Supernaturally Natural

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

—1 Corinthians 10:11

One of my pet peeves is when people call the book of Proverbs or Ecclesiastes or James “practical.” Obviously, I realize what they are saying. Still, we can unintentionally limit the supernaturalness of these books to mere common sense, almanac-like sayings instead of realizing these words are every bit as God-breathed as the words in the other sixty-three books of the Bible.

The Bible is rich in doctrine (instruction), but it is especially helpful in helping us apply these teaching through the myriads of flesh and blood examples it provides. Different Bible characters act as contexts for God’s word, thus enabling us to understand various nuances. This, in turn, allows us to gain a more balanced Christian walk. It is supernatural wisdom provided in a very natural way.

Throughout 2025, our prayer and fast prompts are going to focus on personalities from the Bible and their interaction in life. These prayer prompts can double as devotional thoughts that can be shared at breakfast or around the dinner table. Our first focus in Joseph.

Most of us know the story of how Joseph was his father’s favorite son, being born in his old age to his favorite wife. This partiality caused jealousy and bitterness among his half-brothers who sold him into Egyptian slavery, fueled by Joseph’s dreams of his family bowing down before him. This led him to Potiphar’s house which was blessed under Joseph’s stewardship. His success was rewarded with a trumped-up charge of sexual assault that landed Joseph in prison for life. Even here, God’s favor and anointing followed as Joseph was promoted as a prisoner who actually ran the prison.

When Pharoah was given dreams, warning him of a devastating drought, Joseph interpreted these dreams accurately and was promoted again, this time to second in power over the whole Egyptian empire. After the seven years of abundance, the seven years of famine forced his brothers to come for assistance. Joseph worked the situation to see his brother, Benjamin, who he later framed for theft. The other brothers, having observed their father’s physical demise after Joseph’s supposed death, were now ready to sacrifice themselves for their younger brother.

Upon seeing their genuine repentance, Joseph revealed himself to them and forgave them of their sins against him as He realized they meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. (Genesis 50:20) Because of the tide of events, Jacob’s family was spared possible annihilation through starvation. Instead, he moved his clan to Egypt which would ultimately set up the scenario in the book of Exodus.

Prayer prompts

Some pray these requests along with fasting while others pray for them throughout the month without fasting. Do whatever works for you. The key is that we are praying. I encourage you to pray these for your house specifically and then for the homeschool community in the Midwest as a whole. They also make great devotional thoughts and conversation starters at the meal table.

1. Pray that we parents will have supernatural insight and understanding into the lives of our children, from personalities to birth orders to giftings, to personality flaws and insecurities, in order to give them the instruction they need to be well-balanced in life.
   1. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. ²³ At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. –Daniel 9:22-24
   2. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; –Proverbs 2:6
2. Jacob did not do well guarding his children from sibling rivalry and jealousy. In fact, he added to it with the coat of many colors. Pray that God will keep unhealthy sibling rivalries out of our home. Pray that we parents will not unconsciously add to any rivalry by comparing one children’s strength with another child’s weakness or by favoring one with a more winsome personality.
   1. And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. –Gen. 37:11
   2. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. –James 3:16
3. Joseph did not use discretion in telling his brothers his dream. Quite possibly, he was motivated by pride to a certain degree. Pray that God will keep our children with a healthy sense of humility and that He would promote them at the proper time (not too early that their character cannot handle it.)
   1. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. –James 4:10
   2. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, –1 Peter 5:6
   3. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. –Proverbs 27:2
4. Joseph was put in numerous undesirable circumstances, yet he made the most of them, doing his best though he himself would receive no personal benefit. Pray that our children will truly realize they are working for their Heavenly Master, not their earthly master. Pray that they will walk in the complete conviction that God ultimately rewards His people, in this life or the next life.
   1. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, –Col. 3:23
   2. Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.” –Psalms 58:11
   3. “I the Lord search the heart and test mind, to give everyman according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” –Jer. 17:10
5. Regardless of where Joseph was placed, whether in Potiphar’s home, prison, or the throne room, he prospered because of the favor of the Lord. Pray that God would allow our children to walk in his favor all their days, regardless of their circumstances or positions.
   1. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. –Gen. 39:4
   2. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. –Gen. 39:21
   3. And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. –2 Chronicles 33:12
6. In spite of terrible and unjust circumstances, Joseph believed that God was sovereign and was working out His purposes in, to, and through him. This conviction gave him strength to stay strong in spite of a TWELVE year process that saw things go from bad to worse before the final victory occurred. Pray that our children will know that every situation is superintended by God for His purposes, and their job is to do the best they can do by His grace.
   1. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. ²³ The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed. –Gen. 39:22,23
   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
7. Joseph could have held bitterness and vengeance toward his brothers. As a matter of fact, after their father died, that is exactly what his brothers thought was going to happen. Bitterness is a disease that can rip a family apart. Let us pray that no seed of bitterness will infect our homes, but if it already has, let us pray that God will supernaturally pull it out. Additionally, some people get bitter toward God and think hard thoughts of Him. Let’s pray that our children’s hearts will always stay soft toward God.
   1. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; –Hebrews 12:15
   2. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. –Eph. 4:31
   3. Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. –Proverbs 28:14
8. While it is obvious that God graced Joseph with administration, Jacob also had him watching over the flocks along with various other responsibilities to prepare Joseph for his future endeavors. Pray that God will give us insight in how to prepare our children for their future. Although we may not know their specific future vocation, we can prepare them with the proper perspective and certain skill sets that will serve them will.
   1. Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. –Proverbs 24:27
   2. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. –Proverbs 22:29
   3. When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. –Gen. 14:14
9. Joseph made it through because he was sustained by the Spirit of God. He knew he was absolutely powerless to change his situation, so he depended entirely upon God. Let us pray that our children will learn to do the very same thing without going through some of the hardship that Joseph went through.
   1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. –Proverbs 3:5,6
   2. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. –Psalms 20:7
   3. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— –Phil. 3:3
10. It seems like many of God’s instruments have to go through time of testing as a means of preparation. Let us pray that our children’s faith will not fail during times of difficulty.
    1. but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” –Luke 22:32
    2. until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. –Psalms 105:19
11. Even though we experience seasons of loss, we always have the hope of restoration. When God restores, the latter end is almost always better than before the loss. Joseph lost his freedom when he went into slavery, but then God put him second in command of the greatest empire at that time. Joseph could have never accomplished this on his own. It was God who restores. Pray that our children will understand the doctrine of restoration and always cry out for it during seasons of loss.
    1. But this is a people plundered and looted; they are all of them trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become plunder with none to rescue, spoil with none to say, “Restore!” –Isaiah 42:22
    2. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. –Psalms 41:3

On a separate note, please pray that ICHE will be able to connect deeply with new homeschoolers, especially of the younger generation.

• And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, O Lord God!–1 Chronicles 17:17