Ready. Set. Go!
“Ready or not, here I come!” I suspect all of us recall this familiar phrase from the childhood game of hide-and-seek. For many of us in education, these words surface in our minds during this time of year. What happened to the summer break? Ready or not, the new school year is upon is. Before we know it, children will be walking the halls again, and we need to be prepared.
No educator I know likes to begin a school day unprepared. We prepare lessons, organize materials, review schedules, plan meetings, anticipate questions, and think through all the things that could possibly go wrong. We know that preparation doesn’t guarantee that everything will go according to plan, but it does help us navigate the unexpected when it comes.
The same is true in our spiritual lives. In fact, perhaps the most important preparation we can make for a new school year has nothing to do with our lesson plans, classrooms, schedules, or to-do lists. It has to do with preparing our hearts. Jeremiah gives us a beautiful picture of what happens when we place our trust in the Lord.
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7–8
What an encouraging picture for educators! A tree with deep roots may still experience heat and drought, but its roots provide what it needs to remain strong and continue producing fruit. That is what happens when we are spiritually rooted. It doesn’t mean we won’t face difficult days. It means we are rooted deeply enough in Christ to face challenges when they come. So as a new school year begins, let’s think about three simple words. Ready. Set. Go.
READY
Think about what it takes to get ready for a race. An athlete doesn’t simply show up on race day and expect to perform at his best. Preparation happens long before the race begins. This involves training, discipline, practice, conditioning, and commitment. The same is true for educators.
I am reminded of a time when my best friend was unexpectedly moved from second grade to first. She had worked diligently on her plans and was so excited for the first day! I walked into her room about mid-morning, and she promptly directed my eyes to the trashcan. There were her meticulous lesson plans. Trashed. Refusing to be derailed, she successfully pivoted, not because it was easy, but because she was prepared.
How much more important is preparation in our spiritual lives? We need time in God’s Word. We need time in prayer. We need to grow in our knowledge and understanding of who God is, who we are in Him, and the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. The more time we spend in Scripture and prayer, the more these truths become familiar to us. We are reminded of God’s character. We are reminded of His promises. We are reminded that we are not walking into the school year alone. We need those reminders because none of us knows what the year will hold.
The reality is every educator faces obstacles during the course of the school year, and sometimes additional unexpected trials surface that extend beyond our jobs. A health crisis. A family struggle. The loss of someone we love. We simply don’t know what lies ahead.
The question is not whether unexpected things will happen. The question is: Are we ready? Are we spiritually prepared? Are our roots reaching deeply into the living water of God’s Word? Are we spending enough time with Him now so that when difficult days come, we know where to turn? The strength we need tomorrow is developed through the time we spend with God today.
SET
As I think about set, my mind goes to a sprinter crouched at the starting line. She has trained. She is physically and mentally prepared. She steps into the blocks, positions her body, and fixes her eyes on the finish line. She knows she cannot look around at the other lanes or be distracted by the crowd. She must focus on the race in front of her. This sprinter is not only ready; she is also set.
God’s Word is very clear about where we are to fix our eyes and what we are to set our minds on.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1–2a
Keep your eyes on Jesus. That sounds simple, but we know how difficult it can be. There will always be distractions. There will always be frustrations, disappointments, difficult people, unexpected circumstances, and things that don’t go the way we planned. We can easily become consumed by what is happening around us. That is why what we set our minds on matters so much. Paul gave us this instruction.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
We all know that whatever we choose to set our minds on makes a difference. We see it in our classrooms every day. Success or failure often begins in the mind. What we believe about ourselves, our circumstances, and what is possible can shape how we respond. The Bible tells us that we have victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Do we set our minds on that truth?
Do we believe that no matter what we experience on our way to the finish line, there is purpose, provision, and protection along the way?
Do we hold on to God’s promises, believing that He has given us everything we need to live a godly life?
Do we set our minds on the truth of God’s Word rather than the circumstances in front of us?
Peter reminded us in 2 Peter 1:3 that we have already been given everything we need for living a godly life through knowing Him. God has not sent us into this school year empty-handed. He has equipped us for whatever lies ahead.
GO
This is where the rubber meets the road. We’ve prepared. Our focus is set. Now it’s time to go. We are headed into a new school year, but how will we go? Will we go spiritually ready, rooted deeply in God’s Word and strengthened through prayer? Will we go with our eyes fixed on Jesus and our minds set on the things of Christ?
We don’t know what this school year will bring. We don’t know which days will be easy and which will test us. We don’t know the opportunities God will place before us or the challenges He will ask us to walk through. However, we can know this: God has already given us everything we need!
So, educator, take a deep breath. Prepare your heart. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Set your mind on the truth of God’s Word. Step into the year with confidence, not because you know what lies ahead, but because you know the One who does.
Ready, set, go! Your victorious year awaits!
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If this message encouraged you, you'll find even more practical ways to reflect Christ in your school throughout my book, Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display. Together we'll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can transform the way we teach, lead, and serve every day. Learn more here: https://www.victoriouseducator.com/taking-jesus-to-school
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