Mom Time With God While Homeschooling

Homeschooling your children will be one of the hardest things you ever attempt. But without a doubt, you and your children will reap many blessings that will be impossible to duplicate schooling any other way. All moms must become aware of the focus of her heart. Homeschooling is one of the pressures in life that can bring our spiritual failures to the surface quickly. I want to teach you how your "time with God" can be the focus of your day.

So many of us have been taught to believe that "time with God" is done in quiet meditation and prayer; reading and studying His Word; and lingering at His feet. Is this not how Mary chose the best over Martha? I think we miss the point in the Mary and Martha scenario.

Practicing The Presence of God While Homeschooling

The point being taught was not concerned with 'doing': what Martha 'was doing' while serving versus Mary 'not doing', but don't we focus on this! How silly we can be! God doesn't focus on our outward actions, He looks into our heart.

So what was the difference between the hearts of the two ladies?

• Mary's heart was captured by Jesus and 
• Martha's heart was captured by duty, responsibility, and being a good host. 

How does this compare to homeschool parents? The bottom line: Your life is busy like Martha's. You have a lot of responsibilities teaching many subjects, caring for your children emotionally and developmentally, preparing meals (when you can... sandwiches, pizza and pancakes count as meals), doing what little household work you can get to each day. And we can't forget, we also have to consider our husband to keep our marriage thriving.

When your days are full to overflowing with what 'you must do' you still have time to be with God, if you Learn this simple but powerful Biblical act of worship.

Focus your heart on loving God in whatever you do:

Talk to Him throughout your day.

Ask Him for His grace when are running dry.

Be sensitive to His voice.

One of my favorite lines in a song from Out of the Grey is "God is not silent; We are not listening."

When you sin (we all do) tell Him you are sorry, but move right back into His presence.

Remeber 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of all sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

God made us with the ability to keep our heart centered on Him. We are designed for constant communication with Him. We simply need to practice the discipline of being aware of Him to include Him in everything.

You don't need to announce it to your children (or anyone else), the focus of your heart. As you read to your children, see Him sitting there with you. When you call out spelling words, let Him give you a sentence to go with it. When you show your child how to do a math problem, allow Him to encourage you. In reality there is nothing you can do that you can't do without God unless it is sinful. But don't wallow in sin, confess sin quickly and move back into the loving presence of God. (Romans 8:1 - For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.)

If or when you get a time to sit quietly with Him alone, it will be no different than the rest of the day. Your time alone with God will simply be an extension of you being in His presence all throughout the day.

 The Bible teaches that we are to pray without ceasing, this is how we--in a very real and practical way-- pray without ceasing! Is it not? Praying is communicating with God. Being in His presence, becoming aware of Him in everything you do. All through the day, you will enter into confession, thanksgiving, request, love and fellowship in the most natural way possible.

So often we get wrapped up in duty and the process - the method or the lesson plan --- that we forget the purpose. Spend time today with Jesus as you teach your children and take care of your home. Allow God to penetrate your heart, and live surrendered to His desires. Give Him permission to guide you and to pour His love through you. Thank Him for the gift of being able to live life together.

Let go of old expectations and simply live to please Him. 

You are so brave stepping out to teach your children. God loves you and will meet you as you are and where you are. Covered by the Righteousness of Jesus, you have God's permission to enter His presence throughout the entire day. Enjoy your day with God. Live in the freedom of being His daughter, which is not a walk of rules but one of a beautiful loving relationship. Don't focus on what you do or don't do. Simply make God the focus of your heart!