Homeschool Prayer Challenge Week 19: When You “Don’t Have Time” for Bible Study

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I’m so thankful you are joining me in praying for our homeschools! You can learn more about the series here, and find this week’s free printable prayer at the end of this post.

Each Wednesday, I lead a small group of kids through Bible work and passage memorization during the AWANA Club at our church. This past week, I listened to one of the kiddos let me know that he didn’t study his scripture verses because he just didn’t have time.

I felt my heart tug in the direction of wanting to help him understand that he probably did have time to do it, but he just chose to fill that time with something else. So I found myself asking (trying to help him put this in perspective), “Did you have time to play video games this week?” And while it was a valid question and point, I felt myself being convicted as the words left my mouth.

The truth is, there are so many things in life we all to often put before our relationship with God. And we justify it because yes, homeschool mamas, we are busy. But we need to remember that unless we spend time daily with our true source of life, joy, and peace, we will be hard-pressed to be a good witness of Christ through our life and our homeschooling.

Last week, I wrote about teaching our kids to delight in the Lord. I challenged you to consider what might need change in your routine so you could commit to daily intentional time with the Lord.

Did you do it?

I’ll be the first to admit that last week got busy. I prayed, I did Bible study with my kids a few days, but I can’t say I had intentional, meaningful time with my Savior. Getting to know Him through His Word, letting Him truly speak to my heart. I sometimes start to wonder why this is so hard to do, and then I am reminded that I am putting too much importance on things of this world than I should.

Do you catch that? “Apart from me you can do nothing” (emphasis mine). And yet we try.

This week, I’ll challenge you again (and myself!). Find time this week to deepen your personal relationship with the Lord. It could be through this week’s devotion questions (printables below!), or you might use a different study or my Ultimate Bible Study Planner.

Here are some ways I am going to hold myself accountable this week that might be helpful for you too:

• Planning where and when I’ll meet with God. Decide on a time that you will spend focusing on the Lord, where you’ll do it, and commit to it. Just like you would be hard-pressed to break a playdate for your kids, don’t treat your commitments to God any less seriously.

• Writing out or having a specific plan. For me personally, when I have a specific plan, it helps me stay accountable. Set an alarm on your phone, write it in your planner, and know what you are going to do or study during your time.

• Getting my materials ready. Have your bible study printed out, have your bible and pens ready, or your special devotional or notebook…anything you will need. Whatever you can get ready to set yourself up for success and minimize distractions.

• Asking someone to keep me accountable. Share with your spouse or a close friend your goals and ask them to pray for you and check in on you to help you keep your commitment.

• Talk about my plan with my kids. I think it’s important to share the ways in which we are growing and learning with our kids. It’s just as necessary for them to learn how to make time for their relationship with God as it is for us, and we can be great role models here. Help them set their own goals, and discuss where you all might be wasting time that could be better spent.

I bet that you’ll notice that God keeps His promises: when we remain in Him, we will bear fruit, the kind that we want our kids to take notice of in our homeschools. His spirit will fill us with joy, peace, patience and love if we lay down what we think we should be committing our time to, and allow Him to lead us through our days.

Will you make time this week, or make excuses?

Prayer For This Week

Heavenly Father, I give you praise for who you are. Thank you for being my strength everyday in our homeschool. Even on days when I feel I am failing, I know You have a good plan for us.

So many things threaten to steal my attention during the day, and I am sorry for not prioritizing my relationship with you. Far too often I have made idols out of our daily activities; reveal these to me, anything that has been placed in my heart before you and help me deal with them. I love you Lord above all else, and my joy comes from you. I desire to follow your leading in my life, and know that if I remain in You, You will remain in me.

Work in my heart this week that I may pursue You, Lord, and make my time with you sacred. Lead me to accurately handle Your Word in our home and homeschool, that I may reflect Christ to my family and lead them closer to you as well.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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.

Related Posts

• Bible Learning Made Fun: Daniel in the Lions’ Den
• Bible Learning Made Fun: The Ten Lepers and the Importance of Being Thankful
• How to Be More Consistent with Bible Time in Your Homeschool

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