Back to School: Centered, Not Scattered
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Psalm 90:12
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." -
Before I had children of my own, I loved the back-to-school season. Like Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) in You’ve Got Mail, I romanticized the idea of “bouquets of newly sharpened pencils.” The smell of school supplies made me giddy—which worked out well, considering my first career was in education. Even now, I still feel a flicker of that excitement when August 1 rolls around.
But I’ve noticed something else creeping in alongside it: a low hum of anxiety. From new grades and schedules to forgotten lunches and morning mishaps, it can feel like too much. There’s so much to do, so many routines to reset, and so little time or energy to manage it all.
Yet Scripture tells me not to be anxious. And the Spirit gently reminds me that He brings peace. So I know this hum of hurry and pressure is not from the Father. It’s from the world—its expectations, its demands, its noisy comparisons. And it taps on my shoulder, waiting to see if I’ll give in to the overwhelm it wants to offer.
But then I remember my God. It is He and His rhythms that lead my life. I’ve made Him Lord over all my days, even the rushed, back-to-school ones. He is not the author of chaos but of peace. He is also the author of joy. And when I slow down enough to breathe, to listen, I find that He is already present, inviting me to walk at His pace, not the world’s. To see this season through His eyes. To remember that His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and that my days are purposed.
I can choose peace in the midst of this busy season. I can choose joy as the changing colors usher in the fall. I can choose to walk in power, standing in the authority I’ve been given—not only as a daughter of the King, but as a mother to the children He has entrusted to me.
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Create moments for prayer together (even 2 minutes before school or at dinner)
Set spiritual goals as a family, not just academic ones
Pick a weekly memory verse, devotional time, or Sabbath rhythm
Use this devotional as a “reset” or anchor as they enter the year
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“Print this devotional and put it on your fridge or family calendar.”
“Use this as a conversation starter at the dinner table tonight.”
“Set a family goal for one small spiritual rhythm this month: prayer at breakfast, memory verse Mondays, reciting personalized blessings before bed, or worship in the car.”
“Reply or comment with your family’s prayer request for this school year, we’d love to pray with you.”
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Father,
As we step into a new school year, we pause to place You at the center of it all. We confess how quickly our hearts can scatter toward schedules, tasks, and worries. But today, we choose to set our eyes on You, the One who numbers our days and gives us wisdom for how to live them.
Lord, we give You our anxieties, both big and small. We release to You the forgotten lunches, the morning rush, the unknowns of new classes, and the weight of expectations. Thank You for reminding us that You care deeply about every detail of our lives. Teach us to cast our cares on You, trusting that You hold us steady.
We ask for Your peace to guard our hearts and minds, peace that goes beyond understanding. Make our home a place where prayer and gratitude flow, where spiritual goals matter as much as grades, and where joy is found in walking at Your pace.
Help us create simple rhythms that keep us close to You, whether it is praying before school, choosing a verse to memorize together, or setting aside time to rest in Your presence. Fill us with courage to walk through each day with purpose, with love, and with Your Spirit guiding us.
We thank You for the gift of this season, for the chance to learn, to grow, and to trust You more deeply. Keep us centered in You, not scattered by the world, and let our family shine Your peace and joy in all we do.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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For parents, students, or as a family:
What’s one way I can put God first in my schedule this week?
What stresses me most about this school season, and how can I invite God into it?
How can we create a simple, meaningful spiritual rhythm as a family this month?
What would “balance” look like in our home, with God at the center?
