Parent Guide to Homeschool Survival

Any parent who has gathered their fair share of homeschooling scars well knows that homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. I have often said, “Homeschooling is not so much about the education of the child as it is the sanctification of the family.” Sanctification is usually forged through the duel furnaces of adversity and difficulty, and homeschooling is ideally positioned to be a channel for these God-ordained ovens to heat things up in our lives.

First, we are going against the general flow of culture, both secular and religious. Sadly, the majority of homeschoolers do not have overwhelming support from their community, church, or extended family. Why? I believe many feel our decision to homeschool is somehow a commentary on their decision not to. When someone asks me where my children go to school and I tell them we homeschool, I ready myself for a litany of reasons why they cannot homeschool. It is not my business whether or not they homeschool, still, many feel the need to give me their rationale or—excuse my frankness—their excuses. Ironically, if someone first tells me where their child goes to public school, I do not feel the need to start sharing all the reasons we do not public school. Interesting to think about, isn’t it?

Second, we have to know we are in the devil’s crosshairs when we take seriously God’s commands to disciple our children, and he is going to use everything within his arsenal to get us to capitulate as parents. His weapons include discouragement, condemnation, impatience, and intimidation. Unfortunately, some of these ordnances come through those who are the closest to us. It can be disillusioning at times.

Third, being with each other 24/7 can be tiresome and burdensome at certain seasons of life. My wife has lamented, “I can’t even sneak off to a locked bathroom and have an annual cookie without a hand reaching underneath the door and an inquisitive voice asking, ‘What are you doing in there, Mommy?’” Let’s face the facts, homeschooling can bring out some of the worst from us, but if we let God have this mess of sinful, parenting humanity, He can put some of His best in us.

Finally, we each have to deal with our own self-doubts of God’s grace in, to, and through us during the homeschooling journey. Some feel at a disadvantage in not being college trained even though statistics proclaim a parent’s level of education has little predictability in how well the child will do. We are not experts on every subject matter. But this one thing is definitely true, nobody loves your child more, invests any more time and energy in them, and prays for them more than you will. In our profound lack of ability is found our greatest asset … our dependence upon God Almighty, Ruler of heaven and earth, and He is able to make up the difference.

This month’s prayer and fast focuses on us parents. We are going to pray for each other, believing that God’s grace is greater than our sins, weaknesses, and lack of ability. We ask for multiplied waves of grace that will equip us to guide the hearts and minds of our children so that they would have strong testimonies that leave us awestruck at His greatness and goodness. In gratitude we would then proclaim, “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)

If you are able, please take out the second Tuesday (or if another day works better) and pray throughout the month for the following:

1. Pray that we will be given a life-altering vision of the sufficiency of scriptures and how that should manifest in our daily lives from education to discipleship.
   • But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”–Matt. 4:4
   • Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.–Psalms 119:18
2. Pray that we will not grow weary in well doing and that we will actually grow by leaps and bounds during seasons of difficulty, knowing that God has ordained various seasons to mature us and cause us to look to His all-sufficient strength.
   • May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.–2 Peter 1:2
   • But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.–1 Cor. 15:10
3. Pray that God will give us supernatural insight into the hearts and minds of our children in order to know how to best disciple them in the present and future seasons.
   • The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.–Proverbs 4:7
   • And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,–Phil. 1:9
4. Pray that fathers and mothers will be given the grace of a similar heartbeat and vision for their children, united when it comes to essential matters of the family.
   • I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.–John 17:23
   • complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.-Phil. 2:2
5. Pray that our homes will experience supernatural joy and peace.
   • For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. -Romans 14:17
   • 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
6. Pray that we parents will have a hunger for holy things and that our children will recognize that and follow suit.
   • but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy. –1 Peter 1:15,16
   • and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” -Exodus 19:6
   • The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. -Proverbs 15:14
7. Pray that God will help us parents not to overreact to minor slips and stumbles in our children’s lives but respond with grace and faith, as well as proper instructions.
   • that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. -Proverbs 5:2
   • Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. –Proverbs 17:27
8. Pray that we parents will seek to have the hearts of our children and not be satisfied with mere outward behavior.
   • My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. -Proverbs 23:26
   • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. -Proverbs 4:23
9. Pray that God will endow us with patience, knowing that our children will grow at the rate that He ordains.
   • with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, -Eph. 4:2
   • preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. -2 Timothy 4:2
10. Pray that we parents will return to our prayer closets, knowing that we must have a move of God’s grace to faithfully raise children in the present culture.
    • pray without ceasing, -1 Thes. 5:17
    • Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. -1 Samuel 12:23