John and I have ten kids, and that’s a lot! Even now, when several of them have grown up and moved out, it’s still easy to see “the kids” as a group; but they are individuals. With each of them, there is a one-on-one relationship that needs to be fostered and nurtured. This is hard to do when we also have jobs, housework, homeschooling, and church and ministry activities, yet it is so important.

Seven of our kids were adopted, and only one of those was an infant adoption, so the kids came with backgrounds of trauma which has led to all types of challenges and behavioral issues. I’ve gone to hundreds of hours of therapy with them over the years, as we work through trauma-based issues, and do you know what the #1 tool has been to fostering healing? One-on-one time with their mom. One-on-one time fosters bonding. One-on-one time helps regulate kids. In a world that is overwhelming and confusing, one-on-one time helps kids find their foundation and their center.

So how is it possible?

7 Tips for Spending One-on-One Time With Your Kids

1. Schedule It

The first trick to one-on-one time is just to schedule it. One of the best ways is making dates to take our kids to lunch. We set the day, and they get to pick the place (within reason). We try to do these dates monthly. This means there is one day each month that our kids know they have our full and undivided attention. (This also means keeping electronics and smartphones tucked away, especially mine!)

Of course, it doesn’t have to be lunch. I’ve created a free printable that you can use to schedule a special time with each child. They’ll have a ton of fun coming up with ideas for your time!

Also, Becky from YourModernFamily.com uses a unique way to schedule one-on-one time:

Spending one-on-one time with each of the kids can be challenging because they each want our attention all of the time. I was talking about this with my dear friend, Kristy, and she told me a wonderful idea that we have since adopted and we now use every month:

Every month on our child’s ‘birth date,” they get to have “their night” (example: our first son was born on August 29th, so every month on the 29th is his night. Our second son was born on April 18th, so the 18th of every month is his night).

I love that idea!

2. Connect in Small Increments

When I was having big behavior issues with 2 ½-year-old Casey, the therapist asked me to spend 5 minutes a day of one-on-one time with him. The time had to be away from everyone else. He had to have my full attention, and I was to play what he wanted.

Casey and I had a special toy box just for this time with Legos, animals, and cars. As we played my job was to:

• State what he was doing (“You are lining up the cars”)
• Praise him (“Great job sharing with Mommy”)
• Repeat his words (“The car is red”). This let Casey know I was focused and paying attention. It built a connection between us. And, amazingly, his behavior improved!

This has worked with older kids, too. I had one older girl who really struggled in our home. After years of trauma, followed by years in foster care, it was hard for her to connect and feel loved. What was the therapist’s advice? 15 minutes of one-on-one time a day. And, yes, it worked.

On days when I took the time to spend with her, her behavior improved immensely, and it was only 15-minutes! (Okay, the truth is that we usually went longer because we were having so much fun connecting.) Sometimes we’d just sit on my bed and talk. Other times we baked. And once she helped me open a stack of business mail, and we had fun reading letters and notes from my readers together.

When spending time together in small increments, let your child know what to expect. “We will play with toys from this box,” or “We’ll have ten minutes to play today and another 10 minutes tomorrow.” Kids will usually want more options and more time, but letting them know ahead of time what to expect will help with expectations and transitions. (After all, what kid wants fun time with Mom to stop?)

3. Add One-on-One Time Into “Together” Moments

My three youngest kids shared a bedroom when they were small, and they did the bedtime routine together. Yet, as a mom, I also wanted to connect with them individually at the end of their day.

Back then, they were young enough to sit on my lap, so they each got to pick out a short book, and they would snuggle on my lap as I read it. When it was time for them to pray, I’d sit by each child and rub (or scratch) their backs while they said their prayers. When we started this routine, I realized they started to take their prayer time more seriously and didn’t goof around much, but sometimes the prayers stretched out a bit longer because they were enjoying the caress. Before I left the room, I would tuck them in, snuggle them down, and give more kisses and hugs.

4. Always Say “Yes”

I’m honored when kids want to spend time with me. When they ask things like, “Mom, can we make some cookies?” or “Mom, do you want to play a game?” I try to always say yes, even with my kids who are grown and with my grandkids when they visit! “Yes” doesn’t mean I stop what I’m doing, but I do take a moment and think through when I can spend time with them. I’ll tell them, “I can’t bake cookies now, but let’s do that after dinner.” Make sure if you give a time, you do your best to stick to it. Work hard to keep your word.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. - Luke 18:16

5. Work One-On-One Time Into Ordinary Events

If you’re going on an errand, choose one child to go with you. If you’re cleaning a closet, ask for help. (You might be surprised; they usually don’t mind rolling up their sleeves and offering a hand.) If you’re pairing socks make it a game, playing against each other. It’s these little things that will create positive memories for your kids.

6. Use Driving Time to Your Advantage

Parents are always shuttling kids around. Instead of allowing your child to use electronics to “tune out,” use that time to talk and connect.

7. Pay Attention and Heed the Holy Spirit

When you get that feeling that one of your kids needs one-on-one time, don’t ignore it. Both Mama instincts and the Holy Spirit can help you discern which child needs you NOW. There are times when I glance at a child’s face and just know. It’s then I clear the calendar and spend time with that child.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. - Proverbs 22:6

Which of these “one-on-one” tips are you going to implement with your kids or grandkids?

Ready for a New Chapter?

Sending our kids out into the world is one of the hardest acts of trust we face as parents. We spend years praying over them, guiding them, and hoping they make choices that honor the Lord. When it comes time for them to take that next big step toward college, that surrender feels even heavier. We desperately want our children to step into a community that nurtures their faith rather than tears it down.

That is exactly why I am so grateful for Colorado Christian University.

At Colorado Christian University, they offer more than just an outstanding education. They provide a steadfast foundation of biblical truth. Their professors are committed to mentoring students and helping them view their choices in career paths through the lens of a Christian worldview.

Whether your teen is looking forward to experiencing campus life or your family is exploring online dual-credit options through Colorado Christian University Academy to get a head start, you can have peace of mind knowing your student is in an environment that values what you value.

Trusting an unknown future to a known God is a daily surrender. Partnering with a university that shares your family’s core convictions makes that transition just a little bit easier.

Colorado Christian University is offering a special scholarship right now:

• $10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships
• A $1,000 scholarship for all other eligible entrants just for entering.

Enter the Colorado Christian University Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at Colorado Christian University. This contest is for new students only.

Explore the opportunity and embrace your next chapter here!

The bond between friends is a sacred one—a journey of mutual affection, spiritual support, and personal growth. In our busy, digital world, finding and cultivating deep connections requires intentionality, understanding, and a heartfelt commitment.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:17, "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need." 

But what does that look like in real life?

The Power of a Friend Showing Up

About seven years into marriage and parenting, my world darkened unexpectedly with the loss of my grandpa. Amidst the heavy grief and the chaos of arranging a funeral, my friend Cindy appeared.

Cindy had been my confidant since my newlywed days, but this was different. She drove in from out of town bearing waterproof mascara, a strong hug, and a tender smile. In that moment, Cindy wasn’t just a “fair-weather friend.” She became the embodiment of Christian love in action. She walked into my grief and whispered, “I’m here for you.”

Through Cindy, I learned what it truly means to be a supportive friend during life’s hardest seasons.

10 Tips for Being a Better Friend

If you want to know how to be a better friend and build lasting relationships, consider these ten principles:

1. Listen First, Speak Last: James 1:19 reminds us to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” Cindy listened without a filter, allowing me to process my pain.
2. Show Up for Milestones: Whether it’s a celebration or a funeral, being physically present matters more than any text message.
3. Keep Your Promises: Reliability is the foundation of trust. If you say you’ll be there, be there.
4. Encourage Genuinely: True encouragement doesn’t require a long speech; sometimes, it’s just a simple gesture that speaks volumes.
5. Respect Boundaries: A good friend intuitively knows when to offer a shoulder and when to give you space to breathe.
6. Forgive Quickly: Colossians 3:13 urges us to forgive as the Lord forgave us. Don’t let petty disagreements stand in the way of a long-term bond.
7. Celebrate Success: When I received my first publishing contract around the same time I lost my grandpa, Cindy was the first to cheer. A true friend isn’t threatened by your wins.
8. Offer Help Before It’s Asked: Proactive help is a gift. Cindy knew I needed waterproof mascara before I even realized I’d be crying through a service.
9. Stay Honest: Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Proverbs 27:6). True friends share hard truths with gentleness to help us heal and grow.
10. Nurture the Bond: Deep friendships aren’t accidental; they are nurtured through consistent, caring actions over time.

Reminders for Your Heart

• A friend knows the song in your heart. When you forget the words, a true friend sings them back to you. Cindy reminded me of the joy my grandpa brought to my life when I could only see the sorrow.
• Friendship isn’t about duration; it’s about devotion. It’s not about who you’ve known the longest, but who walked in and proved they were staying when everyone else walked out.
• Friendship multiplies joy and divides grief. As the old saying goes, a burden shared is a burden halved.

True godly friendship means making your friend’s problems your own so they don’t have to face them alone. These relationships are the true measure of our wealth in this life.

A Prayer for Your Friendships

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of community and the sacred bond of friendship. I ask that You would help me be a friend like Cindy—someone who shows up, listens well, and loves deeply. Please bring godly, supportive friends into my life and give me the wisdom to nurture those bonds. Teach us to bear one another’s burdens and to reflect Your love in every interaction. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Additional Resources

If you are looking for a way to pursue higher education that aligns with a steadfast faith, I encourage you to explore Colorado Christian University. Whether you are an adult stepping back into the classroom online or you are guiding your own teens toward their next steps, finding a school rooted in a biblical worldview is essential. Colorado Christian University trains students to succeed academically while teaching them to stand firm in the truth of Scripture.

Enter for your chance to win a $10,000 or $5,000 Grand Prize scholarship!

All other eligible entrants will receive a $1,000 scholarship just for entering.

Enter the Colorado Christian University Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at Colorado Christian University. This contest is for new students only.

You can learn more about Colorado Christian University’s degree programs and take the next brave step in your educational journey by visiting my link here! Let us intentionally equip our minds and our families to face the future with might!

I remember the first time I said it to one of my kids: “Say you’re sorry.”

My oldest was just a toddler, and there he was in the church nursery at Calvary Chapel. He’d just charged across the room and tackled another little boy, like he was going for the winning touchdown. My son could hardly talk, and here I was wanting him to apologize. At two years old, he turned to play as if I hadn’t just spoken to him.

With a forced smile, I knelt beside Cory. I gently but firmly prompted the words that after decades of parenting, have become a regular part of our family vocabulary. “Say you’re sorry.”

“Sa-ree,” he mumbled. It was the first of a million prompts within our home.

– Say sorry when you take a cookie that isn’t yours. 

– Say sorry when you’re unkind to a friend. 

– Say sorry when your words hurt someone else. 

I expected to teach my kids those words. What I didn’t expect… was how often I would need to say those words to myself.

