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Seek First, Teach Second: A Devotional for Teachers
Very few things are more frustrating in the world of education than attending professional development events run or written by individuals so far removed from the classroom that the practicality of what they’re presenting is largely useless. Seek First, Teach Second is a five-week devotional full of real-life stories based on real classroom experience as well as motherhood, showcasing how educators can put their faith into practice in a professional setting.
However, more than sharing a collection of heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking tales, the overarching goal is to give teachers, specifically those serving in a public-school setting, a resource to help validate the work of their calling, reflect on their effectiveness from an eternal perspective, encourage them to capitalize on the power of prayer, and rightly prioritize their faith, their family, and the high demands of their profession.
Christian programs in public schools such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes and See You at the Pole solely focus on student leadership. While it is often assumed and expected that the adult sponsors of said programs are believers, where are they getting their Biblical leadership training? If the Church does not encourage and equip the soldiers on the front lines of the battlefield of the classroom, it’s a missed opportunity to stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of these children.
However, more than sharing a collection of heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking tales, the overarching goal is to give teachers, specifically those serving in a public-school setting, a resource to help validate the work of their calling, reflect on their effectiveness from an eternal perspective, encourage them to capitalize on the power of prayer, and rightly prioritize their faith, their family, and the high demands of their profession.
Christian programs in public schools such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes and See You at the Pole solely focus on student leadership. While it is often assumed and expected that the adult sponsors of said programs are believers, where are they getting their Biblical leadership training? If the Church does not encourage and equip the soldiers on the front lines of the battlefield of the classroom, it’s a missed opportunity to stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of these children.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
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December 30, 2025
Teachers are starving; this is bread.
With vulnerability, creativity, and startling clarity, Danielles Lee and Zee dive deep into the implications of the higher calling this profession answers.
We've all sat through PDs that expounded ad nauseam the finer points of data collection and the benefits of strong classroom management. Those tend to focus on the year at hand. "Seek First, Teach Second" examines the eternity of it all. How do we pray for our students, knowing that we may be the ONLY ones praying for them? How much of our identity as educators is rooted in Christ? Would God be pleased with the community we create in our classrooms? Here's an opportunity to find out.
Organized into five weeks, the devotional is designed for discussion and engagement with daily reflection questions and scripture highlights. Each week is themed and divided into six attributes of teachers, each studded generously with stories that invite us into Lee and Zee's own classrooms — and how happy we are to take a seat! The gifts of each educator shine throughout, from Lee's artistic and thoughtful family traditions and faithful stewardship of her classroom to Zee's profound community building and passionate spoken-word poetry. It's an invigorating read.
As a former teacher, this devotional is exactly what I would have needed to reground myself post-Christmas Break. As a parent, I'll be revisiting it year-round.
With vulnerability, creativity, and startling clarity, Danielles Lee and Zee dive deep into the implications of the higher calling this profession answers.
We've all sat through PDs that expounded ad nauseam the finer points of data collection and the benefits of strong classroom management. Those tend to focus on the year at hand. "Seek First, Teach Second" examines the eternity of it all. How do we pray for our students, knowing that we may be the ONLY ones praying for them? How much of our identity as educators is rooted in Christ? Would God be pleased with the community we create in our classrooms? Here's an opportunity to find out.
Organized into five weeks, the devotional is designed for discussion and engagement with daily reflection questions and scripture highlights. Each week is themed and divided into six attributes of teachers, each studded generously with stories that invite us into Lee and Zee's own classrooms — and how happy we are to take a seat! The gifts of each educator shine throughout, from Lee's artistic and thoughtful family traditions and faithful stewardship of her classroom to Zee's profound community building and passionate spoken-word poetry. It's an invigorating read.
As a former teacher, this devotional is exactly what I would have needed to reground myself post-Christmas Break. As a parent, I'll be revisiting it year-round.
Displaying 1 of 1 review