Where There Is No Vision, Homeschoolers Flounder

Our Mission: To encourage and equip parents to glorify Jesus Christ by discipling their children through home education.

When homeschoolers ask me what ICHE is about, I immediately respond with one word, Vision! Why? Vision changes everything.

We see the word “vision” often, but I fear we do not always process its importance as most people—churches and businesses included—focus merely on activity. And while action is obviously needful, we want to be sure that action is meaningful, purposeful, and takes us to where we feel like we should go. Let’s face it. We each have only so much time, energy, and resources to expend, especially energy. (Can I get an “Amen!” from the mothers?) We must therefore use it wisely.

Do you remember the Greyhound bus that used to run through all the small towns as well as the big cities years ago? Above the windshield was a small sign that had the specific destination of that bus. If the driver didn’t know where he was supposed to go, everyone on the bus would be trying to tell him where they wanted to go, each according to his or her own biases and personal desires. I have seen this very thing played out in many churches. When the pastor listens to the complainers in the back seat and tries to please them, he ends up lost on some long-forgotten backroad. And the people that helped get him into this terrible predicament jumped out the rear door miles back.

The New King James Version says, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;” Vision is so important because it gives us the courage and discipline to say, “No,” to the many good things that homeschooling offers, so that we might be free to say, “Yes,” to the best opportunities for our children. Homeschooling parents must understand that showing proper restraint is one of their best friends in life, especially while their children are underneath their tutelage. re are so many visions out there, but remember, every vision has its own respective destination. We can pick the vision, but we cannot pick the destination.

The ICHE vision is very clear: To encourage and equip parents to glorify Jesus Christ by discipling their children through home education. If we get Jesus Christ right, He will lead us into truth in other areas. If we miss Jesus in the homeschooling journey or relegate him to a distant consideration, we should not be surprised if our children end up educationally or socially wealthy but spiritually bankrupt, not to mention their children … our grandchildren.

The prayer requests for this month represent a plea to God Almighty to keep us on a straight and narrow vision of home discipleship. With the influx of many new homeschoolers, which we are so grateful for, many hybrid visions will be hypothesized and promoted by the uninitiated as well as a few of the initiated who may see financial opportunities. This is why the ICHE vision is timelier than ever. The message of home discipleship has been a means of God’s grace that has helped transform hundreds of households, and we pray it will continue to impact the myriad of new homeschoolers.

Please join us this month in praying for the following request. We dedicate the second Tuesday (or a day that works best for you) for fasting if you want to join us. Additionally, if you want to be a part of the vital ICHE prayer team, email ksmith@iche.org.

1. Pray that husbands and wives will come to agreement on what they want their homeschooling vision to look like.

• Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. –Matthew 18:19
• Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. –Ecc. 4:9

2. Pray for homeschool dads to understand their role as the leader of the homeschooling household. This includes how to lead by spiritually, encourage their wives consistently, and be an example for their children.

• For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” –Gen. 18:19
• He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, –Psalms 78:5

3. Pray that we—especially our children—will see the “restraint” that vision calls for is freedom and not limitation.

• and you say, “Oh, if only I had listened! If only I had not demanded my own way! –Proverbs 5:12 (TLB)
• Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. –Proverbs 17:27

4. Pray that our children will receive and embrace the vision of home discipleship and home schooling and become even more committed to this vision than their parents.

• And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. –Deut. 30:5
• Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, –Col. 3:23

5. Pray that each household will be true to the vision God gives them, and thereby find a healthy rhythm of life that will give them both joy and strength to go the distance.

• …They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. –2 Kings 17:15
• a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. –Deut. 11:12 (this is a great chapter to read regarding effortless effort)

6. Pray that the homeschool community will walk in a spirit of humility.

• … “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, –1 Peter 5:5, 6
• When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. –Prov. 11:2

7. Pray that parents will keep a well-balanced, healthy approach to homeschooling.

• Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. –Phil. 4:5 (KJV)
• Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? ¹⁷ Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? –Ecc. 7:16,17

8. Although homeschooling is becoming increasingly mainstream, pray for those families who face antagonism from family and friends.

• Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, –2 Timothy 3:12
• Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? –Romans 8:35

9. Even though we have so many wonderful helps and resources, pray that homeschooling parents never forget there is only one true Source.

• I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. –Psalms 121:1,2
• The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; –Psalms 28:7
• But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. –Matthew 6:33

10. Pray that God will anoint Christian homeschooling households with the necessary physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritually energy to present the glory of a God-anointed household to their neighbors.

• May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! –Psalms 29:11
• for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ –Deut. 20:4