Before the turn of the century and the war-time industrial booms, the United States was more of an agrarian nation. Sure, we had large cities, but the disparity between the two was much closer than it is now where, for example, of the 16 million people residing in Illinois, 12 million live in Chicagoland. Sociologists suggest that as much as 85% of time and energy was necessary for securing money and food just to survive 150 years ago here in America. There was not much extra time for video games, hobbies, and social media. I’m sure if our great grandparents could see down the corridor of time to see our 21st century lifestyle, they would stare in disbelief of the luxuries and excesses we enjoy.
Let’s be honest. For the most part, we Americans are pathetic. The various maladies we must create to make our lives seem difficult would be like having tennis elbow to our predecessors. (No offense to tennis and pickleball players!) This is perhaps multiplied when we put this in the context of homeschooling. In the 70’s and 80’s homeschooling was illegal and curricula was found by going to yard sales whereas now it is available with a quick and simple click of a mouse, complete with UPS dropping it off on our front porch two days later. It is equally hard to imagine keeping our curtains closed to give the appearance that our house was empty or training our children to go hide under the bed at the sound of the doorbell during the daytime.
We readily acknowledge these realities. Yes, we are soft. Yes, we are spoiled. We also, however, recognize there is still real pressure in homeschooling today. First, there is the financial strain of living on one income. In our driveway we have one car with over 300,000 miles and two more will cross the 200,000 barrier this year. My wife got her first cell phone only a few years ago. It was a recycled phone and was given to her as a Christmas present from our children. Then there is the constant bombardment of condemnation which the devil sends our way through extended family, church goers, friend circles, our own perfectionism, or the overall culture. We think that our children must be the best at everything lest we get a big fat parental “F”. Moms are often physically and emotionally exhausted as they spend 24/7 with their children and try to teach three to four different age groups at the same time. By the way, they also have to get a meal plan that includes three daily meals that are both healthy and cheap. Talk about an oxymoron! Eating out a couple of times a week? That’s what the DINKS do. (Double Income No Kids)
While self-health may be a joke for many in our culture of luxury, it isn’t for many homeschooling moms. So many give, give, and give until there is nothing left in the tank. (As a sidenote, many pastors and church leaders are in the same place.) They need a way to renew their batteries and unwind. Of course, there is little extra money available, so whatever they do must be cheap. Unfortunately, this equates to internet or social media time for many. Not the best combination. Not only does this not give necessary physical renewal, it also adds to the hamster wheel of comparison and can actually cause a spirit of envy and jealousy toward the moms who send their children away to public school and have movie days, shopping days, and eating out days with their friends. Of course, even this group is getting smaller and smaller in economic America, but Satan is sure to help homeschooling moms find them.
Dads have their challenges too as many of them feel the full financial weight of supplying the daily bread, and this tonnage can be staggering. Some are working two and even three jobs to keep their wives home with their children. This translates into not getting enough time with their children, especially their sons. They feel guilty for not helping more with the day-to-day homeschooling responsibilities as well as feeling totally intimidated to lead the family spiritually. Sleep? What is that?
It is because of these challenges that we are dedicating December’s prayer and fasting list to asking God for extra grace to have healthy lifestyles. He sees the sacrifices being made. He knows money is tight. The good news is, “For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown … And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.” (Ezekiel 36:9, 14) While we are biblically expected to work by the sweat of our brows, one day of God’s favor is worth months of our own efforts. This is the result of God’s mercies and His people’s prayers.
Please join us on the 12th of December—or pray throughout the month—as we ask God to give us His definition of self-care as well as its proper expression(s) in our daily lives. We are not only praying for individuals but will include some ICHE requests as we look at 2024.
For those who have prayed with us throughout 2023, thank you, thank you, thank you. Whatever God does in, to, and through ICHE is a result of His grace alone. For those wishing to have their names added to the list to pray for these requests as well as some organizational-specific request in 2024, you can email Kirk at ksmith@iche.org. Sola gratia!
- Please pray that the ICHE family will be called to a deep season of prayer as fathers, mothers, grandparents, young adults, and families in 2024 so that the homeschooling community might experience a genuine revival and reformation.
- You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. –2 Cor. 1:11
- However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” –Matt. 17:21 (NKJV)
- Pray for God to open windows of heaven and pour financial blessings on His people, so they will have less stress and more unique opportunities to expand God’s kingdom and aid in discipling their children at home.
- And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. –Phil 4:19
- Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. –Mal. 3:10
- Pray that God will give us His definition of self-care, not as an excuse to devolve into a lifestyle of self-centeredness but as an empowerment to be more healthy that we might be channels of His grace for many years to come in order to expand His purposes here on the earth.
- to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— –Proverbs 1:4
- For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. –Luke 9:24
- Pray that God will give us both wisdom and discipline in maintaining our physical temple throughout the changing seasons and demands of life.
- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, –1 Cor. 6:19
- He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. –Is. 40:29-31 - They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, –Psalms 92:14
- Pray that homeschooling households would find a well-paced lifestyle that gets things done but doesn’t wear individuals out in the doing of those things.
- I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. –Joshua 14:11
- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. –Eph. 6:10
- May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! –Psalms 29:11
- Pray that God would multiply the hours in our day by helping us to think and act efficiently/effectively, by knowing what can be dropped or delegated, by helping us discipline our time, and gracing the works of our hands with His favor.
- For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’ –Deut. 2:7
- From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. –Gen. 39:5
- “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. –Joshua 10:12-13 (God rules over time)
- Pray for homeschooling husbands and wives to be on the same page regarding their vision for God, life, and child-rearing, so that unnecessary time, energy, and stress might be saved.
- I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. –1 Cor. 1:10
- My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. –Is. 32:18
- Pray that babies and children would sleep well and pray the same for fathers and mothers.
- It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. –Psalms 127:2 (Ironic that this is just before the full quiver verse!)
- If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. –Proverbs 3:24
- Pray that God would give us healthy relationships free from toxicity, one-sidedness, or flattery.
- Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! –Psalms 133:1
- Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. –Romans 12:10
- Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. –Proverbs 27:17
- Pray that God would help ICHE remain a healthy, biblical organization by 1) raising prayer warriors, 2) grow in capable volunteers who share our vision of home discipleship, 3) prosper us financially through donations to make needed improvements, and by producing godly young men and women as future homeschoolers.
- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. –Jeremiah 29:11
- I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. –Genesis 17:6
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