For preparing or revising a course
Heavenly Father, you prepared a wonderful course of instruction for me, as I grew from an embryo to an adult through the nurture and admonition of my parents, and teachers and my daily exploration of your deeply rich world.
Now I get to form and nurture a learning community in a much smaller and shorter scale. But I expect it will still be a rich experience for everyone, because your image-bearers are coming together to learn about your world.
Anchor my vision and plans in what is true, humble, just, pure, commendable, praiseworthy.
Help me start and continue with Jesus, because He is the true purpose of it all.
So form my objectives to align with what you desire—not just knowledge/skills, but how you’ll work through us to live together... how you’ll grow all of us.
Guide my design of assessments that will serve us to align our efforts with good objectives. Protect me from both laziness and overeagerness and perfectionism. Guide me to leave room for your Spirit’s work in all of us.
As I plan, give me a deep appreciation for what you have done in past offerings of this and similar courses, so I can build on what is good.
Give me humility to temper my aspirations, where I hold my future self and my students to unrealistic expectations.
Guard me from the frantic, fearful search for just the right materials, activities, structures, policies... help me trust you.
This is a long game. Help me focus & stay grounded.
And most importantly, send your Spirit in my classroom to teach what I never could.