The Hardest Mirror

The day came when I realized the same words I was asking of my children were the very ones I resisted. Say you’re sorry, Tricia. Ugh. Do I have to? It’s hard, isn’t it?

It’s hard to apologize to your spouse, to a friend, or to a co-worker. But if I’m honest, it can be especially hard to apologize to our children. Because somewhere deep down, we wonder… does it make me look weak? If I apologize, will my kids think they can get away with more? Will I lose authority if I admit I’m wrong?

So instead, I justified not apologizing. I’m doing my best, I’d think. Or I’d mumble to myself. “That’s just how it is.” 

Even though I felt conviction, it was easier to believe this: “They’ll be fine.”

Have you ever done that? We don’t really want to humble ourselves before our kids so we brush right past a moment that needs repair.

When God Gently Turns On the Light of Apology

For our family, the shift came when John and I made a simple decision: we wanted to decrease the grumbling in our home. We wanted more kindness, patience, and grace. What parent doesn’t want that?

But here’s what we didn’t expect. When you start paying attention to the tone of your home, everything rises to the surface. I noticed my own sharp words and impatience. Broken promises, sighs, and frustrations slipped out when I was tired. And suddenly, it became clear: Apologies weren’t rare moments. They were needed often. From me. 

My kids weren’t the only ones who needed to work on this area. I did, too.

What “I’m Sorry” Really Teaches

When we apologize to our kids, we’re not losing face. We’re offering a gift. We’re modeling that humility matters more than being right. After all, people who love each other make mistakes, yet they also try to repair them

When we apologize to our children, we show that ownership for our own actions or words is stronger than defensiveness. Our children see how an apology should look and sound, and they discover that grace flows both ways in a family. And, most importantly, we’re modeling the very behavior we’ve been asking of them all along.

A Better Kind of Strength

There is a quiet strength in looking your child in the eyes and saying:

• “I’m sorry I raised my voice.”
• “I’m sorry I broke my promise.”
• “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

These apologies should not be rushed or half-hearted. And the 100 percent should not be followed by a “but.” Instead, we just need to be honest about our flaws. And the truth is, our children know we’re not perfect parents. Instead, we’re parents who try to make things right when we’ve handled things wrong.

A Simple Practice That Changes Everything

Three decades after becoming a mom, I’m trying to catch myself more and more. When something feels off in our home, I try to pause and I ask myself: Is this a moment that needs repair? More often than not, the answer is yes. And those same words come back again… “Say you’re sorry.” Only this time, they’re meant for me.

What if today, instead of brushing it off, you leaned in when you’ve messed up? What if you modeled what grace looks like in real time?

When we say we’re sorry, we’re not just fixing a moment. We’re shaping a heart. Including our own. Then, while we’re working on ourselves, we can be trusted when we guide our children, too, no matter their age.

Apologizing To Kids of Various Ages

The way we repair a relationship changes as our children grow, because they understand at different levels at different times. Still, the goal of modeling humility remains the same. We need to make things right when we’ve done wrong.

• The Preschool Years: Keep it simple and physical. At this age, a child needs to see your face and feel your presence. Get down on their level, look them in the eye, and say, “I am sorry I used a loud voice. I was frustrated, but it was not right to yell. Will you forgive me?” A hug afterward helps regulate their nervous system.
• The Elementary Years: This is the time to connect emotions to actions. You might say, “I am sorry I snapped at you about your chores. I was feeling stressed about work, but that is not an excuse to be unkind to you. I want to do better next time.”
• The Teen Years: Use the “Neurological Bridge.” There is a fascinating benefit to text-message apologies for teens. Reading a message requires the prefrontal cortex—the logic center—to engage. This helps a teen shift out of a fight-or-flight response and into a rational state. A text like, “I’m sorry for how I handled our talk earlier. I want you to feel safe with me,” gives them a tangible word to process at their own pace.

The Foundation of Accountability

In my book Calming Angry Kids, I noted that a parent’s emotional regulation directly impacts a child’s ability to self-soothe. When we humble ourselves, our children feel safe enough to take accountability for their own part in the conflict. We are not just fixing a moment; we are providing them with the tools they need to navigate big emotions for the rest of their lives.

The Bible provides a clear map for this level of honesty. We are told in James 5:16 (NIV) to “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Scripture also reminds us in Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

A healthy relationship is not one without conflict, but one where repair happens quickly and respectfully. Modeling accountability is the most effective way to teach it, proving that grace is more powerful than being right.

What The Bible Says About Apology

Here are ten scriptures that guide us in the art of the apology and how we can apply them to our parenting:

1. Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV)

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

Application: Our relationship with our children affects our spiritual walk. If we have caused a rupture in the morning, we should prioritize apologizing before moving on to “spiritual” tasks or Bible lessons.

2. Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)

"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."

Application: This is a call to quick repair. Apologizing before the day ends prevents resentment from taking root in a child’s heart, ensuring they go to sleep feeling safe and loved.

3. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Application: When we apologize with a gentle tone, we de-escalate the situation. It shifts the atmosphere of the home from one of defensiveness to one of peace.

4. James 5:16 (NIV)

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Application: Confession brings healing. When I admit to my children that I lost my temper, it opens the door for us to pray together, which heals the emotional wound I caused.

5. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Application: Apologizing reminds our children that we are all in need of grace. By asking for their forgiveness, we teach them how to extend it to others.

6. Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

Application: If I try to hide my mistakes or “power through” without acknowledging my yelling, I lose influence. Confession allows me to find mercy and regain the trust of my teen.

7. Matthew 7:3–5 (NIV)

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

Application: Before I address a child’s bad attitude, I must apologize for my own. Taking the “plank” out of my eye through an apology makes me a much more effective teacher.

8. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Application: We model God’s character when we confess. It shows our kids that there is a path back to righteousness after we fail, which removes the shame they might feel for their own mistakes.

9. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Application: An apology is an act of compassion. It says, “I see that my words hurt you, and I care more about your heart than my pride.”

10. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Application: Harsh words can crush a child’s spirit. When we apologize, we draw close to them in their hurt, mirroring the way the Lord draws close to us when we are broken.

So, are you ready? You can do it. It’s time to apologize.

Ready for a New Chapter?

We are so often conditioned to look for the big, sweeping changes when pursuing our callings. Yet God usually asks us to simply take the next right step. Stepping into a new season to cultivate your talents is not a disruption of your daily ministry. It is a vital act of stewardship.

Colorado Christian University is uniquely equipped to support men, women, and mothers who are ready to answer that call in the midst of their daily routines. They provide an academically rigorous, faith-filled environment designed to help you transform your God-given dreams into tangible skills. The best thing is, you can take one class at a time. It is a tiny, faithful step in the right direction.

If you feel the Lord nudging you that it is the right season to continue your education, do not let hesitation hold you back. “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NIV). Taking that step is just like writing one more sentence or completing one more school lesson. It is built on steady obedience.

Colorado Christian University is offering a special scholarship right now:

• $10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships
• A $1,000 scholarship for all other eligible entrants just for entering.

Enter the Colorado Christian University Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at Colorado Christian University. This contest is for new students only.

Explore the opportunity and embrace your next chapter here!

Parenting requires a profound level of surrender. We pour our hearts into raising our children, yet we cannot control the paths they ultimately choose. When we watch our children make destructive choices, a specific kind of panic sets in.

As researcher Brené Brown so wisely points out in her book Daring Greatly, our deepest vulnerability can easily twist into foreboding fear. When we are terrified for the people we love the most, our minds script worst-case scenarios. We become paralyzed by the fear that fills us. We doubt that any good can come from the mess. 

The truth is, it’s incredibly hard to hope for the future when we cannot see beyond the next five minutes. We want everything fixed as soon as possible, yet we are forced to realize how little control we actually hold.

I’ve been to this place many times. I pray to God, “Please, do something. Please show up in this child’s life.” It’s a good prayer. Yet, in those times of total helplessness, I’m also reminded that a visit from the Lord doesn’t mean that suddenly everything will flip and turn out good at a moment’s notice.

Instead, a visit from the Lord is more like a soft wind than a spectacle. It’s a time when our doubts become shrouded with a thin veil of hope, when we dare to trust that God can make a way in our child’s life when we cannot see one.

As we see through the people we meet in God’s Word, hardship may continue to be part of a wayward child’s story, even with a parent’s fervent prayers. When we read about the men and women of the Bible and their flaws, we may discover that prayers take longer to be answered than they hoped for.

Still, trusting God is believing that He will be with us no matter what comes. Also, when the whisper of surrender is finally released from our child’s lips, God will not bring out good only for a family, but also for a neighborhood, community, or the world.

Considering Samson’s Mother

Think of Samson’s mother. The angel of the Lord met her in Judges 13 and promised her something she desperately longed for: a child. God showed Himself to this couple. As they offered a burnt offering, “the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, and the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire” (Judges 13:20).

Samson’s parents grew up in a time when their nation had always been oppressed by the Philistines. They lived in a hostile world. Samson’s mother’s name is not even given. Instead, she is referred to as Manoah’s wife. Not only did she live in a hostile world, but she was unable to have children. How many tears had she cried over this? Yet the angel of the Lord appeared to her and gave her a promise that she would become pregnant. What joy! 

At the time this woman dared to hope for a baby in her arms, God had a transformation in mind for His chosen people. The angel of the Lord appointed this child to be a Nazirite from birth. I imagine that, in addition to her own hope, this woman hoped for freedom for her people. The first thing she does is tell her husband. She believed this, and she wanted her husband to believe it.

Manoah prayed to the Lord, saying, “Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born” (Judges 13:8). God answered this prayer. My heart flips at the thought of this couple and their total faith. So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” (Judges 13:12).

The angel of the Lord repeated what he’d previously told Manoah’s wife. The angel of the Lord also stayed, just to be with them, when Manoah asked. The angel refused a meal but then suggested they prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the Lord. 

When the angel of the Lord came, this couple welcomed Him and discovered they’d met with God. This couple had also believed. And they’d witnessed miracles. As the years passed and Samson grew, God’s Word says that the Lord blessed their son. More than that, the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him. What more could these faithful parents hope for?

I imagine this couple never forgot this moment, yet I am certain they were filled with anguish at their son’s  wrong choices when he grew up. Did they ever question whether they had done something wrong that caused their son to go wayward? I’m sure they did.

Samson’s “wayward path” started when a young Philistine woman caught his eye. Remember, the Philistines had oppressed the Israelites for decades. Manoah and his wife wanted their son to make good choices and choose an Israelite bride. But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” His father and mother did not realize that the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to oppose the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time (Judges 14:3-4).

Did God cause Samson to sin? No. Yet God knew Samson’s weaknesses. God knows all of us are sinners. Even when it was clear that Samson was going to do what he wanted, God had a plan to bring all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

In the New Testament, we are promised that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). But they lived centuries before those words were penned. 

It was only after their son had fallen to his lowest low that it became clear that God DID have a great plan for His people. God used Samson to destroy their oppressors, but that didn’t come until the end of Samson’s life.

