How Are You “Running” In Your Homeschool?

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The following is the first post of my series of prayer for our homeschools. You can learn more about the series (and sign up!) here. This week’s prayer focus is being intentional about studying God’s Word with our children.

I love running. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve trained for anything specific, but I’ve completed 7 full marathons and numerous half-marathons. The last race I trained for, I was determined to run a Boston-qualifying time.

Training for something like this requires a strict plan and follow-through. During the months of training, I had to put in intentional effort, set goals, and shift my priorities. Every workout, every mile, had a purpose to take me closer to my goal.

Running that race was probably one of the hardest things I have done, both day of and in the time leading up to it.

Perishable vs. everlasting crowns

I’ve been convicted lately about the intentional time I put into certain areas of my life, at the expense of my own personal bible study time, and spending time in the Word with my kids.

And that’s a tough thing to admit. Maybe I’m not alone. But sadly, many times in our homeschool this year I find that I have made certain to get through all of our core subjects like math and reading, only to neglect or not make time for bible study.

Thinking about the effort and focus we put into earthly goals, how much more importance should we place on efforts that will have eternal consequences?

Recently I did an article interviewing other bloggers for their homeschooling advice. One of the bloggers replied that one of her biggest mistakes was not scheduling her day according to her priorities. I realized that I have not been doing this – or rather, that my priorities have been in the wrong place.

For me, I can tend to let the fact that we are using a Christian-based curriculum become an excuse that it’s ok if we don’t spend extra time in bible study. But what a lie that is from the enemy!

Are we being purposeful in our homeschools?

As homeschool moms, we have the blessing of time with our kids to study God’s Word daily. But if we don’t have a plan, if we aren’t intentional, we can easily begin to run aimlessly for crowns that will not last.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul is talking about living to serve Christ and comparing that to a race (I just love all of Paul’s running analogies!). He notes how athletes in training give everything they have to win – and in our pursuit of Christ, this is what we are to replicate.

In our homeschools, how we “run” is important. The way we live daily, the way we homeschool our kids, has eternal consequences.

Run like a winner

Let us not be lazy or indifferent about daily intentional bible study (for ourselves, or our kids). We should train them up in the way they should go. We should run like a winner runs.

Luckily, we don’t need to do this in our own strength. We need the strength God provides so that He can be glorified through our homeschools this year (1 Peter 4:11).

Eventually, we will be awarded our everlasting crowns by Jesus. In the meantime, we must prepare ourselves and our children with effort and dedication.

Will you intentionally run the race this year? Are you willing to set aside daily time to strengthen and nurture your children’s relationship with the Lord?

Heavenly Father, I am continually amazed by you and this important calling to homeschool. You are omnipresent, always with us on our journey.

Forgive me for sometimes losing sight of what is most important, for valuing other things in our schedule over our relationship with You. I desire to advance your kingdom through the work I do at home.

Help me to seek you with my whole heart this year and run the race before me to bring You glory. Give me the discipline of an athlete to stay focused and intentional about keeping You at the center of our homeschool.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

I’ve created this beautiful wallpaper for your phone, to help you keep this week’s scripture verse at your fingertips. Click here to grab it!

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.

I would love to hear in the comments below: what is an action step you will take this year to bring intentionality and focus to studying scripture with your kids in your homeschool?

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