Homeschool Prayer Challenge Week 42: Cultivating Hearts

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We’re 42 weeks into our series of praying for our homeschools – I’m so thankful you are joining me! You can learn more about the series here. We’ll pray about a new area of our homeschool journey each week and dig into God’s Word with daily devotional reflections.

I have a confession to make: I’m not much of a gardener.

I know the basics of how to keep plants alive, but my follow-through is…lacking.

Case in point: a few summers ago, I decided to redo our front landscaping. I actually went to a nursery, got advice, picked out the plants, and proudly got everything planted.

It looked beautiful—for a couple of weeks. Then, I noticed one of my trees had completely died.

I wish I could say I was surprised. The truth is, I stopped tending to it. The excitement of planting something new wore off, and I gave that little tree way too much credit that it would thrive without my care.

And it didn’t (of course).

That poor tree has become a vivid reminder to me of how easily the same thing can happen in our walk with the Lord—and even in how we nurture our children’s faith.

Losing Our First Love

I’ve started many Bible studies or devotionals with enthusiasm, only to fizzle out when the “newness” fades. (If you’re still with me 42 weeks into this challenge—well done! That’s perseverance!)

But I know how easy it is for my faith to grow lukewarm when I stop cultivating it intentionally. Our hearts need tending just like a garden does!

In my Bible Study Fellowship group this week, we studied the letter to the church in Ephesus in Revelation. About 43 years after the church was founded, Jesus commended them for their hard work and endurance—but He also rebuked them for abandoning their first love. He told them to repent or their lampstand would be removed.

And sadly, when you look at that region today—modern-day Turkey—there are very few Christians left.

We can’t know exactly how the Ephesian believers lost their first love, but maybe they got busy. Maybe they stopped prioritizing their time with God. Maybe they grew comfortable or distracted, or began to see their faith as routine. Whatever the reason, their zeal faded.

If we aren’t careful, the same thing can happen to us.

Cultivating Hearts for God

Just like I neglected that tree, we can’t expect our faith—or our children’s faith—to grow without care. Luke 6:45 says:

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good…for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Whatever we allow to take root in our hearts will eventually overflow into our words, actions, and attitudes. That’s why cultivating our spiritual lives—and the hearts of our children—is so important.

One definition of cultivate is “to foster the growth of.” It means creating conditions for healthy growth. That’s what we’re called to do in our homes and homeschools—to foster hearts that grow toward Christ.

Practicing Intentional Cultivation

This week, let’s be purposeful about nurturing faith—both ours and our kids’.

Pray continually.
Pray with your children and in front of them. Let them see that prayer is your first response, not your last resort.

Be mindful of what you allow in.
What we fill our hearts and minds with becomes the soil of our thoughts and actions. Let’s guard our homes and conversations carefully.

Be attentive and present.
Be engaged in your kids’ lives—not overbearing, but available, loving, and aware.

Study God’s Word daily.
Even if it’s short, set a plan to stay rooted in Scripture each day. Our hearts can’t bear fruit if they’re not nourished by the Word.

And when we miss a day—or a week—remember that God’s grace is greater than our inconsistency. He’s faithful to keep growing what we’ve planted when our hearts are turned toward Him.

A Prayer for this Week

Heavenly Father,

You are active and purposeful in my life, everyday, at all times. Thank you for the good work that you have started in me, and for the blessing of my children, that I may disciple them and help them grow in a way that is pleasing to you.

You know my heart, Lord, and how I desire to grow closer to You. Prune what may be inhabiting my spiritual growth, and help me daily to cultivate love, peace and contentment in my heart. Lead me as I nurture the hearts of my children, gracefully planting seeds of character and faith, that they may know your faithfulness and truth.

Thank you for your Word which guides us in all we do. Fill our homeschool with your presence this week as we actively and purposefully practice cultivating what matters most.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Faith, like gardening, takes consistency, care, and patience. Let’s tend the soil of our hearts this week and trust God to bring the growth—in us, in our kids, and in our homeschools.

Join the Challenge

Finally, if you want to join in on the challenge from the very beginning, make sure to sign up below, and you’ll receive a printable prayer and journal pages each week, right to your inbox. Join in any time, and you’ll start the following Monday with Week #1!

Simply click below, follow the instructions, and you’re in.

You’ll also be signed up for the Blessed Homeschool Newsletter and receive my FREE Scripture Memory Cards (designed to complement the prayer challenge) as a bonus.

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