They no doubt questioned if their answered prayer of having a son was a blessing or a curse. And it’s not as if they did anything wrong. Yet, what they’d hoped would be a smooth road turned rocky. In the middle ground between God’s promises, this couple faced heartbreak and hardship. And don’t we too?

When God Brings Good Fruit Out of Bad Choices

This makes me think of my own teen years. Looking for love in all the wrong places, I sought out guys’ attention and got pregnant twice in high school. Sadly, I chose abortion for my first pregnancy. With my second pregnancy, I had a son. God knew I would make wrong choices, yet He also knew He could bring things around to good. 

It was with that second pregnancy that I dedicated myself to God. It was from the pain I felt from the abortion and the lack of help I had to become a teen parent that I helped start a crisis pregnancy center and a teen mom support group decades later.

Even now, Hope Pregnancy Center in Kalispell, Montana, thrives. Even now, I have close relationships with some of the teen moms I mentored twenty-five years ago. This gives me hope for my own children when they make wrong choices today. God knows. God can bring all things around for good. God can use them in ways I cannot imagine. The Spirit of the Lord on our children can change anything.

As the beloved author Corrie ten Boom once wrote, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

We serve a known God. We can rest in this unwavering truth:

"But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation" (Psalm 102:12).

Here are some ways we can actively pray for ourselves and our children during these difficult seasons of choices.

10 Scripture Prayers for Ourselves to Have Hope

1. Romans 15:13: Lord, fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in You, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Psalm 42:5: Father, when my soul is downcast and disturbed within me, help me to put my hope in You and praise You as my Savior and my God.
3. Isaiah 40:31: Lord, as I hope in You, renew my strength. Let me soar on wings like eagles, let me run and not grow weary, let me walk and not be faint.
4. Lamentations 3:21-24: God, call to my mind Your great love and compassion. Remind me that Your mercies are new every morning, and therefore I will dare to hope.
5. Hebrews 10:23: Give me the endurance to hold unswervingly to the hope I profess, for I know that You who promised are faithful.
6. Psalm 33:20-22: Lord, I wait in hope for You. You are my help and my shield. May Your unfailing love rest upon me as I put my hope in You.
7. Romans 5:3-5: Father, help me to glory in my sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Let this hope not put me to shame.
8. Psalm 119:114: Lord, You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in Your word.
9. Psalm 25:3: Assure my heart, God, that no one who hopes in You will ever be put to shame.
10. Jeremiah 29:11: Father, remind me daily that You have plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future.

10 Scripture Prayers for Our Children Who Are Making Bad Choices

1. Philippians 1:6: Lord, I pray that You, who began a good work in my child, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2. Ezekiel 36:26: Father, give my child a new heart and put a new spirit within them. Remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
3. Luke 15:17: God, just as the prodigal son came to his senses, I pray You would bring my child to a place of realization and turn their heart back home to You.
4. Psalm 139:23-24: Search my child, O God, and know their heart. Test them and know their anxious thoughts. Point out anything in them that offends You, and lead them along the path of everlasting life.
5. Proverbs 3:5-6: Lord, teach my child to trust in You with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding. In all their ways, may they acknowledge You, so You can make their paths straight.
6. 2 Timothy 2:25-26: Father, gently instruct my child so that You will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the enemy.
7. Colossians 1:9-10: God, fill my child with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that they may live a life worthy of You.
8. Psalm 25:4-5: Show my child Your ways, Lord, and teach them Your paths. Guide them in Your truth.
9. Romans 8:28: Lord, I ask that You would take the broken pieces of my child’s bad choices and miraculously work them together for good, according to Your glorious purpose.
10. Psalm 91:11: Father, command Your angels concerning my child, to guard them in all their ways, even when they wander off the designated path.

5 Practical Ways to Trust God With Our Children’s Choices

• Surrender daily in prayer: We cannot change our children’s hearts, but we have direct access to the God who can. Make a habit of verbally handing your child over to God each morning.
• Reflect on His past faithfulness: Look back on your life and remember the times God rescued you from your missteps. Let His past grace fuel your present trust.
• Stay anchored in the Word: When fear threatens to take over, combat those anxious thoughts with the truth of Scripture. Fill your mind with His promises rather than your worries.
• Embrace community: Do not carry this burden alone. Seek out trusted, faith-filled friends who will intercede for your family and remind you of God’s sovereignty when you forget.
• Focus on your own walk: Often, the best thing we can do for a wandering child is to keep our own spiritual foundation strong. Model a life of steadfast faith and quiet trust in the Lord.

5 Practical Ways to Love Our Kids Even When We Desire Different Choices

• Separate their worth from their actions: Remind them often that your love for them is unconditional. They need to know they are loved for who they are, not just for how well they perform or behave.
• Keep the door of communication open: Resist the urge to give the silent treatment or push them away in anger. Make sure they know they can always call you, no matter how deep of a mess they are in.
• Listen more than you lecture: When they do share their thoughts, strive to understand their perspective. Offering a listening ear builds a relationship bridge much faster than a sermon does.
• Establish healthy boundaries: Loving someone unconditionally does not mean enabling destructive behavior. Set firm, clear boundaries to protect your home and your peace, and communicate them with grace.
• Celebrate the small steps: Look for the good and praise it. Whether it is a small moment of honesty or a brief conflict-free conversation, celebrate those victories and build on them.

A Note from Our Sponsor: Colorado Christian University

Sending our kids out into the world is one of the hardest acts of trust we face as parents. We spend years praying over them, guiding them, and hoping they make choices that honor the Lord. When it comes time for them to take that next big step toward college, that surrender feels even heavier. We desperately want our children to step into a community that nurtures their faith rather than tears it down.

That is exactly why I am so grateful for Colorado Christian University.

At Colorado Christian University, they offer more than just an outstanding education. They provide a steadfast foundation of biblical truth. Their professors are committed to mentoring students and helping them view their choices in career paths through the lens of a Christian worldview.

Whether your teen is looking forward to experiencing campus life or your family is exploring online dual-credit options through Colorado Christian University Academy to get a head start, you can have peace of mind knowing your student is in an environment that values what you value.

Trusting an unknown future to a known God is a daily surrender. Partnering with a university that shares your family’s core convictions makes that transition just a little bit easier.

Colorado Christian University is offering a special scholarship right now:

• $10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships
• A $1,000 scholarship for all other eligible entrants just for entering.

Enter the Colorado Christian University Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at Colorado Christian University. This contest is for new students only.

Explore the opportunity and embrace your next chapter here!

Brown, Brené. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. New York: Gotham Books, 2012.  

ten Boom, Corrie. Clippings from My Notebook. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

How come we are surprised when life gets hard, and we seem to be hit on all sides? In the last year, John and I have faced the death of my grandma, my in-laws’ health decline, struggling teens, personal health issues, family conflict, financial hits, and so much more. Just when it seems we have a chance to gain our footing, something else comes down the pipeline. 

Yet through it all, our trust in God is strong. There are some things we do not have answers to, yet we know God is with us. With heartache, we’ve found hope. With questions, we’ve discovered a deeper trust. We face the future with courage, not because we expect that everything will get better right away. We face the future with courage because we know Jesus is with us, and He will always be with us.

As I study the Gospels, I am constantly drawn to the practical reality of what the disciples experienced. Walking with Jesus was not a static journey. It was a dynamic training ground that shifted. Things grew more hostile as the timeline of redemption progressed. 

According to the Enduring Word commentary, “The disciples had been sent out to do ministry without Jesus before (Luke 10:1-17), but then they were received with goodwill and hospitality. Now they faced a hostile world without Jesus and must be prepared. From this, we can learn lessons on how to face hardships and hostilities in our own lives.

The Peaceful Training Ground

There was a beautiful season early in the disciples’ walk with Christ where Jesus called His followers to step out in absolute, unhindered dependence. He sent them out into the surrounding towns with a very specific set of instructions. We read in Luke 9:3 (NIV), “Take nothing for the journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” 

The disciples’ job was to share the Good News … the Messiah has come! At the time, there was great interest. Rumors had spread about this not-so-ordinary man. The disciples were welcomed because the Israelites were curious and wanted to know more. There was no nightly news to tune in to. Instead, Jesus’ disciples carried the news from town to town.

Jesus was teaching them a vital lesson. He wanted them to learn that God would provide for their daily needs through the kindness and hospitality of the people they met. The environment was receptive. They were welcomed into homes, and they were part of incredible miracles.

The Coming Storm

However, as Jesus neared the end of His earthly ministry, the atmosphere surrounding His disciples grew incredibly dark. The religious leaders were plotting. The shadow of the cross was looming large. Jesus knew the world was about to violently reject Him, and He knew His followers would be caught in the crossfire.

In Luke 22:35-36 (NIV), Jesus brings up their earlier, peaceful mission. It’s looking back to the “good ole’ days,” and His purpose is to prepare them for the harsh reality ahead. 

“Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ 

‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.'”

Yes, friends. Jesus told His disciples to go buy a sword.

This was a radical change in direction. Why the sudden need for a bag and a sword? Jesus explains the reason in the very next breath. In Luke 22:37 (NIV), He says, “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

Jesus was marching straight into a spiritual war. He was about to be treated as a criminal. He was warning His dearest friends that the season of friendly reception was over. They were entering a time of intense hostility and persecution.

The Call for Deep Courage

The disciples were going to need profound bravery to face what was coming. Looking back, we can see how Jesus had been laying the foundation for this courage all along.

When they were terrified in a boat on a turbulent sea, Jesus came to them and anchored their bravery entirely in His identity. He commanded them in Matthew 14:27 (NIV), “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

When Jairus was standing in the agonizing grip of grief after being told his daughter was dead, Jesus required him to make a hard choice. In Mark 5:36 (NIV), Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Jesus knew the disciples’ hearts would be deeply troubled by His departure and the coming persecution. To equip them, He gave them a gift the world could not replicate. In John 14:27 (NIV), He promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

He did not promise them an easy road. He promised them guaranteed victory. He told them plainly in John 16:33 (NIV), “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ancient Roots of Bravery

This call to fearless obedience is woven throughout the entire history of God’s people. The men and women of the Old Testament faced impossible battles, but their courage was always rooted in the presence of the Almighty.

Moses encouraged a trembling nation in Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV), saying, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you: he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

God spoke directly to Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites into hostile territory. We see this in Joshua 1:9 (NIV): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The prophet Isaiah brought words of profound comfort to a weary people in Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

We also see the beautiful, fierce resolve of David in Psalm 27:14 (NIV), where he writes, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

When I read the story of Deborah, I am deeply moved by her bold faith. In the aftermath of a massive battle where God supernaturally delivered Israel, she sang out a rallying cry. Judges 5:21 (NIV) records her powerful declaration: “March on, my soul, with might!” Deborah understood that courage is an active decision to align your soul with God’s unstoppable will.

The Reality for Believers Today

Just as Jesus prepared His disciples for a massive shift, we must be prepared for the reality of our own walk with God today. We should never be surprised by hardship. The Bible tells us in John 10:10 that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. We have a real enemy who despises our faith.

