Purpose Driven Classroom

The purpose of this blog is to encourage Christian Educators to recognize their high calling as a teacher. We will be studying the Book of Esther for the next few months. Join us for this ten part study and don't forget to comment on how you think this applies to the classroom. May God help you to see your purpose for Him as a missionary in our schools in America.

The Book of Esther - Part 9 of 11

The Book of Esther
“For such a time as this”
Chapter 8

What does it look like when you have favor with your administrators?  How can we tell if Esther has favor with the king? If we could look at how Esther reacted in this most difficult situation, we will have a model from the Word of God.  In our last study, we admired how Esther approached the king, “If I find favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty….” and he granted her request. She certainly did find favor.  Look at what the king did for her.  He immediately gave Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. The king also gave Mordeai his signet ring, the one he took back from Haman.  Mordecai was appointed controller of Haman’s estate.  The king even allowed Mordecai the authority to write a new decree that would allow the Jews the ability to defend themselves against the ensuing slaughter.  Now that’s favor.

In our classrooms, we grant favor, even when we don’t realize it.  Certain students hold favor in our eyes. Have you ever wondered why you favor some students over others?  At times it is obvious why you do NOT have favor for unruly, disobedient or belligerent students, but have you ever thought about why you do have favor for certain ones?  Is it that smile that greets you each day?  Is it a willingness of heart to do what you ask? Is it perhaps a transferred affection from a brother or sister you taught previously?  I can’t always pick out the exact reason, but having favor for some students over others can put us in a divided mindset.  Granting favor is grace.  Continue.  However, try to look at some of the other students that are not so easy to love. Make a special effort to pray about one of those unruly, disobedient or belligerent ones and mentally work on granting them favor in your mind.  I believe that with God’s help we can change our mindset about a student that we have may dislike. Once our hearts are changed toward that child and we have asked for His help to grant favor to him/her, there is no doubt in my mind that you will experience a change in his/her classroom behavior.

One of the most humbling experiences I ever had in teaching was having an unruly class that I could not mellow. After months of struggle and no sign of success, I fasted, prayed and humbled myself before God, only to find out that it was really me that was unruly.  With His help, I turned myself into five different teachers and taught in character for the rest of the year.  I was not the best teacher for those students that year, but when I “brought in the troops,” I found favor in their eyes and suddenly they all looked different to me too.  We ended the year on a very high note and I praise God for His power of transformation.  He gave me favor and I was able to, in turn, give my whole class favor.  That’s grace in action.




Please read Chapter 9 for next time! Don’t be shy. You can enrich this study with your own voice in the comment section.

As always, I am
Prayerfully yours,

Karen

by: seddonk at 07:20 | link | comments