Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because

He always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

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The Ultimate Prayer Partner

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Janice felt spiritually alone and isolated at her school. She felt something deep within her heart begin
to break under the intense stress she felt. During the winter break she had attended a Christian Educators
Association conference and had been encouraged to find a prayer partner at work with whom she could agree
in prayer on a regular basis. The following week she personally invited three teachers to pray with her whom
she knew were Christians. They all politely declined the invitation. Every one of them told her they would like
to meet and pray with her but had no extra time because of all the heavy responsibilities both at work and at home.
Janice doesn’t take rejection easily and she usually takes it personally. After the third teacher declined the invitation Janice
went into her classroom, shut the door behind her, and turned out the classroom lights. Discouraged, she sat at her desk in the dark
and simply asked God, “Where is the prayer partner I know you want for me? There is no one here to agree with me in prayer. I am
not comfortable with rejection. Help me. I am breaking.”
As she sat in the dark in silence with one solitary tear falling from her eye, the response from God came. In her heart and mind
the Lord gave her the scripture Hebrews 7:25. Janice was not a Bible scholar and she had no idea what the scripture was, so she
opened the Bible she always kept on her desk and found Hebrews 7:25. It read, “Therefore He is able to save completely those who
come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them.”
Janice then got out the classroom journal she had kept and used since her first year in teaching and wrote down what she
believed God was speaking to her…
Dear Discouraged,
Take courage. I am I AM and I AM your prayer partner. I am constantly interceding for you. I am one who is quite well acquainted with
grief and rejection. Meet with me daily briefly before school. I am here with you. I will never leave or forsake you. You don’t have to
carry these heavy burdens of men’s expectations for you and the heavy expectations you heap upon yourself alone. I am here to help
carry and shift this load that is breaking yours and other teachers’ professional backs. Janice, will you be my prayer partner at Athens
Junior High School? Others will come in time but not now. This time right now is just for you and me. Please be faithful in meeting
alone with me and then our Father will send more.
Love,
Jesus
(Your Encourager and Burden Bearer)
As Janice put down her pen she felt the heavy burden on her heart and mind begin to lift as it dawned on her that her personal
prayer partner at her school was Jesus Christ Himself. She knew there was no prayer warrior greater than Him. A great blessing and
peace filled her room that day and each day as she took five to ten minutes at the beginning of each day at her desk to be still, speak
to God, and listen to Him by simply randomly opening her Bible and reading a paragraph.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us your Son as our Ultimate Prayer Partner in your classrooms.
Reflection: Do I pray at work? Why or why not? Does God want me to? Does He want me to have a prayer partner? Whom?
Getting Real: Know God is constantly interceding for you and that you are not alone in your school environment. Take time each day
to speak with and listen to Him. Watch what He will do.

CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: Fields of Faith in Education (For info or prayer contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 28

PRAY FOR SALOME (South Africa Outreach – Dr. Mella Davis)

Salome, the girl in the bright yellow top, is one of the girls who seem naturally quiet. But the quiet temperament
does not keep this nine-year old from being inquisitive and mischievous. She consistently attends dance workshop
and I had the privilege of meeting her mother. She is full smiles and energy. A trip to her home yielded an
opportunity to meet her mother and younger siblings. She attends Avian Park Primary School.