Many believers around the world face severe physical persecution for speaking the name of Jesus. Even if we live in areas where physical persecution is less common, we will still face intense trials, health crises, fractured relationships, and spiritual attacks. The enemy of our souls wants to paralyze us with fear so we will stop advancing the Kingdom of God.

Putting on Our Armor

Because we are in a battle, we cannot walk out our front doors unprotected. We must practically prepare ourselves every single day by putting on the full armor of God, as outlined in Ephesians 6.

• The Belt of Truth: We must wrap ourselves in the truth of God’s Word. When the enemy whispers lies about our identity or God’s goodness, we fight back with what Scripture says is true.
• The Breastplate of Righteousness: We protect our hearts and our emotions by living in obedience to Christ. We rely on His righteousness to cover our vulnerabilities.
• The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: We need a firm footing. The peace of Christ gives us stability so we can stand strong when the trials try to knock us off balance.
• The Shield of Faith: We actively raise our faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of doubt, anxiety, and fear that the enemy fires our way. We choose to believe God over our circumstances.
• The Helmet of Salvation: We guard our minds. We must filter every thought through the reality that we are saved, redeemed, and secure in Christ.
• The Sword of the Spirit: This is the Word of God. It is our offensive weapon. Just as Jesus used Scripture to defeat the enemy in the wilderness, we must speak the Word aloud to push back the darkness.

Friends, the call to courage is not a call to be self-sufficient. It is a call to be entirely dependent on the God who has already overcome the world. When the trials come, and they will come, let us remember the words of Deborah. Let us put on our armor, look to our Savior, and say: March on, my soul, with might!

As we step into this reality, applying this truth requires intentionality. Instead of a long list of tasks, let us focus our hearts deeply on three core practices of courageous dependence.

1. The Practice of the Upward Gaze

Scripture Focus: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3, CSB)

It is human nature to stare at the storm. When the medical reports are frightening, when our teenagers are struggling, or when financial hits keep coming, our eyes naturally lock onto the problem. The danger is that whatever has our sustained attention begins to dictate our emotional state. We find ourselves paralyzed by the “what ifs” because we are evaluating our circumstances through the lens of our own limited capabilities.

True courage requires a deliberate, physical, and spiritual shift of our gaze. David did not deny his fear in Psalm 56. He acknowledged it. Then he made a conscious decision to look away from his terror and look directly at his Father. 

Brave Step: This week, practice the upward gaze. When a fearful thought enters your mind, do not fight it with logic. Fight it by immediately stating a truth about who God is. We must train our souls to look to the hills from where our help comes (Psalm 121:1, NIV).

2. Releasing Our Grip on the Outcome

Scripture Focus: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

One of the sneakiest forms of self-reliance is trying to control the future. We often mask our fear with extreme planning, believing that if we can just manage every detail, we can keep our loved ones safe from heartache. Yet, clinging tightly to specific outcomes only breeds profound anxiety.

Dependence on God means opening our hands. It means praying fervently for our families, our health, and our ministries, and then trusting that God’s righteous right hand is infinitely more capable than our own two hands. 

When we open our hands in dependent prayer, God promises to strengthen and uphold us. He does not promise to answer things the way we want, as quickly as we want. Stepping bravely into tomorrow means surrendering our desire for a predictable narrative and trusting the Author of the story. 

Brave Step: This week, identify one area of your life where you are gripping the steering wheel too tightly, and actively surrender the results to Him.

3. Trading Our Defenses for His Armor

Scripture Focus: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

When we feel hit on all sides, our natural instinct is to build a wall. We protect ourselves with isolation, cynicism, anger, or simply shutting down emotionally. These are human defenses, and they are entirely ineffective against a spiritual enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

Jesus did not tell His disciples to build a bunker. He prepared them for an active battle. Courage means stepping out from behind our self-made walls and choosing to put on God’s armor instead. It means wrapping ourselves in the Belt of Truth when lies feel loud. It means raising the Shield of Faith when doubt creeps in. We cannot fight spiritual battles with earthly coping mechanisms. 

Brave Step: This week, when you feel the urge to retreat or build a defensive wall, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to clothe you in His supernatural armor. Stand firm in the strength of His might, not your own.

Friends, we do not have to live in a state of shock when the next challenge comes down the pipeline. Instead, we can live in a state of preparation. When we feel overwhelmed by the needs of our multi-generational homes, the complexities of family conflict, or the sudden health crises that knock us off our feet, we know exactly what to do. We stop trying to find our footing in our own limited strength.

Our courage does not come from the expectation that the circumstances will magically get easier. Our courage is forged in the fire of knowing Jesus is standing right beside us in the trenches. He has given us His peace. He has provided our armor. He has already overcome the world. When the next storm hits, we can look directly to our Savior and boldly declare: March on, my soul, with might!

Closing Prayer

Lord, we come before You with weary but willing hearts. We acknowledge that the battles we face are real and the hits from all sides are heavy. We bring our grief, our aging loved ones, our precious teenagers, our physical health, and our daily needs directly to Your feet. When the storms rage, and the enemy tries to steal our peace, remind us that we do not fight alone.

Equip us with Your armor today. Wrap us in Your truth and secure our footing with Your peace. When we are tempted to build walls or retreat in fear, help us to fix our eyes entirely on You. Give us the supernatural strength to release our grip on the outcomes we desperately want so we can fully trust the Author of our story.

Thank You, Jesus, for never leaving us. Thank You for the guarantee of Your ultimate victory over this world. As we step into whatever tomorrow holds, let our spirits be anchored in the unfailing love of Christ. Give us the grace to stand firm, to look to our Savior, and to boldly declare: March on, my soul, with might!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As we talk about putting on our armor and marching forward with courage, we must think about how we are actively equipping our minds for the days ahead. The apostle Paul tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, NIV). A vital part of that renewal is the education and the environments we choose for ourselves and our families.

If you are looking for a way to pursue higher education that aligns with a steadfast faith, I encourage you to explore Colorado Christian University. Whether you are an adult stepping back into the classroom online or you are guiding your own teens toward their next steps, finding a school rooted in a biblical worldview is essential. Colorado Christian University trains students to succeed academically while teaching them to stand firm in the truth of Scripture.

$10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships

All other eligible entrants will receive a $1,000 scholarship just for entering.

Enter the Colorado Christian University Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at Colorado Christian University. This contest is for new students only.

You can learn more about Colorado Christian University’s degree programs and take the next brave step in your educational journey by visiting my link here!

Let us intentionally equip our minds and our families to face the future with might!

Hello, friends. If you have been homeschooling for longer than five minutes, you have probably heard a question you could not answer. When John and I started this journey thirty-six years ago, our resources were limited to physical encyclopedias and the local library. (Yes, seriously!) Now, with ten children graduated and over a dozen grandchildren growing up fast, the internet has completely changed the landscape of home education. When my kids or grandkids ask me a stump-the-teacher question, my favorite response is right there in the subtitle of this post. We simply look it up.

While I love a deeply researched historical novel to teach multidisciplinary subjects like history and English, sometimes you need a quick, reliable, and completely free digital resource. Having these tools bookmarked will save your sanity and your budget.

Here are the top 10 free online resources to support your homeschooling journey.

1. Khan Academy: This is a gold standard for free education. They cover everything from kindergarten math to high school physics and history. It is a wonderful way for students to learn independently.
2. Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool: Created by a fellow homeschooling mother, this is a completely free Christian curriculum. It offers daily lesson plans for every subject from preschool through high school.
3. Freedom Homeschooling: If you are looking for an organized directory of free resources, this site is a lifesaver. It categorizes free materials by subject, grade, and style.
4. AmblesideOnline: For families who love the Charlotte Mason method, this site provides a free curriculum heavily based on rich literature and classic books. It is wonderful for weaving ethics and history together.
5. CK-12 Foundation: This is an incredible resource for STEM subjects. They offer free digital textbooks, interactive simulations, and adaptive practice, which is highly useful for older students.
6. Project Gutenberg: As an author, I believe deeply in the power of reading. This library offers over seventy thousand free eBooks, including many classics that are wonderful for high school English assignments.
7. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): For my fellow history lovers, especially those studying World War II aviation and the European theater, the National Archives offer free access to primary sources, historical photographs, and veteran oral histories. It makes history come alive for students.
8. Starfall: When my younger children were learning to read, Starfall was a wonderful supplement. Their free phonics activities and interactive stories are delightful for early learners.
9. ReadWorks: This site is an excellent tool for building reading comprehension. It offers free, high-quality reading passages and question sets for various grade levels.
10. PBS Kids: For the younger crowd, PBS offers wonderful educational games and videos that reinforce early math, science, and literacy skills in a gentle way.

There is no single right way to homeschool. The beauty of this lifestyle is finding the tools that work for your unique family dynamics. The next time a tough question arises at your kitchen table, remember that the answer is usually just a few clicks away!

What If You Said Yes?

In our homeschooling journeys, we are constantly learning alongside our children. But what about your own education? Over time, people do not typically regret the leaps of faith they took. Instead, they mourn the chances they ignored and the dreams they left unpursued. 

Stepping into a new season to cultivate your talents is not selfish. It is a vital act of stewardship Colorado Christian University is uniquely equipped to support men, women, and yes, mothers, who are ready to answer that call. They provide an academically rigorous, faith-filled environment designed to help you transform your God-given dreams into tangible skills. The best thing is, you can take one class at a time. It is a tiny step in the right direction.

If you feel that God is telling you it is the right season to take the next step, do not let hesitation hold you back. Colorado Christian University is offering a special scholarship right now.

• $10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships
• All other eligible entrants will receive a $1,000 scholarship just for entering.

Enter the Colorado Christian University Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at Colorado Christian University. This contest is for new students only.

Explore the opportunity and embrace your next chapter here!

When I pictured homeschooling, I thought of sitting around the living room and reading books. I thought of nature hikes and library days. I forgot that homeschool happened in the middle of real life, with real kids who fight. I forgot about the chores and making dinner every day. Then there were the times the kids were sick … or I was. It’s times like that when I thought, why am I doing this again?

Maybe you can relate. Have you ever looked at the piles of laundry and the math textbooks and felt a wave of exhaustion? Sometimes the hardest part of our homeschool journey isn’t the big curriculum decisions. It is living our real lives. It’s the daily decision to try to keep our hearts focused on the important why: we want to be the number one influence in our kids’ lives.

This week, I was reading about Joshua as he delivers his final charge before entering the Promised Land. He looks at a group of people who have seen God’s wonders but are still tempted by the idols of the world. He gives them that famous, beautiful line:

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). And that was my main “why” for homeschooling. I wanted to teach my kids that serving God was the most important part of our lives, and I believed I could do that best through time with me and through the curriculum I chose to educate them. 

Serving God in the Circus

I remember a season when our house felt more like a circus than a home. With ten children (eight of them home at once), life was loud and messy. I found myself battling a mountain of anxiety. I wondered if I was doing enough. I wondered if my own idols of control were winning.

It was during that season that it took continued effort to turn my eyes to God. I had to choose who to serve before I even climbed out of bed. Yes, I felt God called me to this. No, I was never promised it would be a piece of cake.

