I am not a science fiction guy. It doesn’t matter if I am reading or if I am watching, sci-fi has never captured my interest in the least. Having said that, a l-o-o-o-o-n-n-n-g time ago I was at a friend’s house and was stuck watching Star Trek. (I actually had to look up Trek because I had initially written “Treck”; this demonstrates my ignorance on the matter.) In this particular episode, some of the crew members were captured on a planet where the aliens who lived there were physically weak, but they were able to control people’s thoughts and therefore their perspectives.
Through trickery, the crew was able to capture one of their captors and hold him by the throat. Using his mental powers, the alien appeared as a hideous beast to gain his freedom, but the crew member threatened to break his neck if he didn’t stop the illusion. He did. Having regained one of their confiscated phasers (also had to look up how to spell that one) the lieutenant turned the phaser on high and shot at the rock wall that held them captive. Ironically, nothing happened. He tried again and again with the same results. He then realized the alien was only tricking his mind into thinking the gun was broken, so he held the phaser to the alien’s head and said, “I believe there is a hole in the wall, but we cannot see it. I am going to count to three and pull the trigger. If this weapon really is broken, you have nothing to worry about. The alien took away the illusion and, sure enough, there was a massive hole in the cave through which they escaped.
Even back then as an early teenager, I realized this is exactly what the enemy does with God’s people. He sends illusions our way to make us question the power of God’s Word or His love toward us. Negative circumstances seem to overshadow the truth of scripture, and we feel like victims rather than victors. Our faith plummets, and we walk around in condemnation, feeling like abject failures. It kind of sounds like homeschooling, doesn’t it?
This is the same thing that happened when the Babylonian armies marched through the countryside. All nations feared them; they appeared unstoppable. Then Isaiah helped everyone to see their enemy from God’s perspective, “Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms …(Is. 14:26) To paraphrase, “Was this the man we were so fearful of? What were we thinking? He is nothing.” Once we truly see God, everything else is accurately reflected by His truth, causing us to see things as they really are.
In these changing times, God’s power and truth remain unchanged. He is Lord over all creation, and that includes the creation of each of our homes. We must not let fear of what is going on around us rob us of our faith in God and of His love for us. Yes, difficulties and disappointments may come our way. Our children may hit some spiritual bumps in the road and seem to sway off course for a moment. We must not, however, loosen our grip on the Christian homeschooling plow, thinking all is lost, but go to the Word to see things clearly.
One of the best ways to do this is through prayer and fasting. Fasting helps us get our eyes off the temporal and onto the eternal. We don’t “earn” anything through fasting; instead, our spiritual vision can become clearer as all the cultural doomsday voices fade from our focus and God’s will becomes paramount.
Please consider talking about each of these prayer prompts with your older children. Ask them, “Why is this particular request relevant?” This could be incorporated into your evening devotion or even conversation around the dinner table. Simply in discussing these requests, you are stirring up their soul to think biblically. We usually reserve the second Tuesday for a day of fasting, though everyone is free to set up a time that works best for themselves. At the very least, please pray these prayers with us for the month of November.
- Pray that homeschoolers—parents and children—will not get overwhelmed by cultural pressures but firmly fix their focus upon the glory of Jesus Christ and His Word so that they would not be moved or shaken.
- from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, –Psalms 61:2
- One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. -Psalms 27:4
- He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. –Psalms 1:3
- Pray that homeschooling children will give their hearts to their parents for training, restraint, and safe keeping even though society screams for them to rebel.
- My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. –Proverbs 23:26
- My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. –Proverbs 3:1,2
- Pray that God will give parents the gift of faith to believe in His sovereign control of everything, even challenging seasons.
- For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, –Eph. 2:8
- And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. –Acts 3:16
- Pray that we parents will not be intimidated by the devil’s fiery darts but will see as Christ sees, giving us great hope of His work of grace and redemption in our children’s lives.
- Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. –2 Kings 6:17
- having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, –Eph. 1:18
- Pray that our children will similarly see through all the shallow lies and fleshly temptations of Satan and walk in the fruit of self-control, saying no to temporary pleasures for a satisfying long-term relationship with Christ.
- For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. –Jude 1:4
- See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. –Col. 2:8
- Pray that we will not allow the enemy’s threats and lies to steal our hope and joy in the raising of our children, even through challenging seasons.
- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. –Romans 15:13
- I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. –3 John 1:4
- Pray that our children will not be intimidated by the culture, regardless of their numbers, their influence, their titles, or philosophies.
- Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. –Lev. 26:8
- But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” –Nehemiah 6:11
- A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. –Psalms 91:7
- “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, –1 Kings 2:2
- Pray that each of us would come to hate sin, especially in our own lives, so that we would be a ready vessel to receive truth.
- Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah –Psalms 4:4
- You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. –Matt. 7:5
- Pray that God would pour out His grace and favor on the homeschooling community in a fresh new way, causing us to walk in a greater awe of his power and knowledge of His love, despite our shortcomings.
- Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. –Exodus 33:13
- And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. –Luke 2:52
- Pray that all Christian homeschooling families will experience the presence of God in a fresh new way.
- You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. –Psalms 16:11
- Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! –Psalms 105:4
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