No Excuses… Only Hope

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”—Matthew 19:26

It is such a temptation for any of us to focus on what we don’t have rather than concentrating on all we do have. The Moabite, Ruth, married the son of Naomi. Through a sad series of events, she lost her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law, leaving her with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. When Naomi decided to go back to Israel, Ruth demonstrated a different spirit, forsaking her own people and gods, and followed Naomi to a strange land and a promised lifestyle of adversity in providing for her aging mother-in-law.

In Israel, the only work she could find was gleaning grain in the field. This was a beggar’s lifestyle, but one she willingly embraced to provide for her and her mother-in-law. (Lev. 19:9) To make matters even worse, the work could be dangerous for a young lady who had little protection from unwanted male attention. (Ruth 2:9)

By God’s providence, she picked the field of a redeemer kinsman of Naomi’s husband’s bloodline. When he asked his workers who she was, one of their first comments was how strong of a work ethic she possessed, starting from the beginning of the day with only one short break. (Ruth 2:7) In Moab, she would not have had to work this hard, but here she was doing one of the most menial jobs out in the hot sun, all day long. No promise of vacation, only starvation if she didn’t. No notoriety at all except appreciation from her mother-in-law.

When approached by Boaz, she did not complain about all the inequalities of life like being widowed at a young age or being in a country where she knew no one or having to do back-breaking labor. She did not claim entitlement, thinking this well-off Hebrews owed her something. Her only response was one of gratitude and humility for his kindness to a foreigner.

She then was willing to submit herself completely to her mother-in-law’s instructions in establishing a proper relationship with Boaz. Her modest behavior and deep integrity opened the door to a relationship that ended in a marriage proposal. Because of her daily actions, she went from being an outsider with nothing to receiving full provision for her and her mother-in-law as well being the great grandmother of King David and thus a vital part of the heritage of King Jesus.

Now, what does all this have to do with homeschooling? It reminds us that we, of all people, should have hope. When we make decisions that are counter-cultural, if God be for us, who can effectively stand against us? (Romans 8:31) We must not make excuses but take responsibility for our life choices and teach our children to do the same. They must know that the things that God places in their heart to do but seem impossible to carry out are possible through the power of God and the grace of His Holy Spirit. If God did all this for a Moabite, what will He do for those of us who call upon His name. Let’s pray for the impossible this school year!

1. Pray that God will put big thoughts in our children’s hearts and minds that demand that God Himself would be necessary to make those things come to pass.
   1. But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”—Matthew 19:26
   2. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. –1 Kings 3:11,12
2. Pray that God would make our children big-minded and big-hearted in life affairs but small-mouthed and humbled in communicating those big thoughts with others.
   1. My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. –Proverbs 3:21,22
   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. Pray that like Ruth, our children will have a different spirit than those around them.
   1. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. –Numbers 14:24
   2. And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. –Ruth 1:18
4. Pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon our children so that they will be self-motivated to study and prepare for their future.
   1. Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. –1 Samuel 10:6
   2. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. –1 Cor. 13:11
5. Pray that God would impress upon our children a strong ethic even if they are presently slothful and lazy.
   1. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” –Ruth 2:7
   2. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. –2 Thes. 3:10
   3. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, –Exodus 20:9
6. Pray that God will provide supernatural opportunities and connections that would help further our children’s future and, as a result, cause them to become increasingly dependent upon Him.
   1. for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. –1 Cor. 16:9
   2. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. –Numbers 14:8
   3. May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion! –Psalms 20:2
7. Pray that God will cause our children to walk in genuine humility and gratitude for both the good things and the difficult things that will come their way just like Ruth did.
   1. Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? –Lam. 3:38
   2. Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” –Ruth 2:13
8. Pray that God would be merciful to our families, literally pulling children away from toxic situations and people that would be detrimental to their spiritual and emotional trajectory and a bright future.
   1. But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. –Genesis 19:16
   2. Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.”’” –Exodus 8:23
9. Pray that our children will wait patiently, knowing God will not fail them. Pray that God will teach them what to do in their time of waiting because waiting is not passive but active.
   1. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! –Psalms 37:7
   2. And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. –Hebrews 6:15
   3. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”–Ruth 2:2
10. Pray that our children will walk by faith. When they don’t know what to do, they will do the next thing that is in front of them. When it is time to go, may they go in strength and power and determination.
    1. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. –Exodus 40:36
    2. Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. –2 Kings 23:25
    3. And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” –Judges 6:14
    4. And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. –Ruth 1:18
11. Pray that all of Satan’s schemes and temptations will fall powerless at the feet of our children through Christ.
    1. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. –Eph. 6:11
    2. no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord”—Is. 54:17
    3. so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. –2 Cor. 2:11
12. Pray that our children will be consumed with giving glory to God for all that He does in their lives.
    1. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. –Psalms 69:9
    2. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
       for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! –Psalms 115:1
13. Pray that God might give parents a kiss of grace by seeing their children take a real step forward in the spiritual, emotional, physical, vocational, and academic walks this year.
    1. have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. -3 John 1:4
    2. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. –1 Cor. 3:6