It is so easy to let worry lead the way. However, Joshua reminds us that the relief we crave comes through commitment to the One who has already proven His faithfulness.

Moving From Control to Trust

We see a shift in the wrong direction as we move into the book of Judges. When the people forgot their choice to serve God, they lost their way. Later, when they remembered, they rediscovered their Deliverer. 

Sometimes our dream is a quiet, predictable life. As homeschool moms, we wish for tranquil mornings where our children joyfully finish their history reading, and the house stays beautifully tidy. Yet, God’s dream for us often involves a glorious, dependent chaos. We need God because our days don’t go as planned.

The reality of our days usually includes forgotten math concepts, toddlers interrupting read-aloud time, and a laundry pile that never shrinks. When we try to manage this demanding schedule on our own strength, we end up acting much like the Israelites. We forget the One we serve and lose our way in frustration. But the moment we pause and remember our absolute need for Him, God meets us right at the kitchen table. He delivers us from our own overwhelmed hearts. He reminds us that this daily dependence is exactly where He is doing His deepest work, shaping our character alongside the hearts of our children.

As Catherine Marshall once said: “The Dreamer can no more separate himself from his dream than he can from his own skin,” (Marshall, Beyond Our Selves, 1961). God’s dream for your family is intricately woven into the very fabric of your noisy, unpredictable days, and He is firmly guiding your steps through it all (Psalm 37:23-24, ESV).

Time to Trust the Master

Where can faith take you when you stop trying to manage the outcome and start trusting the Master? God is not waiting for you to get your act together so He can use you. He is waiting for you to give Him the pieces so He can rebuild you.

Whether you are facing a new school year or the quiet ache of a long-standing doubt, please know that God can handle your heartache. He is looking for a “yes” in the middle of the mess. Let’s be the ones who say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” even when the kitchen is messy, and our hearts are weary.

A Prayer for the Daily Choice

Father, thank You for the grace that meets me every morning. When I am tempted to serve my worries or bow to my fears, help me to choose You instead. Give me the strength to lead my heart and my home toward Your peace. I want to see Your hand at work in the small, ordinary moments of my day. Amen.

Scripture Journaling for the Homeschool Mom

1. Tearing Down Idols

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
What is one specific idol, like control or the need for approval, that you need to tear down today to make more room for Him?

2. Dwelling in the Shelter

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1-2).
When you feel the heat of your anxiety rising during a difficult lesson, how can you practically dwell in His presence?

3. Laying Down the Weight

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with… the anxieties of life” (Luke 21:34).
What homeschool anxiety is weighing your heart down today? How can you hand that weight over to Jesus?

Additional Resources

If you enjoyed this post, here are some related posts you might want to check out. And for more homeschooling resources for newbie homeschoolers to homeschool veterans, there is something for everyone in the Homeschool section of my website. Head on over here to find Q&As, helpful tips, and so much more!

It is late here in Arkansas. The house is finally quiet, but I’m taking just a minute to dream.

John and I have been married for thirty-six years. With a large family of ten children and over a dozen grandchildren, quiet is a rare and beautiful commodity. I just walked down the hall to check on my in-laws, making sure everyone is settled for the night. Caring for the elderly while still raising teenagers and preparing for our daughter’s high school graduation in just a few weeks carries a heavy emotional load.

Some days, the sheer volume of tasks is so overwhelming that I feel myself slipping into a purely transactional mindset. I just want to check the boxes and get things done. Can you relate?

But I have been actively practicing the power of the pause. Lord, there’s a stirring in my heart … help me to listen.

Before I check on my in-laws, I stop. I take a deep breath. I remind myself: I don’t want to just complete tasks. I want to be helpful and present in their lives. I want to look them in the eye and value their dignity over my immediate to-do list. And maybe that’s where this message begins for you, too.

I also just don’t want to be so busy with tasks that I miss out on what God wants to do in my life. Every time I feel a soft stirring, I’ve discovered that God is adding a chapter to my life story. Writing, Hope Pregnancy Center, leading Bible studies, mentoring teen moms, adopting kids, speaking, health coaching … each of these things grew out of me pausing to listen to God’s still, small voice and praying for insight and direction. 

Yet, pausing is hard, isn’t it? Because if you’re anything like me, your days are full—overflowing, even—with good and meaningful responsibilities. And yet, somewhere underneath all of it, there’s a quiet whisper: What about the dreams God placed in me?

When the Day Ends, But Something in You Is Still Awake

After the day’s tasks are tackled to the best of my ability, and the house settles, my physical energy is often completely drained. Yet I find myself sitting at my desk, pulling up a manuscript. Stories run through my mind nearly every day, and even when I’m tired, it refreshes me to put sentences on paper.

People often ask how I find the strength for one more paragraph when my mental fuel is low. And the truth is, it is rarely about white-knuckled discipline. It is driven by a deep connection to the Why.

Right now, I am turning back to some Amish novels in my most-loved series. Even though the characters are fiction, they feel like family … and I want to visit them again and see what everyone is up to. Those stories demand to be told. And I wonder… Is there something like that in your life? Something that pulls you forward, even when you’re tired?

The Truth About Energy (That No One Talks About)

I have learned over the years that I cannot pour from an empty cup. Tending to my daily habits, eating well, and hydrating simply removes the mental fog. When my body is cared for, my writing finds its clarity. But here’s something else I’ve learned: You don’t need more time to pursue what matters. You need intention.

I never waited for the ideal time to start writing. If you wait for an open schedule, you will never write a single word. My earliest manuscripts were written in the fringes of life.

• On the sidelines of sports games
• During fifteen-minute pockets between homeschool history lessons
• In the margins of a very full life

Every book is its own unique journey. I refuse to let the stumbling blocks of past projects or past rejections dictate my current creativity. I look at the blank page with fresh eyes.

And maybe that’s your invitation too. Not to wait for a perfect season… but to begin in the one you’re already living.

When God Starts Stirring Something New

Lately, I’ve been thinking about something I set aside a long time ago. Back in 1990, after I got married, I paused my college education. Life moved forward quickly, and I never regretted choosing family. But the love of learning never left me. And recently… that quiet whisper has been getting louder. What if?

What if I picked that dream back up?
What if it’s not too late?
What if learning again could actually bring life rather than drain energy?

So I did something simple. I started looking. As I browsed the course catalog at Colorado Christian University, I felt something I didn’t expect: Excitement.

• Biblical Studies.
• Communication.
• Marketing and Sales.

So many possibilities. And instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt free. Because I realized something important: I don’t have to have it all figured out today. I simply have to take the next step.

For me, that looks like requesting my college transcript… talking to someone at CCU … asking questions. That’s it.

The Battle of the Inner Voice

Stepping into new arenas always brings a hint of hesitation. Whether I am preparing to speak at an upcoming convention in Orlando or recording a new podcast with dear friends like Amber Lia and Julie Hittleman (more to come about that!), it still requires a leap of faith. And yes, the inner critic always shows up. It whispers:

• You’re not enough.
• You’re too late.
• Someone else could do this better.

But I’ve learned where to anchor myself. My identity is entirely in Christ. When the goal shifts from proving myself to serving others, that voice of imposter syndrome loses its power.

Holding Dreams with Open Hands

Henry Blackaby wrote, “Find out where God is at work, and join Him there.” That has become a guiding principle in my life … along with Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I hold my professional ambitions loosely. Instead, I listen and ask questions. I take tiny steps. I plan. I prepare. I take more steps. But ultimately, I surrender the outcome.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” And that takes the pressure off. Because this journey—whether it’s writing a book, going back to school, or simply exploring a new interest—isn’t about control. It’s about obedience. It’s about the dreams God had for me before I even breathed one breath.

The Sacredness of Small Things

Everything intertwines. The way we do one thing is truly the way we do everything. The patience required to decipher a historical document is the exact same patience needed to sit with an aging parent.

The faithfulness to write one more sentence is the same faithfulness to guide a child through one more math lesson. Or to help my mother-in-law, Darlyne, with a simple daily task. We often look for big, breakthrough moments. But God works in the small ones.

Zechariah 4:10 asks, “For who has despised the day of small things?” The truth is, our lives are built there. In the quiet acts of obedience. In the unseen faithfulness. In the next right step.

A Question for You

So let me ask you something, friend: Do my words stir something within your heart? Do you feel the weight of responsibility so heavily that your own dreams feel out of reach? Is there something God placed on your heart years ago… something you quietly set aside?

What if you gave yourself permission to ask: What if? Not to change everything overnight or add pressure to your already full life, but simply to explore. To wonder, and maybe to take one small step.

You Don’t Need the Whole Staircase

You do not need to see the whole staircase to take the first step. You only need to do the next right thing with the time you have been given today. That’s where I am. I don’t have a perfect plan or endless energy. I do have a willing heart, and maybe that’s enough for you, too.

Remember, the God who placed that dream in your heart is the same God who will walk with you as you take the next step.

A Prayer for the Stirring Heart

Heavenly Father,

I come to You at the end of a very full day. My hands are busy, and my physical energy is often drained, but my heart is listening for Your still, small voice. Thank You for the beautiful, meaningful responsibilities You have entrusted to me.

Lord, when the sheer volume of tasks feels heavy, remind me to embrace the power of the pause. Keep my eyes focused on the dignity of the people around me, rather than just the to-do list in front of me. I want to seek Your kingdom first, trusting that You will provide exactly what I need (Matthew 6:33).

Father, I feel a soft stirring within me. Give me the courage to explore the desires You placed in my heart before I even breathed my first breath. Silence the inner critic that tells me I am too late or not enough. Anchor my identity entirely in Christ.

I hold my ambitions with open hands. I will make my plans and take tiny steps, but I completely surrender the outcome to You, knowing that You are the one who establishes my steps (Proverbs 16:9). Grant me the faithfulness to honor the quiet acts of obedience, and let me never despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10).

I do not need to see the entire path ahead. I only ask for a willing heart to do the next right thing with the time You have given me today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

First Step to a New Calling

Consider what happens when God places a new calling on your heart. For years, you have poured your energy into your family, managing the beautiful demands of motherhood. Yet, a quiet nudging remains, urging you to develop the specific gifts He has given you. Each of us is deeply driven by a need for purpose and a desire to contribute to something larger than ourselves. Why? God put that in us. He’s had dreams for you before you were born.

What If You Said Yes?

Over time, people do not typically regret the leaps of faith they took. Instead, they mourn the chances they ignored and the dreams they left unpursued. Stepping into a new season to cultivate your talents is not selfish. It is a vital act of stewardship.

Colorado Christian University is uniquely equipped to support men, women … and yes, mothers … who are ready to answer that call. They provide an academically rigorous, faith-filled environment designed to help you transform your God-given dreams into tangible skills. The best thing is, you can take one class at a time. A tiny step in the right direction.

If you feel that God is telling you it’s the right season to take the next step, do not let hesitation hold you back. CCU is offering a special scholarship right now. 

$10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships

All other eligible entrants will receive a $1,000 scholarship just for entering.

