25 Prayers for 25 Years | Day 1 | Centered on Him
In today’s devotional, CCA President Dr. Rachels kicks off our 25 Prayers for 25 Years series by sharing the heart behind this initiative and reminding us of the importance of prayer.
Scripture:
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
–Matthew 6:5–15
Reflection:
As we mark the 25th anniversary of Calvary Christian Academy, we’re pausing to reflect, to rejoice, and to re-center ourselves on what matters most — Jesus Christ. In Matthew 6, Jesus doesn’t just tell us to pray — He shows us how. He invites us into a kind of prayer that is more than routine or religious performance; it is relational, personal, and transformative.
Through praise, thanksgiving, confession, and petition, we are invited to commune with God and be changed by Him. That’s the heart behind 25 Prayers for 25 Years — to unite our community in prayer, to draw near to the Father, and to let His kingdom come more fully in our hearts, our school, and our world.
Through praise, thanksgiving, confession, and petition, we are invited to commune with God and be changed by Him. That’s the heart behind 25 Prayers for 25 Years — to unite our community in prayer, to draw near to the Father, and to let His kingdom come more fully in our hearts, our school, and our world.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time — waking and sleeping.” Prayer reminds us of our daily dependence on God and realigns our hearts with His purposes.
As we begin this prayer journey together, we ask that the Lord would do more than just listen to our words — may He revive us, starting with the deepest places in our souls. May the routine of 25 days of prayer become the rhythm of hearts awakened to His presence and power.
Let this be a time where we don’t just celebrate the past, but seek God’s face for the future. As Dallas Willard noted, “The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds.”
That’s our desire for these 25 days — that we might fix our eyes on Jesus, and in doing so, invite His Spirit to stir a fresh wind of revival through every campus, every classroom, and every conversation. May this be the beginning of a deeper hunger for God in our CCA community, one that spills over into every home and heart.
As we begin this prayer journey together, we ask that the Lord would do more than just listen to our words — may He revive us, starting with the deepest places in our souls. May the routine of 25 days of prayer become the rhythm of hearts awakened to His presence and power.
Let this be a time where we don’t just celebrate the past, but seek God’s face for the future. As Dallas Willard noted, “The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds.”
That’s our desire for these 25 days — that we might fix our eyes on Jesus, and in doing so, invite His Spirit to stir a fresh wind of revival through every campus, every classroom, and every conversation. May this be the beginning of a deeper hunger for God in our CCA community, one that spills over into every home and heart.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the 25 years of grace and growth You’ve given CCA. We acknowledge Your faithfulness and ask for more of Your presence in our midst. As we set aside this time to pray as a community, would You change our hearts.
Stir revival in our students, our staff, our families, and beyond. Teach us to pray like Jesus did — honoring Your name, seeking Your kingdom, confessing our sin, and trusting You with our needs. May this be more than a campaign; may it be a movement of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Stir revival in our students, our staff, our families, and beyond. Teach us to pray like Jesus did — honoring Your name, seeking Your kingdom, confessing our sin, and trusting You with our needs. May this be more than a campaign; may it be a movement of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dr. Rachels has been a part of Calvary Christian Academy for 25 years and currently serves as the President. He has been married to Jennifer for 32 years and has three daughters, Willow, Maya, and Remi. One of his favorite Bible verses is John 17:3.
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