They overcame him [evil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of

their testimony.... (Revelation 12:11)

Courage to Tell Your Story
In the book of Revelation in the Bible we read that evil will be overcome by the
blood of Jesus and the word of ones testimony. As educators, we have all experienced
evil in our personal lives, our schools, and in the greater community in which we live.
As educators, we have all experienced the presence of evil in our professional
lives. In the lives of our students we have seen and experienced sloth, disobedience,
rebellion, fear, insecurity, apathy, and uncontrolled anger. We have seen students abuse
themselves, other students, and staff members. At the elementary level abused children swear and use sexually abusive
language and behaviors as early as age six or seven. Ben, a Christian educator in an elementary public school has seen
a student smear excrement all over his face. This student had been severely abused as a child and had learned to
defecate and urinate on himself in an attempt to get the abusive adults in his life to leave him alone. When under stress
at school he manifested the same behavior.
Bens high school teaching friends have had a variety of experiences as well. They have dealt with drug
induced students and serious student fights. Students have sworn at them and another has been physically assaulted by
a student. One swastika tattooed student last year stood up in front of the whole class and told the teacher to perform a
sexual act upon him. Another teacher in another high school found two girls in the restroom having sex with one
another in a stall. Bens own teen children attending junior high and high school tell him it is not unusual to see
students making out in the hall and often it is girls making out with girls.
As educators, we deal with evil found in parents who neglect and/or abuse their children. At times, we
educators are the recipients of abusive language from the parents. Many parents have lied to us when we make
inquiries about their children or how they are helping them. We must deal with the evil found in administrators and
fellow teachers who may be angry, unforgiving, fearful, insecure, self-serving, manipulative, dishonest, controlling, or
prideful. At times we must deal with gossip, murmuring, and the negativity. Finally we must deal with the presence
of evil within our own selves which periodically manifests itself. We each have our own personal issues regarding evil
or sin. In an epistle written by the apostle, John, he states that if we believe we have no sin[evil] within us then we are
liars.
It is so easy to focus on the evil, the negativity around us. How can we overcome this evil and not get
discouraged by it all? One strategy God uses to overcome evil is to have people share their personal stories of how He
is alive and working in their lives. One way believers deal with evil is to share their testimonies, their stories of facing
evil or difficult situations and explaining how God guided and helped them through these circumstances. This set of
devotions, Teacher! Take Courage!, has provided one testimony per week in order to encourage us to overcome evil
with good, to exercise our faith without violating laws of church and state. Testimonies remind us and help us keep our
eyes focused on Jesus and what He is telling us to do in His schools. (Jesus was a teacher who taught in public and
faced far greater evil than us!)
All manner of evil in the public schools is reported in the mass media. The media reports students arrested for
drugs or assault, teachers caught having sexual relations with students, and administrators embezzling funds or
cheating on state tests. What is never reported is the fact that public school teachers in some schools regularly meet for
encouragement and prayer every day or week at their schools. What is never reported is that thousands of students
meet each week in public school Bible clubs. Some of their lives are being changed eternally. What is not reported is
how Christian educators are joining together to support youth in poverty and crisis in their communities. It is time to
tell these good stories, these God stories.
Do you have an encouraging story related to your walk with God in your professional life? Will you share this
story with us at CEAI? At what time in your career did you most experience God and His presence at school? The
next and last devotion of this series enclosed is simply called My Story. We invite you to send a reply email to us
telling us your story about God working in your classroom and school. We need encouragement from you. Help us
overcome evil. Share your story.
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage tell the story you want me to share.
Application/Sharing: Turn to devotion #36. Write a testimony, a story related to your walk with God in public
education. No story is too small or insignificant. What did He do for you?

CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE! (For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) WEEK 35