Enter the CCU Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at CCU. This contest is for new students only.

Explore the opportunity and embrace your next chapter here!

Is going to a homeschool conference worth it? I’ve been asked this before. Well, if you have ever spent a late night staring at a curriculum catalog or felt like you were the only one struggling to help your child with long division, you know how lonely this journey can sometimes feel. As a mom of ten who has been homeschooling for over thirty years, I can tell you that attending a convention is about much more than just buying books. It is a soul-refreshing experience that reminds you why you started this journey in the first place.

I’ll be at a few conferences this year. I’d love to see you! Also, there are some amazing befirets. I stopped at 25 things, but I could easily come up with 25 more!

This year, I will be speaking at several events, including Teach Them Diligently (TTD) and the Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA).

Why These Events Stand Out

Teach Them Diligently (TTD)

TTD is a gospel-centered convention that focuses on the heart of the family. Their mission is to help families fulfill the Great Commission through homeschooling. In 2026, you can find me speaking at their events in Pigeon Forge, TN (May 7-9) and Branson, MO (May 14-16). These locations are beautiful for a family getaway, and the atmosphere at TTD is truly like a spiritual revival for homeschoolers.

FPEA Florida Homeschool Convention 

The FPEA convention in Orlando (May 21-23) is one of the largest in the nation. It is held at the Gaylord Palms, which is a spectacular venue. Whether you are a Florida resident or traveling in, the sheer variety of workshops and the massive vendor hall make it an incredible resource for every stage of homeschooling.

25 Benefits of Attending a Homeschool Conference

If you are on the fence, here are 25 reasons why making the trip is an investment in your family and your peace of mind:

1. Hands-on Curriculum Review: You can actually touch and flip through the pages of a textbook before you buy it.
2. Expert Advice: Hear from veteran homeschoolers and authors who have walked the path before you.
3. Spiritual Refreshment: Events like TTD focus on discipleship and refocusing your mission on Christ.
4. Community Connection: Realize you are not alone and certainly not “crazy” for choosing this path.
5. Exclusive Discounts: Many vendors offer “convention specials” that you won’t find online.
6. Children’s Programs: Many conferences offer specialized tracks just for your kids while you attend sessions.
7. Teen Interaction: Your teenagers can meet other homeschoolers and attend sessions tailored to their unique needs.
8. Dad Support: Men’s breakfasts and father-focused sessions help dads feel equipped and involved.
9. Renewed Vision: It is a chance to hit the “reset” button on your school year.
10. Problem Solving: Find specific workshops for challenges such as dyslexia, high school transcripts, or teaching across multiple age groups.
11. Direct Access to Creators: Talk directly to the people who wrote the curriculum you use every day. (I know I get great ideas for books when talking to families in my booth.)
12. Inspiration: Passionate speakers provide the motivation you need to remember why you started homeschooling.
13. Building Lifelong Friendships: Connect with like-minded parents who can become your “village.” I have forever friends whom I met at conferences.
14. Encouraging for Kids: Your children see that homeschooling is a normal and even popular way to learn.
15. Professional Development: Just like any other career, you deserve training to improve your “teaching” skills.
16. Discovering New Resources: Find amazing tools and elective subjects you didn’t even know existed. My children also find resources that they’re excited about—which means they’re more likely to use it.
17. Save on Shipping: Buying at the booth means taking the books home that day without shipping fees.
18. Fun Family Memories: These trips often turn into favorite family vacations. We have seen many parts of the US on our journeys.
19. Gift Bag Freebies: Who doesn’t love a tote bag full of resources and samples?
20. Encouragement for Special Needs: Find specialized support and curriculum for unique learners. Often, the person who offers the most help is the other mom shopping next to you.
21. Vetting Local Services: If the conference is in your local area, you can meet local co-op leaders or supply store owners.
22. Getting Your Questions Answered: Most speakers and vendors stay after sessions specifically to help you. I also spend all day in my booth, and I love answering questions.
23. Parental Fellowship: Mom’s nights out or fellowship hours provide much-needed adult conversation … and fun!
24. Gaining Confidence: Walking away with a plan makes you feel significantly more prepared for the fall. It also helps to see that others have walked the path before you and their children have done well in life!
25. Refocusing on the “Why”: Beyond academics, conferences help you remember the heart and soul of your family life.

I hope to see you at Teach Them Diligently or FPEA this year! Please come say hello after one of my sessions. I would love to hear your story.

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course.

Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners. Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live. Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer.

Get Homeschool Basics on Amazon Now!

I’ll be honest with you: there are mornings I wake up and wonder if I should even be speaking into the lives of other parents. If you walked into the Goyer home on a Tuesday, you might see more struggles than successes. You might see a houseful of people—some with trauma backgrounds, all with sinful hearts—bouncing off each other until the noise is deafening.

I share this because I’ve realized that if it’s happening in my home, it’s probably happening in yours, too.

The world our kids are growing up in is loud, fast, anxious, and spiritually confusing. We’re not just teaching lessons. As we homeschool, we’re discipling hearts and shaping identity. 

The heart of homeschooling means saying “yes” to time and family and “no” to hurry. It means listening more than lecturing and asking questions rather than pointing fingers. If you feel tired or unsure, you’re not alone. Your steady love, messy faithfulness, and willingness to try again matter more than you think.

Jesus in the Noise and Weariness

When we look at the life of Christ, we see a Savior who was intimately acquainted with being “interrupted” by the needs of emotional people.

• When He was tired: In Mark 4:38, Jesus was so exhausted that He fell asleep on a boat during a literal storm. When His disciples woke Him in an emotional panic, He didn’t shame them. He addressed the storm and then redirected their faith.
• When people were emotional: When Mary and Martha were weeping in grief (John 11), Jesus didn’t give a lecture on theology first. He wept with them. He met their outburst with His presence.
• When life was loud: In Mark 6, the crowds were so pressing that Jesus and the disciples “did not even have a chance to eat.” Life was demanding and physically draining.

Jesus didn’t wait for a quiet classroom to do His best work. He stepped right into the middle of the loud mess.

The Healer and the Sick

Matthew 9:12 tells us, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” This is the heartbeat of our homes. If our children were already “well,” they wouldn’t need the intensive, daily discipleship we provide.

We often think of homeschooling as a way to create a bubble, but in reality, it is a laboratory for grace. We aren’t just teaching math. Instead, we are teaching our kids what to do with their sin. 

When we admit to our kids, “I am tired, and I am struggling to stay patient,” we are modeling the very thing they need to learn: how to turn to the Healer when we realize we are the ones who are “sick.”

The World is Loud (And the Bubble is Breaking)

We once had a family move in just two doors down from us. The influences they brought were so massive that they eventually played a part in our decision to move to the next town. But we quickly learned that moving didn’t stop the problems, because those connections had already been made.

Whether it’s a neighbor, a church friend, or the world tucked inside a smartphone, the loud voices of this culture are rising up everywhere. If you’ve managed to keep your kids in a bubble so far, I am truly glad. But eventually, every child has to face the wind. Our job isn’t just to shield them; it’s to teach them how to stand when the storm is howling.

Safe Harbors in the Pages of a Story

One of the most powerful tools we have in a loud world is the power of story. Story is a “safe” place to experience danger. In the pages of a Christian novel, a teen can walk through pain, hardship, and obstacles with a guide.

In my WWII novels, like From Dust and Ashes or By The Light of the Silvery Moon, characters face life-and-death choices and the deafening noise of war and tragedy. 

When a teen reads about a character facing a hard choice, they “experience” the consequences on the page rather than in their own life. It gives them a mental map for when the world starts whispering things that run counter to everything we hold dear.

A “Selah” for the Weary Parent

To “go and do likewise” in a houseful of big emotions means we stop seeing “explosions” as interruptions to our work and start seeing them as the work itself. This week, I challenge you to try a 60-Second Selah.

The word Selah means “to pause and weigh.” When the noise rises, don’t react immediately. Step into the hallway, breathe, and pray: “Lord, give me Your heart for this child right now.” Your weakness isn’t an obstacle to God’s work in your kids; it’s often the very place where they see His strength most clearly (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are overwhelmed, we don’t need a ten-point plan. Instead, we need small, holy shifts that invite Jesus into the room.

Your “Loud World” Action Steps

If you feel like you are drowning in the noise today, take a breath. Discipleship isn’t about doing more. It’s about being with Jesus in the middle of the “much.” Here are three intentional pivots for your week:

• The 60-Second Selah: When a child’s attitude flares or the house feels like it’s vibrating with tension, don’t react immediately. Step into the hallway, the pantry, or even the bathroom. Take sixty seconds to breathe and pray: “Lord, I don’t have the peace for this, but You do. Give me Your heart for this child right now.”
• The Connection Bridge: Tonight, set aside the “shoulds” of the curriculum or the chores. Grab a story together—perhaps a chapter of your favorite Christian novel. Don’t use it as a lecture point. Just sit together. Let the story do the heavy lifting of opening a door to their heart while you simply offer your presence.
• The Grace Confession: When you blow it (and we all do) don’t hide in shame. Model what it looks like to be “sick needing a Healer.” Look your child in the eye and say, “I was impatient and loud, and I am so sorry. Will you forgive me? I’m still learning how to lean into Jesus, too.” This is the most powerful discipleship tool in your cabinet.

A Prayer for the Weary Parent

Heavenly Father,

I lift up the mom or dad reading this right now whose heart is heavy and whose ears are ringing from the noise of a loud world. Lord, You know the weight of the “hard choices” their children are making. You see the trauma backgrounds, the sensory overloads, and the deep, silent worries that keep them awake at night.

I thank You that You aren’t a God who demands a perfect home before You show up. You are the Healer who meets us right on the kitchen floor. When the world feels fast and spiritually confusing, help us to hear Your still, small voice. Give us the courage to choose connection over correction and to lean in when we really want to pull away.

Lord, bless their “messy faithfulness.” Remind them today that they are not alone and that their steady love is making an eternal impact, even when they can’t see it. We trust You with our children’s stories, knowing that You are the Great Author who is still writing. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Additional Resources

How to Create a Legacy Bible: An Instructional Guide for Passing on Faith Across Generations

Leslie Nunnery and I share a practical roadmap for embedding your personal faith journey into the pages of Scripture. How to Create a Legacy Bible helps you craft a personalized handbook of faith, filled with stories and prayers that will speak to your children and grandchildren for years to come. As parents, we are stewards of our family’s faith journey, and this book shows you how to ensure that light shines through your lineage.

Discover the Power of One Prayer

Prayers that Changed History: From Christopher Columbus to Helen Keller, how God used 25 people to change the world.

History is often told through the lens of great deeds, but the most significant shifts often began on someone’s knees. In Prayers That Changed History, I share the stories of twenty-five notable people—like Martin Luther and Sojourner Truth—whose lives were transformed by prayer. God is not finished changing the world, and He wants to use your prayers to make history today.

Stay Connected and Encouraged

Building a culture of faith is a daily process, and you don’t have to do it alone. Join our community for daily inspiration and literary encouragement:

• The Daily Bible Podcast on Substack: Start your morning with a “coffee club” atmosphere as we dive into the Word together. Join the conversation here.

