Dare 14: Love Intercedes

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.  3 John 2

Dare 14: Love Intercedes 

"You cannot change your [students].  As much as you may want to, you cannot play God and reach into their heart and mold them into what you want them to be....    
Insanity has been described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  But isn't that what happens when you try to change your [students]?  It's frustration at the highest level.  At some point you have to accept that it's not something you can do.  But here's something you can do.  You can become a 'wise farmer.'  A farmer cannot make a seed grow into a fruitful crop.  He cannot argue, manipulate, or demand it to bear fruit.  But he can plant the seed into fertile soil, give it water and nutrients, protect it from weeds, and then turn it over to God.  Millions of farmers have made a livelihood from this process over the centuries.  They know that not every seed sprouts.  But most will grow when planted in proper soil and given what they need."  

Just like not all the seeds will sprout, not every student will be changed by your attempts to love.  But the reason for going through the love dare with your students is not so each of them will change.  The reason you are going through the love dare is to stretch yourself to love as God has called us to love.  Even if you don't see a change in one student this year, hopefully you'll see a change in your heart.  And chances are, if you are truly trying to carry out each dare, your students will be affected.  You may not see the change in them now, and you may never know just how much your love for them touched their hearts... but it will happen.  "But you won't be able to do this alone.  You will need something that is more powerful than anything else you have.  And that is effective prayer."  
And boy, do our kids need prayers.  Not a day goes by that my heartstrings aren't pulled by a glimpse of a students' home life.  This won't surprise you, but I tend to be a forgetful person, and unfortunately, often times I simply forget to utter up a prayer for them.   It is my prayer that God hears my deep concerns for each of them as prayer.  
It is my desire, and I know it is God's desire, to pray more fervently for my students.  I truly believe it is one of the most loving things we can do for them.  


So this week, take time to pray for your students' hearts.  Pray that God would work in their lives and that you might be given opportunities to speak to their hearts.  


love you all.  praying for you as well.