Violent Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

–Hebrews 11:6

Few Christians truly understand the importance of faith in their Christian walk. Romans 10:30-33 makes it clear that salvation is based on faith in Christ, and we are unable to attain it by works alone. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that it is actually impossible for us to please God without faith. Furthermore, it says that our faith is evidenced by a constant seeking of God, knowing He rewards us in seeking Him and His kingdom’s good above all else.

Not only is faith vital to the Christian walk, but it is also vital to homeschooling. In fact, whether we realize it, it is vital to everything we do. For instance, when our children disobey us, we are supposed to discipline them by faith. In the natural realm alone, this makes no sense. Why? Consider this. Our child defies us. We apply appropriate discipline. It is at this point of brokenness that our child is open to our correction. I have often had some of my best talks with my children after I applied the rod because the Holy Spirit had made them emotionally open. Shouldn’t children be furious with us parents for the temporary pain or discomfort we inflict upon them? Shouldn’t they fight back in some self-defending capacity? No. Why? Because God has so ordered the family structure that parents are called to train their children up and apply discipline as necessary. Instead of angering our children, it humbles them. Instead of putting up a dividing wall between us, it usually creates a wonderful bridge to their hearts. This is how faith operates on a daily basis.

On the other hand, I have witnessed progressive parents who lacked faith in the word of God and His parental imperatives and chose to do what was right in the eyes of pop psychology. They refused to use the rod in any sense. One would think their children would love them for that emotional indulgence but instead, over time, these children often come to resent their parents and head off into even more rebellion, forever breaking any parental tie. How can this be? The reality is the latter had faith in man while the former had faith in Christ.

Homeschooling is an act of faith. In discipling your children at home, you are professing belief in the biblical normative that parents are to raise their children and not the state. (I say normative because there are always exceptions due to various life situations.) Even though you know it is going to be a great sacrifice on many fronts and you question your own abilities, you are seeking to do God’s will. The secret is not in the act homeschooling itself but in the belief that if God calls us to do this, He will be faithful to give us what we need when we need it (1 Thes. 5:24). It is better to feel inadequate with God than confident without Him. The bottom line is every good and perfect gift comes by faith from the Father above (James 1:17).

This month’s prayer and fast prompts focuses on faith. I encourage you to pray one of these each day with your child. Additionally, if you have older children, discuss why each prayer request is important. You may do this at the breakfast or dinner table. Each prompt can easily become a mini-sermon.

While you can pick any day of the month to fast—if you should so choose to—we usually appoint the second Tuesday of the month. While some have committed the entire calendar year to join us, you can still jump in by reaching out to me at ksmith@iche.org.

1. Pray that God will help homeschooling parents and children realize how important faith is in the homeschooling journey.
   • And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. –Hebrews 11:6
   • For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. –Romans 14:23
     • (Q: Why is faith important to us as Christians? A: It causes us to look past ourselves as the answer and look to Christ. Q: How can we know if we are walking in faith? A: Our prayer life and dependence upon Christ demonstrates in whom/what we put our faith in.)
2. Pray that homeschooling parents realize faith shines the brightest when we feel at our worst.
   • For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. –2 Cor. 12:10
   • But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” –Matt. 19:26
     • (Q: Why does faith work when we are in a bad place? A: We truly realize that we can’t change things; only God can. Q: Why does God orchestrate events that bring us to understand how fragile we are? A: We think we are so strong, when, in fact, we are weak. Also, we think we have a lot of faith but our negative mouths suggest otherwise.)
3. Pray that homeschoolers will realize that we can experience greater levels of faith in life, and we should cry out for that very thing.
   • The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ⁶ And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. –Luke 17:5,6
   • We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. –2 Thes. 1:3
     • (Q: How can we grow in faith? A: Faith is a gift from God, Eph. 2:8. By reading God’s Word, Romans 10:17. Also, we should strive to do things that our past our present level of ability so that we will be forced to look to Christ.)
4. Pray that as parents commit to homeschooling, they will have faith that God will provide their needs, in discipleship, education. and finances.
   • Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food? –Job 38:41
   • But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? –Matt. 6:30
     • (Read Matt. 6:25-34 and ask 1) Do we really believe this verse? 2) Why or why not? If we say, “Yes,” does our language reflect this, regarding complaining, worry, thankfulness?)
5. Pray for those who are presently going through a difficult season—be that sickness, rebellion, vocational, self-doubt, overwhelmed, etc.—that their faith in God’s greatness and goodness would ignite.
   • In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; –Eph. 6:15
   • so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 1:7
   • Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. –2 Thes. 1:4
     • (Q: When people go through tough times but don’t quit and continue praying, what does that demonstrate? A: They are indeed walking by faith. Even if we struggle, staying in the game is evidence of faith.)
6. Pray that faith in Christ will cause us to have an ever-increasing commitment to prayer.
   • in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. –Eph. 3:12
   • Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. –Hebrews 4:16
     • (Q: Are you confident in your prayer life? Please explain answer. Q: What are some keys in a successful prayer life? A: Realize we come to the throne by Christ’s work and not our own, Hebrews 10:19; nothing stops God’s hand; God really does love us.)
7. Pray that faith in Christ will help us see through every temptation, lie, and discouragement the demonic realm sends our way.
   • Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. —1 Peter 5:9
   • for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. –James 1:3,4
   • But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. –2 Thes. 3:3
     • (Q: When going through a tough time, what are important things to remember? A: 1) Every season has a beginning and an end, 2) the devil is not the opposite of Christ but of an angel like Michael, 3) God appoints every season with purpose, 4) God will never let you be tempted past His grace in you.)
8. Pray that we will remember that every single act of faith—whether we think it is small or large—is witnessed by Christ and will be rewarded in this life or the next.
   • remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Thes. 1:3
   • “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. –Job 34:21
     • (Q: If we fully understand that nothing good or evil escapes the watchful eye of God, how should that knowledge direct us? A: It should cause us to reflect on our every action in public and in private as well as word, thought, or deed.)
9. Pray that every seed of fear and doubt in the midst of our cultural demise, will be cast down. Pray that we will be more confident in God’s power to deliver our children than the devil’s power to deceive them.
   • And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. –Matt. 8:26
   • By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. –Hebrews 11:7
   • If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. –Daniel 3:17
     • (Q: Why is fear contrary to faith? A: Because fear suggest that either God is not all-powerful or He is unloving and doesn’t care about us, both of which are false suppositions.)
10. Pray that we will truly understand that a little with God is much more than a lot without Him, whether we are talking about parental educational levels, abilities or talents, or financial capacities to provide for all sorts of unique opportunities for our children.
    • Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. –Ps. 37:16
    • Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. –Proverbs 16:15
      • (Q: Can you share any examples of people who had a lot of this world’s riches, but they or their children lived wretched lives and lacked peace? A: Look up acting or music stars tragic lives/deaths.)