• Avid Readers of Christian Fiction: If you love stories that nourish the soul, find your next favorite book and connect with other readers. Subscribe here.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a chaotic room, feeling your heart pound and your temperature rise? Your face flushes, your skin tingles, and you feel yourself losing control. The frustration bubbles up, and suddenly you want to control the situation, control the people around you, and somehow control yourself.

Whether it is a conflict with a coworker, a misunderstanding with a spouse, or a friend who repeatedly pushes your buttons, we all struggle with anger at times. We live in a world that often tells us our anger is entirely justified. But deep down, there is also a fear pounding with every quickened beat. What if this does not change? What type of angry person will I become?

We know those types of people. The ones who never seem happy. The ones who take out their inner angst on the world and leave a tsunami in their wake. (Truthfully, I’ve been that type of person during a very challenging season of my life!) And if we are completely honest, fears fill us when we see that same seething contempt staring back at us in the mirror. 

The Illusion of Outward Anger

The reality is that anger rarely dispels the hurt. It might make us feel less powerless in the moment, but that feeling cannot be sustained. Outward anger comes from feeling out of control inwardly. When humans feel threatened, they respond in three ways: fight, flight, or freeze. Anger is a way that many of us “fight.” 

However, anger is often a quick, secondary emotion that masks underlying emotions we don’t want to face. Sometimes “mad means sad,” and anger can also mean anxious, afraid, or overwhelmed. 

Anger is one of the easiest emotions to express when we do not want to appear vulnerable. While it may temporarily numb the pain or make us feel powerful for the moment, it doesn’t get rid of the hurt.

Anger is not a character flaw. It is an emotion. But James 1:19 gives us a clear directive:

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

There are times when I didn’t like that verse very much, because it called me out. I have said things and acted in ways I am not proud of. Sometimes I let my mind spiral out of control, jumping down angry paths. But God does not want us to remain in bondage to our anger. He longs for us to find freedom from the pain.

Proverbs 14:29 says, “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.”

We can be people of understanding. We can be people of peace as we trust God and turn to Him.

Transforming Our Thoughts

How do we actually change? How do we regulate ourselves so we can guide our families and influence our communities?

It starts with our thoughts. Our thoughts control our lives. Our thoughts control our emotions. Our thoughts control our reactions. Here is a simple, practical tool I learned from cognitive therapy to help process those heated moments:

• Catch It: Identify the thought that came BEFORE the emotion. The best way to catch negative thoughts is to use emotions as cues.
• Check It: Reflect on how accurate and useful the thought is. Pause and ask yourself if the thought is true.
• Change It: Change the thought to a more accurate or helpful one as needed.

For example, consider a time when a need is overlooked by a spouse. Is it possible to catch and change the thoughts before you become angry? 

Recently, I was sick and wanted someone to tend to me. I felt anger rising toward my husband—after all, he should see what I need. But then I reframed the thought. He was caring for all the kids and his parents while also working. He was simply used to me being the one to take care of sick family members. Instead of getting angry, I ordered chicken soup and ginger ale through a delivery service. I also became thankful that my husband was taking on extra responsibilities while I was down.

It takes a lot of hard work to reframe our thoughts, and there will be no shortcuts, but it will be worth it. When we turn over our frustrations to God with a clean heart, pure motives, and pure trust, God will show up and change us, starting from the inside out.

We can also pray Ephesians 4:31-32 over our lives today:

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

When our hearts are settled and filled, we can experience life’s tantrums with much more peace.

A Prayer for Peace:

Lord, I have no answers. I have nothing to give. Be with me. Be with them. Bring an unexplainable peace to a hard situation. When I feel the tension rising and my thoughts spiraling, remind me to pause. Give me the wisdom to catch my negative thoughts, check them against Your Word, and change them to reflect Your truth. Calm them from the inside out, and calm my own heart, too. Fill my mind with Your Holy Spirit so that I can respond with grace, understanding, and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You May Also Like:

Homeschooling is a beautiful journey, but let us be honest: it is not always peaceful. When you are together 24/7, managing math lessons, chores, and different personalities, anger will inevitably show up. Between John and me, we have raised ten children. Seven of our kids came to us through adoption, and anger was often an unwelcome guest in our home. Through over three decades of homeschooling, I have learned that dealing with a child’s anger is less about demanding obedience and more about pointing their hearts toward God.

Anger is not a character flaw. It is an emotion. How we help our kids manage it changes as they grow. Here is a look at how we can guide our children through their anger at different stages of life.

Little Ones: Babies and Toddlers

Infants use crying to get their basic needs met. As they grow into toddlers, they face new frustrations. Often, what we label as bad behavior is really a toddler’s fear, overstimulation, being overtired, or hunger. Toddlers are also frustrated by the skills they have not mastered.

• Set Realistic Goals: We cannot expect a toddler to keep his toys tidy. Focus on simple rules like “no biting or no hitting.”
• Teach Emotions: Labeling emotions helps toddlers understand what is happening inside them. Children need to be taught how to label and manage their feelings, including anger. Saying things like, “You are angry, but it is not okay to hit,” helps toddlers understand emotions better.
• Offer Simple Tools: We can teach our toddlers to take soft breaths, press their hands together, and ask for help and a hug.
• Model the Behavior: Perhaps the best way to teach toddlers to manage anger in healthy ways is to model it. 

Model the Behavior

The best way we can expect young children to stay calm and to control anger is to model how it’s done. For example, imagine you are rushing to get dinner on the table, and your toddler accidentally spills a full cup of sticky juice all over the freshly mopped floor. Your immediate instinct might be to yell or express sharp frustration. Instead, you intentionally pause and narrate your feelings out loud so your child can hear your thought process.

You might say, “Oh no. I am feeling really frustrated right now because I worked hard to clean this floor, and now there is a big mess. I am going to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and ask God to help me calm down.”

After taking a literal, visible deep breath, you gently turn to your child and say, “Accidents happen, but next time we need to keep our cups on the table. Let’s get a towel and clean this up together.”

When we openly demonstrate our own need for self-control and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our reactions, our children learn that big emotions are normal, but we do not have to let those feelings dictate our actions (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV).

Growing Minds: School-Aged Kids

With school-aged children, I like to emphasize relationship over rigor. This is the stage where we can really start teaching them how their thoughts impact their feelings. They are old enough to understand that anger is a choice.

• Use the 3 Cs: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers a great tool for this age.
  • Catch It: Identify the thought that came BEFORE the emotion. The best way to catch negative thoughts is to use emotions as cues.
  • Check It: Reflect on how accurate and useful the thought is.
  • Change It: Change the thought to a more accurate or helpful one as needed.
• Praise the Good: I learned to be exuberant in praise whenever my children were doing the slightest thing right.
• Create a Calm Bag: Fill a bag with things they can squeeze like play dough, a small bottle of bubbles, or paper and a marker to use to express themselves.

How to Use a Calm Bag

Imagine you are sitting in a crowded doctor’s waiting room or trying to help an older sibling finish a math lesson, and you can see your little one’s frustration starting to bubble over. Instead of letting a meltdown take hold, you reach for the Calm Bag. You might hand them a small container of play dough and gently say, “I can see you are feeling really upset right now. Let’s squeeze this dough as hard as we can to let those big feelings out.” Alternatively, you could pull out the bubbles and suggest, “Let’s take a very deep breath and blow a huge bubble to send that angry feeling away.” Having these tangible tools readily available gives your child a safe, physical way to process their emotions before they spiral, guiding them toward peace and self-control (Proverbs 29:11, ESV).

The Transition Years: Tweens and Teens

Pre-teens are often irritable and mouthy. They know how to push their parents’ buttons. Teenagers are attempting to grow into independence, and they may resent parenting. This is the hardest stage, but it is also the most crucial time to remain a steady anchor.

• Avoid Power Struggles: Power struggles never lead to any good. I learned not to care as much about things that will not really matter in the long run.
• Try Affect Labeling: This is the process of listening to another person’s emotional experience and reflecting back those emotions in short, simple “You” statements. A typical affect label would be: “You are angry.” Unlike other forms of reflective listening, when you wish to calm someone down, you must ignore the words and focus on the emotions.
• Fill Their Love Tank: We discover that when their love tank is full, we have far fewer problems with anger. Fifteen minutes of quality alone time does a wonderful job of filling my kids’ love tanks.
• Give Space: Give your teen time and space to process her emotions. Do not feel as if you have to deal with the situation in the moment. Space allows teens time to calm down.

Our kids are reachable, but we have to reach out. The love, care, affection, and commitment we provide give them their best chance. Dealing with anger in your home can be challenging at times, but it is also doable. When we rely on God’s strength and choose empathy over lectures, we can guide our families toward true peace.

Additional Resources

Calming Angry Kids

Are slammed doors and hurting hearts a daily reality in your family? Parenting children with chronic anger is exhausting. Raising ten children, including through adoption, has shown me firsthand the deep challenges of navigating those intense emotions. We often feel like peace is out of reach.

In my book, Calming Angry Kids, I draw on my own experience to help you find a better path. We will focus on understanding what is going on in your child’s brain and prioritizing connection. As the guide highlights, we must “focus on relationship over rules” and “teach a child how to handle frustrations without outbursts” (Goyer, Calming Angry Kids).

This journey is about establishing a standard of respect in the home while controlling how we express our own anger. Every chapter includes reflection questions and action steps to guide weary parents. With a 4.3 rating from 143 reviews on Goodreads, many families are already finding the tools they need.

Peace in your home is within reach. You can grab your copy today!

In the quiet moments before the house wakes, or perhaps in the middle of a chaotic afternoon of math lessons and laundry, we have a unique calling. As homeschooling parents, we are the ones who see it all. We see the spark of understanding in a difficult subject, and we see the meltdowns that come from sheer exhaustion. We know our kids’ hearts because we are with them through every transition of the day.

This constant presence is a beautiful weight. It can feel like there is never enough time to truly pour into their souls when the physical needs are so loud. Yet, we are told in Revelation 1:5-6 that Jesus Christ has freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom of priests for God, His Father. As a priest in your home, you have the authority to stand in the gap for your children.

The Ancient Blessing

The Lord spoke to Moses, giving him a specific way to bless the people. This “Aaronic Blessing” is a foundation for our own homes—one that we can pray over our children:

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

When we pray these words, we are asking God to wrap His protection around the students in our schoolroom and to let His grace be the primary teacher in our day.

Three Scriptural Blessings for Your Children

As a homeschooling parent, you know your children’s specific strengths and their deepest struggles. This cam help you tailor your prayers to their unique spirits. Here are three blessings to speak over them today:

1. A Blessing for Wisdom and Growth

When the curriculum feels heavy, or a child struggles with focus, pray for a mind that is attuned to God’s truth.

The Prayer: “May you be filled with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” (Colossians 1:9)

2. A Blessing for a Tender Heart

In the friction of sibling squabbles and long hours together, pray for a spirit of kindness to take root.

