DIY Homeschooler

This job comes with many forks in the road, doesn’t it? First, there is simply the decision to educate our children at home and assume all of the responsibility that that decision entails. Then there quickly follow decisions regarding materials, support groups, schedules, outside activities, methodologies, organization, and many other daily questions that need answers. And these everyday decisions do not include the big ones that pose themselves when problems surface. In the face of such an overwhelming number of decisions, how do we make good choices? How do we best make homeschool decisions?

Table of Contents

• Put God First
• Walk in Faith
• Act in Obedience

Put God First

First, we go directly to God. He already has the answer we are looking for. Believe Him.

It will be my wisest course to go at once to my God, and not to wander in a roundabout manner to this friend and that. He knows my wants and can relieve them, to whom should I repair but to Himself by the direct appeal of prayer, and the plain argument of the promise. “Straight forward makes the best runner.” I will not parley with the servants, but hasten to their master.

Charles Spurgeon

Walk in Faith

Second, that which is authored by God reflects liberty and freedom. Loves casts out fear, so our decisions will not be made from fear.

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psalm 37:31

When we do believe the Lord, and trust Him with all that concerns us, he promises to direct us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5–6

Act in Obedience

Next, when we have an answer we need to act on it immediately. How many times have we encouraged our children to practice “first-time obedience.” Well it applies to us, too!

Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do something, you are being careless, spurning the grace in which you stand. Take the initiative yourself, make a decision of your will right now, and make it impossible to go back….

We have to get into the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the habit of finding out what He says and heeding it. If, when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we will know that the habit has been formed in us.

Oswald Chambers

If we attempt to ignore God, and act on our own instinct, trusting instead on what we think is best, we lose sight of the goal. We are in trouble.

Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision.

Oswald Chambers

Want security in your decisions? Want energy? Let Him be your guide.

How is it with my spiritual journey, am I labouring up the hill of my own works and down into the ravines of my own humiliations and resolutions, or do I run by the plain way of “Believe and live”? How blessed is it to wait upon the Lord by faith! The soul runs without weariness, and walks without fainting, in the way of believing.

Charles Spurgeon

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Additional Resources

Helps For New Homeschoolers: Finding Strength
There will be days…maybe several. Maybe more than several. Things will NOT go as you plan. Ways to find strength.

Helps for New Homeschoolers: Check Your Fear
While criticism can be hurtful and disappointing, we can stay above the wake of loud voices by staying strong in our faith and remembering whom we serve. It really boils down to checking your fear!