By the end of this week most of the Arizona children between the ages of 4 and 18 will be enrolled in school. By the end of this month, most of the colleges in the state will be up and running as well. Campuses will be bustling with students of many nationalities and colors. It will be a glorious sight!

Many families choose to homeschool their children and others go the route of enrolling their child or children in charter or public schools. Regardless of where your child attends school, let it be known from a teacher who has been in the trenches of a classroom for almost 20 years…

Campuses are a battleground for souls!

If you think that I am using the term “battleground” lightly or just throwing that word out there to get your attention…guess what? I am! Campuses in Arizona and around the world are the battle grounds of intense spiritual warfare! I believe that it is oftentimes so intense that it makes the movie Braveheart look like a Disney movie.

Can you think of another location where a concentrated sect of an entire generation meets on an almost daily basis and can have as much influence and impact as a campus?

Take a look at 1 Peter 5:8, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” What better place for the enemy to prowl around and have a damaging effect on an entire generation than a campus!

Text messaging, Facebook, cheating, alcohol, drugs, sexuality, Instagram, parties, teaching of evolution in Science classes, showing students how to use a condom instead of promoting self control and a respect for the opposite sex, bullying, pornography, gossip, divorce, cutting, depression, suicide, gangs, date rape, self-esteem, etc…do I need to go on?

These choices and actions, which the enemy can use to lure, entice, and trap us and our children into a life that can spiral out of control, can oftentimes seem meaningless or small at the time.

What do we do as parents, grandparents, friends, and others who want to combat this arsenal and protect our children and students from satan’s attacks?

We find our answers on our knees and in the Word!

Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:1-11 reminds us that we respond to satan and his arsenal with the VICTORIOUS AND UNCHANGING PROMISES OF GOD’S WORD!

As believers we need to claim, speak, shout, cry out, memorize, and sing of those promises that are written in His Word and cover our children with them!

Here is a quote from John Piper in an article called, “Winning Battles Through Prayer”,

“The point is this: God has ordained to respond to the pleading of his people and perform great triumphs through prayer. He has decreed to make the prayers of his people the cause of his triumph in many battles. The prayers that win these battles come from Christian vision. And Christian vision is not the imagining of a possibility, but the grasping of an inevitability. That inevitability is the triumph of God in world evangelization: "All the families of the nations shall worship before thee. For dominion belongs to the Lord." To reach out and take hold of this great reality is life—the life of a local church, and the life of the human soul and the life of prayer.”

Did you catch that part in the middle? God’s Word and His promises will happen! …

"The prayers that win these battles come from Christian vision. And Christian vision is not the imagining of a possibility, but the grasping of an inevitability.”

Last year I had the privilege of dropping Drew off at school every day because of our start times. There was not a day that went by where I did not pray with him and cover him in prayer before he hopped out of my pick-up and took off running (that is his only speed ☺).

Please hear this…our 1st line of defense against satan is the Word of God!

So this school year as you head out to get those backpacks, pencils, and new shoes to prepare our children and students for school…

Don’t forget the most important part of preparing them for this year…PRAYER!

Below are some simple suggestions of how to pray for our students.

1] Prayer walk on campus - Consider having a prayer walk around the school or university in your community. These campuses usually have parking areas and streets near them. That’s a great place to start. Walk around the area while praying for the students who attend. Pray for success in their studies, for them to make good choices, and to say no to temptation. Pray also for the professors, teachers, and administration.

2] Prayer Team - Other Christians may be interested in praying for students in your local area. Think about starting a weekly prayer team for your school. Find parents that are also believers and get together to pray.

3] Specific prayer – On the way to school you can pray. You can also pray for them on your way to work during your commute. You can create a “trigger” that reminds you during the day to lift up your children in prayer. (example..every time the bell rings at my school I say a quick prayer for Drew at his school).

Prayer makes a difference! The Victory is secure! Commit to praying for your child’s campus and watch an entire generation of students transformed by the love of Christ!

Need a place to start? Personalize the prayers below for your children.

"All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace.” Isaiah 54:13

“A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” 1 Peter 1:14

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” 1 Peter 2:2

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” Hebrews 13:5

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” 1 Peter 5:5

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philemon 1:6

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

May God give us and our children the strength and endurance to fight the good fight, both on and off our campuses.