When I think of the word upgrade I think of updating my phone, my computer, maybe redecorating my house, or replacing old furniture. We could talk about habit upgrades, use of time upgrades, health upgrades, car upgrades, and relationship upgrades.
But today I want to invite you into a vision upgrade!
Twenty years ago I began my teaching career, and even though it wasn’t my #1 choice– I had wanted to become an oversees missionary I was bright eyed and expectant of making that impact I’d envisioned when God called me into the world of education. I bet you can relate, right? But two years into teaching I thought I might have really screwed up because I just couldn’t reconcile my idea of being a missionary in public schools with reading score data and reluctant learners in my middle school reading support class.
It wasn’t until I was in my master’s program taking on an action research project focused on student learning apathy that I found myself being asked if I wanted mentorship. The incredible part of this offer was that this mentor not only understood my population: inner city minority youth, but he also had an answer to my biggest question. I wanted to know: What was at the root of student learning apathy?
My mentor also spoke directly to my own private concern of not having enough secret sauce to really make a difference over the long haul of my public school teaching career. It was in our sporadic meetings that I learned from Andre Benjamin (CEO of Destiny) what it meant to be a teacher on mission– that I was called to be an Isaiah 61 Light, one who set the atmosphere for my classroom (my territory) with the authority God had given me, and that I was called to connect with God’s heart for my students so I could see as He did– their gifts, talents, skills, and abilities. With this heavenly perspective I was then able to begin calling out the gold, which is what God sees as valuable.
And I realized through my real life action research in my classroom and meeting with Andre that the real answer to student learning apathy was an absence of identity. If I could tune into God’s vision I could instill real purpose and identity in my students causing them to rise above their challenges in and outside the school walls.
Today, God’s got an upgrade for you! Are you ready?
Our #1 Upgrade is Partnering with the King in Education. Whether you’re a teacher, para, or administrator you’ve been invited to “teach connected,” or work in tandem with the King of kings!
This might be new for you. You may have worked for God in the past. Being invited to work in connection with God is new… but that’s ok!
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
And the Song of Songs 2:13-14 TPT says, “Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me. For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock. It was I who took you and hid you up high in the secret stairway of the sky. Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice. How beautiful your eyes of worship and lovely your voice in prayer.”
You’re upgrade into partnership with the King of Heaven includes a response of lifting your eyes! It’s a new season to see from heaven’s perspective– where all things are possible. (“Nothing is impossible with God.” Matt 19:26, and “All things are possible for the one who believes.” Mark 9:23) It’s impossible to see clearly without God’s perspective because when we get His higher view we can see His Purpose and receive His power. And don’t we need to receive His Purpose and His Power when it comes to being change-agents in the world of education? YESsssssssssssssssss.
The second part of our invitation to upgrade is Receiving God’s Perspective– how He sees us, our purpose, and those we serve.
In John 21:1-14 the disciples had been fishing all night and they’d caught nothing. In the world of education it can feel like we continually invest in kids’ lives and we’re constantly trying to create solutions to unsurmountable problems, but nothing seems to shift… and we start to feel disheartened.
Remember what Jesus said to the disciples who had caught nothing? First He encouraged them to cast their nets on the other side of their boats. It was a new perspective. I want to purpose to you that God’s new perspective will encourage you.
The disciples had the choice to ignore Jesus and stick to what they knew, but instead they took a chance and we know the result! They caught more fish than their nets could hold!
I want to propose that it’s Big Fish Season, but we need the upgraded perspective from God to SEE it! The impossible is now possible as you lean into our good Daddy God’s heart and gain His perspective. Sometimes like Gideon (Judges 6) we get stuck in our circumstances and we can’t see clearly.
God is here to unlock the ways the enemy may have isolated you, brought fear to cripple you so you can’t function at your highest capacity, but God promises to be with you, give you His Perspective so you can see His Purpose and be filled with His power.
Your key is connection with Father God’s perspective of yourself, your calling to the world of education, your students, and your community, and this city.
So…. Are you ready to shift into upgrade? Partnership with God in our classrooms is powerful!
In my own story I was being invited to let go of my separation of church and state lens and let my dream of being a missionary actually bleed into where I was already positioned for impact. My mentor helped me see that I was called to be a missionary in my school and God had placed me strategically with middle schoolers of all different nationalities already. (Aren’t His ways so much better than my own?!)
You, too, have already been positioned for powerful impact!
It’s time to recognizing that your competitive advantage in your classroom is being able to hear God’s voice! You literally have 24/7 access to the God of heaven who lacks nothing! You have access to strength, ideas, and strategies beyond what I was taught in teacher prep program, curriculum books… and you can ask Him in a moment what to do and you can receive wisdom instantaneously!
I invite you to begin by seeing yourself as an Ambassador of the King so that when you begin each day you start by asking Father God what He sees. Then ask Him how you can partner with Him in your classroom.
Let’s Activate with These Declarations!
- I say YES to my upgraded position to teach connected with God!
- I decree and declare that I will not miss my moment because I’m unwilling to cast my net on the other side of the boat.
- I will humble myself to see from God’s perspective.
- He will give me His perspective of who I am and who He is to me.
- I declare that with God’s strength I will win; I will see a breakthrough in the world of education.
- I declare that I’ve been strategically placed by the King of kings for such a time as this!
- God you are good and I trust to you will finish every good thing you’ve begun in me and my school.
If you’d like to delve deeper into this upgrade please check out my From Burnout to Burning Bright course bundle that’s on sale until November 1, 2023. There is an option to sign up for a 1 Hour Consulting Session with me at a discounted rate, as well. I’d love to come alongside you and support your journey into a higher way of thinking as you seek to express the Light of Christ in the world of education.