and faithfully. And when I don't, work through my weakness. Plant your Word deeply in these children, and give me faith to believe that you are at work even when I cannot see it.

3. Give Me Eyes to See Each One (A Prayer for the Kids)

Mark 10:14 — “Let the children come to me... do not hinder them.”

Lord Jesus, these children belong to you before they belong to this class. You know every one of them completely. Help me really see them tomorrow. Keep me from being so concerned about getting through the lesson that I miss the child sitting right in front of me. Give me wisdom with the one who is struggling, patience with the one who is difficult, and attention for the one who is easy to overlook. And above all, draw them to yourself.

4. Give Me Joy and Patience (A Prayer for the Classroom)

Galatians 5:22–23 — “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience...”

Lord, you already know what tomorrow morning will bring. There will probably be interruptions. Someone won't listen. Something I planned may not work. And I may be tired before the lesson even begins. Give me the fruit of your Spirit. Make me patient when the room feels chaotic. Give me joy that isn't dependent on whether everything goes according to plan. Help me enjoy these children instead of simply trying to control them. Let them know by the way I speak and listen that I am genuinely glad they are there.

5. Use Me, Cover Me

2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Lord, I'm not the perfect teacher for these kids, but you have always chosen to build your church through ordinary, willing people. Cover what I get wrong tomorrow. Use an ordinary teacher to do your work. Keep me humble, faithful, and dependent on you. Let these children see something of Jesus in the way I teach them, listen to them, correct them, and care for them. Thank you for the privilege of teaching them. Help me be faithful with the hour you have given me.