Finish Strong

²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
²⁷ But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
—1 Cor. 9:24-27

Paul surely had reason to be concerned about finishing his life and ministry well; after all, he had seen his fair share of individuals who did not stay the course. Demas, who walked with Paul through much of his ministry, ended up deserting him, having loved the world more than Christ. (2 Timothy 4:10) John Mark, in a moment of youthful immaturity, left Paul and Silas when things got tough at Pamphylia. While he did repent and came back, Paul and Silas’s relationship and ministry was negatively impacted. (Acts 15;38) Of course, Paul knew the Old Testament account of great leaders who also didn’t finish strong like Saul, Asa, Solomon, Samson, and others.

In our home we have painted on the kitchen soffit, “It doesn’t matter how you start but how your finish.” Some start out poorly but appropriate grace to finish better than they started while others are given a good start but receive God’s grace in vain (1 Cor. 15:10), losing their heart and vision along the way. So how do we finish strong, not simply as Christians but as Christians who disciple our children through home education?

We must be people of conviction. Conviction is an outgrowth of our Why? The Bible encourages us to count the cost before beginning a major endeavor; this is especially true of homeschooling. It is so easy to live by imitation, seeing how homeschoolers act and want that same level of maturity and competence in our own children. While imitating a good example is noble, at some point we need to own if for ourselves—revelation or illumination. If our why is truly compelling, it will help us hold fast when the storms of life inevitably appear. We won’t be tossed to and fro with the life philosophies and educational methodologies of man. (Eph. 4:14)

We must always remember that we can’t have it all, and we certainly can’t do it all. Sure, we nod our head in rhetorical agreement and give a religious “Amen!” but the fact remains that we still think we can be the exception. Numerous commercials and “reality” shows set this cultural and sensual bar high, but we are not there to observe after the camera and lights turn off to see the resulting broken marriages, families, and individuals that litter the landscape of Hollywood, Nashville, and Main Street U.S.A. If we succumb to these lies, we will exhaust ourselves on the merry-go-round of life and see the effects in our children’s lives.

Mind you, many of the opportunities in life are not bad in themselves, but having too many will suck up our limited time, energy, and resources. Add to this the daily demands of homeschooling, the stress and strain will manifest. The old saying bears repeating, “The enemy of the best is the good.” We must make our decisions with one eye on the present and one eye on the future.

For many, the school year is ending. Seek to finish this year’s race well. Remember, the calendar is there to serve you. If you are not quite done, extend things another week or two. Ir your children have completed their work ahead of time, stop! The 180

As we return to this month’s regular prayer and fasting time, I encourage you to not only pray the following prayer prompts but also talk about them with your aging children. They can learn on their own dime or can learn from the mistakes of others. Share your own lessons. Transparency can be contagious. The need for these insights will be even graver for the next generation as they are plugged into what everyone else is doing through the internet and social media. This is home discipleship at its finest: preparing our children for life.

While we usually choose the second Tuesday of each month to fast, choose the time and manner that works best for you.

Finally, be praying for the ICHE Homeschooling conference. Pray that God will ordain many to attend, and that each person will experience showers of refreshing, deep encouragement, instruction on how to glorify Christ through homeschooling so that everyone can finish strong.

1. While there should always be a place for spontaneity, pray that each home would find a schedule and system that maximizes their efficiency and minimizes their anxiety and stress. A system that serves the family and not the other way around.
   1. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: –Ecc. 3:1
   2. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. –Proverbs 21:5
2. Pray that God will make us increasingly aware and uncomfortable with the time wasters in our life like social media, excess internet surfing and texting, daydreaming, and lack of organization.
   1. making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. –Eph. 5:16,17
   2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect –Romans 12:2
   3. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. –Proverbs 23:3
3. Pray that God will implant within our heart such a strong “Why?” of home discipleship that any competing voices will be squelched by their lack of appeal and satisfaction.
   1. You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. –Psalms 4:7
   2. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, –Hag. 1:4
4. Pray that our Why? will be so compelling that discipline will seem like effortless effort because of the fire that burns in our soul.
   1. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. –Jer. 20:9
   2. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. –1 Cor. 9:27
5. Pray that parents will have wisdom and discernment to judge between the best and the good when it comes to lifestyle choices for their families.
   1. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”–1 Kings 3:9
   2. If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end! –Deut. 32:29
   3. “Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.–Ez. 34:20
6. Pray that parents will understand that homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint, so that they will pace themselves accordingly that they may have enough gas in the tank to finish strongly. This is especially true for large families.
   1. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. –2 Cor. 8:11
   2. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. –Phil. 1:6
   3. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” –Ex. 18:23
7. Pray that we parents will stay soft-hearted and moldable before the Holy Spirit, recognizing if we subtly start departing from the way we should go.
   1. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” –Hebrews 3:15
   2. because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. –2 Chron. 34:27
   3. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. –Is. 30:21
8. Pray that parents will resist the temptation to try to do it all and instead plan to do fewer things well than many things halfway
   1. But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary.^[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”–Luke 10:41,42
   2. Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. –Proverbs 23:4
9. Pray that parents will be a good example by finishing what they start and not go from project to project, always starting but never finishing.
   1. I want to suggest that you finish what you started to do a year ago, for you were not only the first to propose this idea, but the first to begin doing something about it. –2 Cor. 8:10 (TLB)
   2. The Lord Almighty says, “Get on with the job and finish it! You have been listening long enough! For since you began laying the foundation of the Temple, the prophets have been telling you about the blessings that await you when it’s finished. –Zech. 8:9 (TLB)
10. Pray that God will give both us and our children grace to endure until the end, in whatever endeavor we begin, even if it is difficult or out of our comfort zone.
    1. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.” –2 Kings 13:19 (NKJV)

As mentioned, please keep the conference in prayer and please pray that God would ordain many to come and that each person would experience showers of refreshing, deep encouragement, instruction on how to glorify Christ through homeschooling so that everyone can finish strong. Also pray for dads to come out as there is great need for godly men. Pray that all the logistics are worked out smoothly. Finally, pray for good weather.