A peek inside this post: Want to start the school year on the right foot? Invite God to walk the halls and sit in the classroom with your student with this back to school devotional!
Welcome to our back to school devotional series! The summer is dwindling down, school supplies are flying off the store shelves, and your schedule is about to get more complicated.
As the back-to-school season approaches, it’s the perfect time to refocus and renew our hearts and minds with a Christ-centered perspective.
Whether you’re a student gearing up for a new academic year, a parent preparing your children for school, or a Sunday school/youth group director helping your students navigate this season, this devotional is designed to equip you with spiritual strength and wisdom.
Join us as we use scripture, commentary, discussion questions, activities, and prayer to start the school year with faith, purpose, and a deep sense of God’s presence in every step of the journey.
Now this gets an A+: We are offering this back to school devotional as a PDF for your convenience!
Who is this devotional written for?
Before we get into the devo’s content, you may be wondering what age group it’s best suited for.
This devotional is written for:
- families with children or grandchildren
- Sunday schools
- youth groups
- outreach
To accommodate the wide range of children that may be participating, our hope is to write devotionals that ANY age can get something out of by not talking down to teenagers while also not speaking too maturely for younger children.
We try to offer additional resources to help reinforce the lesson if parts of the devotional might be a little complex for young minds.
Discussion questions are meant to be simple, and the depth of discussion will vary based on age and maturity. As a general rule, we err on the side of not making the content sound like it’s written for kindergarteners, but hope that it’s short and sweet enough for them to participate!
Ok, let’s get into School Days + God’s ways: a back to school devotional Day 1.
5 Day Back to School Devotional
Day 1 | Honoring our teachers and staff
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Hebrews 13:17
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
As the new school year begins, it’s important to remember the important role that teachers and staff play in our education.
They are mentors, guides, and caretakers who invest their time and energy into helping us grow and succeed. They also have their own homes and families, just like we do, with a lot of work to balance.
The Bible teaches us to respect and honor those in authority, and this includes our teachers and school staff.
Taking time to appreciate them is not just a kind gesture, but also a reflection of our Christian values. By honoring their hard work and dedication, we are living out the call to love and respect those who serve and guide us.
Let’s set the tone for a great school year, and make it a priority to continually support and encourage the educators and staff who contribute so much to our daily lives.
Discussion
- Can you think of a teacher or staff member who has been kind to you? Maybe the sweet cafeteria worker who gave you an extra dessert or the teacher that stayed after school to make sure you understood the math assignment. Have you thanked God for putting someone like that in your life?
- Why do you think someone would choose to be an educator?
- When you think about the fact that teachers and staff have their own homes and families to take care of, does that change the way you view them? When they go home and tell their families about their day, what kinds of things do you hope they’ll get to share?
Activity
Brainstorm some ways that you can show gratitude, respect, and offer encouragement to your teachers and staff this school year, or use our ideas for some inspiration!
- Write a note: Personalize a handwritten note expressing gratitude for their dedication and hard work, or let them know you’re looking forward to a great school year with them.
- Be engaged and attentive: Show interest in lessons, participate in class, and follow classroom rules. This will make their job easier and more enjoyable, and you’ll enjoy your time in class more, too!
- Bring a small gift: A small token of appreciation, like an indoor plant, a book, an easy breakfast like a cup of yogurt with a banana, or even extra school supplies like a box of sharpened pencils would brighten any teacher’s day!
- See them and greet them: This seems simple, but you might be surprised how invisible and lonely staff members can feel in a crowded school. Don’t just walk by the custodian mopping the floor or the lunchroom attendant restocking the napkins. Look them in the eye and say hello. Ask how their day is.
- Pray for them: Lift your teachers and school staff up in prayer. If appropriate, you can let them know that you’re praying for them and hope they have the best school year.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of education and for the dedicated teachers and staff who guide us. Help us to honor and respect them in all that we do.
Give them wisdom and patience as they teach us, lead us, and care for our school. Provide them with your strength and perseverance to go home and love their own families well.
Help us to see Jesus in their faces, and help them to see Him in ours. May we be a source of encouragement and light to them, reflecting your love in our actions. Bless this school year and bless our staff.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Family’s Back-to-School Adventure Continues
You’ve just enjoyed Day 1 of our ‘School Days + God’s Ways’ Devotional, where we explored how God can guide us in honoring our teachers and staff.
But this is just the beginning! Days 2–5 are full of practical lessons, Bible verses, and family activities that will help your kids (and you!) live out God’s ways at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
By completing all five days, your family will discover simple ways to honor God, build character, and strengthen their relationships during the school year—turning everyday routines into meaningful moments.
Ready to continue the journey? Get the full ‘School Days + God’s Ways’ Devotional as a PDF and set your family up for a school year full of faith, fun, and growth!
Here’s what you can expect Days 2-5 to cover…
Day 2 | Building Godly relationships with peers
Day 3 | Trusting God’s plan for our safety
Day 4 | Valuing wisdom and hard work
Day 5 | Resting intentionally
Wrapping up these devotions for back to school
Thanks for checking out our back to school devotional series! We hope it has been a helpful resource to you and your family.
We at Just Homemaking are praying you have a safe and happy back to school season. Don’t forget to snag the printable version of this devotion below!
School Days + God’s Ways Back to School Devotions: Printable PDF
For your convenience, we’ve compiled this devo into a clever PDF that’s easy to print or use on your phone, tablet, or computer.
>>> Grab it here.