(Excerpt from “21 Day Prayer Challenge for Passionate Educators”
by Dr. Stephanie A. Harper)
“What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.” Then God said to Abraham, “regarding Sarai, your wife - her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly and she will become the mother of many nations.”
Genesis 17:5, 15-16
“Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel. So God renamed him Israel.”
Genesis 35:10
“Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, ‘Your name is Simon, son of John - but you will be called Cephas.’” (which means “Peter”)
John 1:42
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.”
Luke 1:31
Many schools are named after influential people, the city or town, or its type (public, private, charter, or magnet). Additionally, schools choose mascots as a symbol of its character. A powerful truth about God is when He gives a person a name, He is communicating that person’s purpose. Passionate educators, you know there are a lot of people and things that are not fulfilling its purpose in this educational system. You know students who have been given names and labels that are warring against their purpose. You know names and labels that are given to schools and districts that do not represent those institutions’ purpose. Before these students, classrooms, schools, and school districts can fulfill a purpose, there must be a name change. It is time to change the name! Greatness is in the name!
Prayer:
God of purpose and destiny, you have given everything and everyone a name of purpose. Today, I pray this educational system and everyone in it will align to the purpose in which you have destined it to be. Through your leading, I change the names and labels of students, classrooms, and schools that are not aligned with your purpose. They will be called Kingdom students, Kingdom classrooms, and Kingdom schools. Thank you, Father, for transforming the educational system. In Jesus’ name, amen.