The Gift of Encouragement

“he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”–Romans 12:8 (NKJV)

The word “exhort” means to “strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.” The overtones of this word are so great that God actually ascribes it to one of His spiritual gifts, the gift of exhortation. Let’s face it; some people are natural encouragers. They are upbeat, always able to see the good in situations and the potential in people. It is a glorious calling, especially in today’s culture where sarcasm and cynicism are pervasive.

While some folks ooze with encouragement, others have to work at it a little bit harder. This can be especially true in the homeschooling environment. Why? First, we are going against the flow of society by keeping our children with us rather than sending them off to public school. We always feel the need to justify our decision when the reality is it is much easier to validate homeschooling from a biblical point of view than it is public schooling; nevertheless, some always feel the burden of proof.

Second, because many parents are not trained as teachers, they feel less qualified even though statistics clearly state that a child’s success in homeschool is not indicative of the parents’ level of education or training. I must admit, even though my wife and I were trained as teachers—she elementary and I secondary—it has been more of a hindrance to homeschooling than a help because we were taught to compartmentalize learning rather than see it life integrated.

Finally, since each of our children are unique and on their own God-ordained timetable, it is easy for us to feel intimidated by the jackrabbits of education, be they public schooled, private schooled, or homeschooled. Additionally, some children are good with words but bad with numbers or vice versa. When they are compared to others—be it from family, friends, or parents themselves—their weaknesses are compared to someone else’s strengths. How fair is that? Who can stand against that criterion?

For these and other reasons it is important for us to stay encouraged and seek to be an encouragement to others. This is the theme for ICHE in January: ENCOURAGEMENT! Since exhortation is a gift, we are going to appeal to the Giver of Gifts during our prayer and fast time—which is usually reserved for the second Tuesday of the month unless a better day works for you—to breathe upon us a fresh grace of encouragement.

The requests are below. I would encourage you to fast with us as you can and also pray one request each day while you meditate on its application in your own life. You may even feel inspired to call someone with a word of encouragement. Let this be a living exercise and not simply a dead list to pray.

1. Pray that homeschooling encouragement will not come from our external performance or that of our children’s, but our satisfaction will be found in seeking to obey the Lord and knowing His grace is sufficient for all things.

• so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.–Eph. 2:7 (ESV)
• so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.–Eph. 3:17-19 (ESV)

2. Pray that parents will be encouraged by the fact that God allows everything into our lives and our children’s lives for a purpose and the end result will be His glory and our betterment, be those perceived blessings or perceived curses. We will praise Him for that reality.

• And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.–Romans 8:28
• Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.–Matt. 10:29 (ESV)

3. Pray that God will help homeschoolers—especially mothers—to not get unduly concerned if their children seem to be getting along slower than they would like but to be encouraged by remembering God’s time table is different for every child and God is faithful in that timing.

• For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.–Hab. 2:3 (ESV)
• But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,–Gal. 4: 4 (ESV)

4. Pray that homeschooling parents will be able to discern between conviction and condemnation, godly correction and satanic accusation. God’s dealing with us leads to joy in being disciplined as a son and a greater sense of His glory while the devil’s accusations leave us feeling hopeless.

• For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”–Hebrews 12:6 (NKJV)
• As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.–Rev. 3:19 (NKJV)

5. Pray that there will be a revival of an emphasis and reliance on prayer in homeschooling households and that this will be our greatest strength and source of encouragement.

• Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?–Psalms 85:6 (NKJV)
• And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.–Acts 4:31 (NKJV)

6. Pray that God will helps us have the words to encourage others along the pathway of life, especially those on the homeschooling journey.

• The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. –Is. 50:4 (NKJV)
• Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.–1 Thes. 5:11 (NKJV)

7. Pray that God will enable us to consistently encourage ourselves in the Lord when the winds of adversity blow.

• But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.–1 Sam. 30:16 (ESV)
• Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.–Psalms 23:4,5 (NKJV)

8. Pray that God might crown our efforts with success. We realize we live in a spiritual battlefield where there is attack and counter attack, victories and setbacks. May God keep us humble in the former and faithful in the latter.

• In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.–Proverbs 3:6 (TLB)
• But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.–Matt. 6:33 (NKJV)

9. Pray that we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is for us in our roles of parents and teachers.

• What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?–Ez. 36:9 (NKJV)
• What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?–Romans 8:31 (NKJV)