Bring Your Bible to School Day – Thursday, October 3rd

June 3, 1962 marked a dark day in American history when prayer was removed from our schools. It was determined by the Supreme Court in Engel v. Vitale that a simple 23-word prayer was a violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution. The prayer was, “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen.” It was somehow deemed to be a state establishment of religion. Looking at it today, we wonder how on earth the Court came to that conclusion. However, they did. Our schools and our society have suffered since.

In 1963, a similar case followed. In Abington School District v. Schempp, the Court decided that Bible reading in schools was also unconstitutional. Bible reading was not mandatory at that time. This was a great travesty of justice and a denial of our children’s rights that has gone on way too long! In fact, this seemed so unjust to me that I encouraged my Bible-loving children to take their Bibles to school and read them anyway. Not once did a teacher tell them they couldn’t read them. Not once. 

In just a couple of days, on Thursday, October 3, 2019, all of our children will be encouraged to bring their Bibles to school and to read them there. Parents, grandparents, teachers and administrators will support this student-led movement, as they honor the Word of God.

“But he answered, ‘It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”’” (Matthew 4:4; ESV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Identificationally repent for the actions of our Supreme Court removing prayer from our schools in 1962.
• Identificationally repent for the Supreme Court removing Bible reading from schools in 1963, an even more unjust situation.
• Decree that students will rise up in a holy rebellion and pray again in school. This time it will be Holy Spirit inspired prayers, not rote and form prayers. These prayers, declarations, and decrees will save the lost, heal the sick, cast out demons, and shift the culture.
• Pray for boldness for the students to bring their Bibles to school and read them. In fact, pray they decree the Word of the Lord from those Bibles all over the campuses.
• Tell all your friends about this special day, Bring Your Bible to School Day. Post it on social media. Pastors, let your congregations know. Spread the word far and wide.

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, we repent again for those nine Supreme Court Justices that decided that a simple prayer seeking Your loving protection over our classrooms was a threat. So many things have been determined since that time which are a true threat to the fabric of our society. It seems incredulous that a 23-word prayer was ever even an issue before the highest court in our land! Likewise, we repent of the blatant injustice of the removal of Bibles from schools. That is tantamount to book burnings in other times. It is a clear violation of our First Amendment rights. It should be possible not only for a child to bring their Bible to school and read it, but to use it as a resource when writing term papers and other reports. So, now, our children will fight for their rights, but by taking their Bibles to school, reading it, declaring it, decreeing it, and praying it. They are choosing to do this, and we, their parents and other supportive adults, are backing them all the way! We ask that this day begins a movement to reverse the Supreme Court ruling, as it was a clear violation of the First Amendment, and it has brought harm to our society. Grant the students boldness and grace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s decree:

Our children will honor the Lord and bring their Bibles to school without fear!

Learn more about Bring Your Bible to School Day 2019 here.