Four Things to Get Ready for the School Year A Guest Post by: Sarah Susanna Rhomberg

Getting ready for school usually includes buying new pens, sorting our old school books, or maybe picking out a back-to-school outfit. Here are four other – maybe not so common – things you can do to prepare for the upcoming school year. 

1. Pray 
Praying for something is one of the best ways to prepare for it. Talk to God about your joys and your worries. Pray for your teachers. Ask Him to help you love the people around you – your teachers and your fellow pupils. Pray for courage to live your convictions and to be bold for Christ. Ask for opportunities to spread the gospel and courage to do so. 

Prayer is the key to everything. Don’t ever underestimate the power of prayer. This is one of the best ways you can prepare for what is coming. 

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:13.16b, NIV

2. Schedule Your Quiet Time
Once the school year starts, your schedule will fill up in no time. Failing to plan is always planning to fail. If you wake up in the morning without knowing when you will spend time with God…you probably won’t spend time with Him at all – despite that resolution to read your Bible each day. To prevent this, plan ahead.

Think about what time would be best for you to do your devotionals this coming school year. Once you have figured that out, make it a firm date in your calendar/planner. Seriously, write it down. This won’t guarantee that you’ll actually spend time with God, but it does raise the chances! 

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9, NIV



3. Prepare Topics
Will micro and macro evolution be coming up in your biology class this year? Or will you be taking philosophy? Try to think ahead about what topics might be relevant, and which topics your classmates (especially if you do in-person school) may be talking about. 

Once you’ve thought of a few (e.g. abortion, feminism and evolution), go and research it. Go and find out what the Bible says about it. Go and read about the other side. The only way to be prepared for conversations is to prepare, to know and own your faith. 

“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15, ESV
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4. Get Excited and Look to God 
Get excited about what God has in store for you this school year. He Himself promises that His plan is greater than we can ever imagine it will be. It may not be what we expect, it may not be what we want, but it will definitely be amazing. 

Through all of this, focus on God. This is the most important. No matter what this school year brings, look to God. He is the one who can help us with any problem – big or small. He can bring peace into any situation. He should be the center of our lives in this school year and in all that follow. 

“Look to the Lord and his strength. Seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4, NIV


~ Sarah Susanna Rhomberg a young writer who lives in Europe and is fluent in both English and German. When not writing, you will often find her reading or working on the organization of a camp for children – always with a mug of herbal tea at hand. Sarah wants to live her life for Christ and writes to glorify Him. Connect with her through her email list here.