14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

1Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

2Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” (Joshua 6)

Thoughts: I have often thought that Chapin is like the mythical Lake Woebegone where "all the children are above average."  Chapin has great schools.  It has consistently scored way above the state in average SAT and ACT scores.  We have great teachers, and parents who care for the students.  But in any school there is a lot that can go wrong.  The discipline, the attention can break down.  Teachers could start working for money instead of seeing their work as a service to the community, to the students, and to God.  Administrators could grow weary and shirk their important work.  It takes a lot to make a school work.  But if a school works well, it is a blessing from God. 
       Tomorrow there is a Chapin School Prayer Walk.  You are invited to come out and pray at each school or just one or two schools.  When Joshua and his people came against the walls of Jericho, God told them to walk around it six times, and then on the seventh day seven times.  It is a visible sign of prayer.  On the final day they blew the trumpet as if they were saying, "Now Lord, Help us!"  And then the walls fell.  We can have confidence in prayer.  He hears us, loves us, and wants and is able to answer us.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray.  Help our schools to be great to your glory and honor.  Help those Christians in our schools to do their work well and kindly as a good witness for you this year.