A Mother’s Prayer for the First Day of Homeschool

As homeschooling mothers, we need God’s grace for our school year. I want to talk about things you can pray about at the start of school and throughout this year of learning.

Here in Costa Rica our school year generally goes from February to November, but this applies for any time you start your homeschooling journey.

While I love homeschooling, I also need God’s help so much to be a patient, loving, and wise mom for my little ones.

First Day of School Prayers

I love to make the first day of school a special one with special gifts, snacks, pictures, and activities. I also have a special prayer on my heart as a homeschool mom for the start of the school year.

There is so much I need God’s help for. Here are some things to pray about as you start your new school year.

For Yourself

A homeschooling mom carries a lot of responsibility with keeping the home, watching little ones, and trying to teach our own children academics. We need to pray for ourselves most of all, that we would be able to fulfill our calling as best we can.

Homeschooling is not for everyone, but if God has led you to homeschool, He will lead you each step of the school year too. Pray for the peace of God to fill your heart amid the challenges of homeschooling.

Wisdom

Ask God to give you a heart of wisdom to know how to go about each school day. 

What do your children actually need to learn? What curriculum or teaching style should you use? Is there a better way to teach something than how you are thinking of doing it?  Ask God to give you wisdom for those and many other questions you will have.

Priorities

 What should your priorities be? How should you spend your time? Ask the Lord to help you, and really make God’s Word a priority so you and your children can learn His ways. As your “school administrators,” you and your husband will have to work hard at figuring out your home and school priorities because you won’t have all the time you wish for.

James 1:5 (KJV) says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” I sure need wisdom with all the decisions I need to make!

Patience

Patience can be a hard thing in the school year. Our housework can get behind or some child is slow with their school work, or the baby is making it hard for you to homeschool. Ask God to give you a meek and quiet spirit, so that you can be the mom you want to be for your children. Anytime you struggle with patience, you can ask Him to help you to know the right words you should speak to your children.

Joy

Sometimes we love what we do and enjoy motherhood, homemaking, and homeschooling, but other times it can be a real struggle. Ask God to help you find the joy of the Lord even in the little things in this full season. 

If you struggle with your limitations as to what all you can do or buy, and the space you have (like no separate homeschool room), ask God to give you contentment. Maybe you struggle with not being able to have a bunch of nice, new things or fresh school supplies for your year. God can still give you joy in less-than-perfect seasons. He gives us so many good things, but we often don’t realize it. 

For Your Children

Pray for each of your children every school day. They are a precious gift, and we want to care for them as best we can.

Pray that the younger ones would be happy during school hours. They, too, are important even though they aren’t actually in school yet, and they can have some of the biggest impact on how school goes. 

For Their Studies

Pray that your children will be diligent and learn what they need to learn. Ask God to give them clear minds. You can pray about this every day before you start your school day.

For Their Future

Ask God to help you prepare your children for the future He has planned for them. Some things need more academic studies. Others need less. Each child is unique, and that makes the challenge of homeschooling all the more challenging!

For Their Social Life

There are many discussions on the socialization of homeschooled children. While that doesn’t worry me, I do struggle on a regular basis with finding good friends for my children. I want them to be part of a bigger community with kind friendships outside our home, too, and so I keep asking God for good friends and opportunities for my children.

For Your Home

Pray that your home will be filled with a peaceful atmosphere and that it will be a joy to be there, even in the business of the homeschooling season. Pray that it would be a restful place where school work and learning from life can happen. If you struggle with your housework staying behind when you dedicate yourself to homeschooling, ask God for wisdom to find the balance in it all. 

For Your Community

Even if you homeschool, you are part of a larger community. If your community members are not supportive, pray that you could be a blessing and their hearts would change. If you have a supportive community or family members, thank God for that. Ask God to show you ways to be part of the greater picture, especially as your children get older.

A Short Prayer for the First Day of School

Dear God,Thank You for allowing us to get to this time of year again. Thank You for the new school season and the new energy it gives us.Help me this year to be patient and joyful. Give me wisdom for all the things I need to do and decide. Teach me to rest in Your promises today, o Lord, as well as every other school day. Bless each of my children this homeschool year too. Give them clear minds for their studies, and help them to do their very best. Direct us on the right path as we prepare them for the future You have planned for them. I also ask that You give them Godly friends and a community that is bigger than just our home.Heavenly Father, fill our home with Your Holy Spirit. May our home be a restful, joyful place where we can sense Your Presence at all times. Help us also to know how to balance housework and school time.Help us to find a supportive community, and to be a blessing to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Some More Words of Encouragement for Homeschool Mamas

If this is your first time homeschooling, it will be even more challenging to figure new things out. As your children’s new teacher, you need prayer and wisdom, just like any other teacher would. You will likely be facing new challenges this first year of your homeschool journey compared to other years if you sent your children to a private or public school.

You can face it bravely with God by your side. Especially in these uncertain times and the failing school system, more and more parents are bringing their children home. We have the opportunity to be a shining light for the next generation.

For more information and encouragement on homeschooling, check out my other articles on homeschooling. You can also learn from other homeschooling moms. I especially enjoy Jady A.’s videos and Our Life Homeschooling.

You can also find my book Praying Mothers: A Guide to Prayer for Busy Moms on Amazon if you want to purchase it in print form. I put the price about as low as I could. Get the link here.