Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7, NIV

I have learned that worshipping and staying in communication with God is just as necessary in my professional life as in my personal life. I cannot separate my life into secular and sacred compartments. All of my life is sacred and needs to be under God’s authority.

For years, I asked God to sit outside my classroom in the hallway and wait until I finished my work. Now, I keep the door open and invite Him inside daily to take control and do His work. I patiently wait for Him to enter, knowing how long He waited outside the classroom for me. As He enters, I turn my class over to Him.

While alone in His classroom, I worship Him and affirm that the classroom where I serve is not “my” classroom. It is “His” classroom. I affirm that I am in God’s presence every day, every hour, every minute, and every second because His love and presence have no boundaries. I cannot be where God is not. I affirm that He is in control of all things, including myself, parents, students, staff members, administrators, school board members, and state officials. I praise and thank Him for all aspects of my job—especially the most challenging. I repent and tell Him the mistakes that I have made and the mistakes those around me are making. I ask Him for forgiveness. I ask Him for the needs of parents, students, and staff. I ask God for my own needs. And then, I am still before Him.

God, this is Your classroom. Help me to commit a special time to be alone with You here each day to pray. Amen.

Copyright Don Clark.

Don is a member and a retired elementary special education teacher. He recently retired from his role as the Houston area director for Christian Educators.