The Prayer: “May you be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

3. A Blessing for Courageous Faith

As we prepare our children to eventually step out into the world, pray that their confidence remains anchored in the Lord rather than their own abilities.

The Prayer: “May you be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

A Moment of Grace

Mom, please don’t see this as another item to add to your to-do list. You do not need an hour of silence to be a faithful witness to your children. Sometimes the most powerful blessing is the one whispered over a lunch plate or spoken while folding a basket of socks. Prayer is the best way to help our children and ourselves as we parent.

Your work today has eternal value. Every prayer you breathe is a seed planted in the soil of their hearts. When we pray, we are asking God to work in ways we cannot. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

Continue Your Journey of Prayer and Legacy

As we labor in our homes to point our children toward Christ, we have the opportunity to leave a tangible roadmap of our faith. If you are looking for more ways to ground your family in the Word and the power of prayer, I invite you to explore these resources:

Create a Lasting Heritage

In How to Create a Legacy Bible: An Instructional Guide for Passing on Faith Across Generations 

Leslie Nunnery and I share a practical roadmap for embedding your personal faith journey into the pages of Scripture. This guide helps you craft a personalized handbook of faith, filled with stories and prayers that will speak to your children and grandchildren for years to come. As parents, we are stewards of our family’s faith journey, and this book shows you how to ensure that light shines through your lineage.

Discover the Power of One Prayer

Prayers that Changed History: From Christopher Columbus to Helen Keller, how God used 25 people to change the world

History is often told through the lens of great deeds, but the most significant shifts often began on someone’s knees. In Prayers That Changed History, I share the stories of twenty-five notable people—like Martin Luther and Sojourner Truth—whose lives were transformed by prayer. God is not finished changing the world, and He wants to use your prayers to make history today.

Stay Connected and Encouraged

Building a culture of faith is a daily process, and you don’t have to do it alone. Join our community for daily inspiration and literary encouragement:

• The Daily Bible Podcast on Substack: Start your morning with a “coffee club” atmosphere as we dive into the Word together. Join the conversation here.
• Avid Readers of Christian Fiction: If you love stories that nourish the soul, find your next favorite book and connect with other readers. Subscribe here.

There’s something we don’t talk about enough. We love the moment of transformation. The healing, the miracle, and the breakthrough. The tears at the altar. The prayer that changes everything. We love the before-and-after story.

Before: broken.
After: healed.

Before: lost.
After: found.

Before: bound.
After: free.

And yes, Jesus absolutely changes everything. But then comes the after. The day after the miracle. The week after the decision. The months after surrender.

What does life look like then? Because the truth is, meeting Jesus doesn’t mean life suddenly becomes perfect. It means life becomes redeemed. 

After we meet Jesus, we feel different, yet we still remember who we used to be. Others do too.

Meeting Jesus doesn’t mean we ignore the previous chapters of our story. Instead, it means now, instead of walking alone, we walk in relationship with the One who restores us. The after is where real life happens.

The Morning After the Well

Inspired by the Samaritan Woman – John 4

The sun had barely risen when she woke. For a moment, she forgot. Forgot the heat of the afternoon sun. Forgot the stranger at the well. Forgot the way His eyes had looked at her.

“Jesus,” she whispered his name. He was so different. She knew right away that he was no ordinary traveler. This man didn’t look at her with lust or power. He looked at her with compassion. He also didn’t narrow his eyes with accusation, but with knowing. 

Meeting Jesus had changed everything. A lightness had filled her chest in a way she’d never known before. That lightness had been hope. It was as if a candle had flickered in her heart, and suddenly she believed that life could be different. That she could be different.

With the morning light, the memories of yesterday came rushing back. The woman’s hand covered her mouth. What had come over her? Instead of keeping the hope for herself, she had wanted to share it, and so she’d run to town. “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did…”

Now, she sat up in bed, her heart pounding. Had it really happened? 

Outside, she could already hear voices in the village street. Sandaled feet walked along dirt paths, as they’d done every day that she could remember. Low murmurs. A woman laughing. She smiled at the sound of the laughter, but then the old doubts resurfaced, unbidden.

Were they talking about her? They had always talked about her. Five husbands. Too many mistakes. Too much shame. 

The worried thoughts came like a flood, and so she closed her eyes and remembered Jesus’ gentle gaze. She remembered how He’d offered her living water … and how she had soaked it up.

Yesterday, for the first time in years, she had walked into town with her head lifted. She had knocked on doors. She had looked neighbors in the eye. She had spoken the name of Jesus aloud. Yet this morning reality was an unwelcome guest.

Now, in the quiet of morning, the old fears returned. What if her neighbors had only listened because they were curious? What if nothing had changed in her town? She rose and dressed, and decided she had to know one way or the other.

What if I’m still the woman they whisper about? 

She pulled her shawl around her shoulders and stepped outside. Footsteps stilled. A dozen sets of eyes turned her way. The women of the village carried their water jars, and the men stopped their work.

At first, no one spoke. Then an older woman approached. A tightness filled her stomach. This was the very woman who used to turn away when she passed. 

“We went,” the older woman said softly. “To see Him.” Tears sprang to her eyes.

“And?” 

The woman smiled as she tucked a gray strand of hair behind her ear. “Now we believe. Or at least some of us do.”

Even as she noticed compassion in the older woman’s eyes, a few others remained distant. They rushed away, and she understood: some would never accept her. Even though she was forgiven, there was much that many would never forget.

The woman who met Jesus at the well stood frozen in the morning light. The village still looked the same. The same dusty roads. The same doors. The same people.  Some of them had discovered what she had discovered: that Jesus was the Christ. For the others, change might come later. Hopefully it would.

The shame that had once clung to her now felt like an old garment falling from her shoulders. The after had begun. Not a perfect life. But a new one.

The Woman at the Well: After the Shame

The Samaritan woman at the well met Jesus carrying years of shame. She went to the well alone, at an odd hour, likely because she was avoiding the judgmental eyes of others. 

Jesus saw her. Not just her past or her mistakes. He saw her. And after that encounter, she ran back to town and told everyone: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did.” 

The woman who had hidden from people now led people to Christ. But can you imagine the aftermath?

Did the whispers stop immediately? Did everyone suddenly forget her past? Probably not.

People may have still looked at her the same way. But she was no longer defined by their opinions. She was defined by the One who had loved her and had forgiven her.  That’s the after. The old labels may still echo, but Jesus gives us a new identity. 

Peter: After the Failure

Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. Can you imagine the weight of that failure after the rooster crowed? The shame. The regret. The replaying of every moment.

Yet after the resurrection, Jesus met Peter again. Jesus did not approach with condemnation, but with restoration in mind. “Do you love Me?”

Three times Jesus asked, and three times He restored what Peter thought was lost. The after for Peter wasn’t perfection. It was a purpose. Peter still had to live with the memory of his failure, but now it no longer defined him. So many of us live there.

Jesus forgives us, but we still wrestle with forgiving ourselves. The after is learning to receive grace every day.

Paul: After the Conversion

Paul the Apostle had one of the most dramatic transformations in Scripture. From persecutor of Christians to preacher of Christ. Yet even Paul wrote words that feel painfully familiar: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” 

That is the real after. The struggle. The battle between flesh and spirit. The habits that don’t break overnight. The thoughts that still need renewing. The old patterns that try to pull us back.

Transformation is instant in the spirit, but growth is often daily in the soul. Following Jesus does not remove every struggle. It gives us Someone to walk through the struggle with.

The Man Born Blind: After the Healing

A man born blind received his sight from Jesus. What joy that must have been. But immediately after came questions. Interrogation. Skepticism. Religious criticism. People debated his miracle. Some even doubted it happened.

Sometimes, after Jesus moves in our lives, others question what God has done. They may not understand the peace we have. They may not understand why we changed. But we do not need everyone’s approval when we have Christ’s presence. The man didn’t need to understand the miracle to live the rest of his days with sight.

The Real After

This is where faith becomes real. The after is:

• waking up and choosing obedience again
• fighting old habits
• resisting old temptations
• facing people who remember who you used to be
• learning new patterns
• rebuilding trust
• renewing your mind
• walking in grace when you stumble

The real after is a mix of joy and struggle. Freedom mixed with growth, and healing mixed with scars. And yet it is beautiful. Because now, in the after, we have Jesus. We don’t have a flawless life. Instead, we have a faithful Savior.

The miracle is not that everything around us changes overnight. The miracle is that we no longer walk through life alone. Jesus is with us in the after. He is with us in the doubts and fears. In the joy, and in the breaking of old habits. In the overcoming of opinions. In the daily surrender. The after is where discipleship lives. And that may be the greatest miracle of all.

Yes, God Has Changed You… But Building Trust Takes Time

Inspired by the Demoniac – Mark 5

The village had gone quiet. For the first time in years, so had he. No screaming. No voices clawing at his mind. No chains.

He sat outside the small house where a family had given him shelter, staring at his own hands in the moonlight. Hands that had once torn at iron. Hands that had bruised his own skin. Hands now still. 

His fingers trembled as he touched his face. No dirt. No blood. No madness. Only tears. 

He couldn’t believe it. The people in the village couldn’t either. He could hear hushed voices. “Can you believe it’s really him?”

“I’m still afraid.”

“Jesus changed him … but will it last?”

The words stung. He understood. Yesterday, children ran from him. Men crossed to the other side of the road. Women pulled their shawls tighter and hurried past the tombs. Now they stared at him in stunned silence. Some looked with wonder, but others with fear. 

He closed his eyes. The memory of Jesus’ voice came back to him. Calm. Strong. Commanding the darkness to leave.

The man had thought freedom would feel like instant joy. But tonight it felt unfamiliar.

Who was he now? 

How do you begin living after years of being broken? How do you face the people who only know the worst version of you? 

A child’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Are you okay?”

He opened his eyes. A little boy stood in the doorway.

The same boy who used to hide behind his mother as they passed the tombs. 

The man swallowed hard. “Yes,” he said quietly.

The boy stepped closer. “You’re different.”

A slow smile spread across the man’s face. “Yes,” he whispered again. “I am.”

The after was not easy. But it was holy.

The Daily Walk of the After

Living in the aftermath of a changed heart requires profound courage. The initial encounter with Jesus brings miraculous rescue. The days following that rescue require steady obedience. 

The woman at the well, Peter, Paul, and the man freed from demons all woke up the next morning to face their communities and their own reflections. We face this reality too. 

You might experience the tug of old habits. You might see hesitation in the eyes of people who know your history. When those moments happen, rely on the truth of God’s ongoing restoration. 

The Apostle Paul offers us deep reassurance for this journey:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6, NIV).

God does not abandon us after the initial transformation. He stays near to guide our daily steps. He offers fresh grace for the days we stumble. 

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us of this unending provision:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV).

Your story of redemption is actively being written right now. The labels of the past hold no authority over the identity Christ secured for you. Step into the light of this new day. Keep your focus on Jesus, trusting that the One who changed your heart will faithfully walk beside you through every single moment. And that is the hope that we cling to… in the after.

Additional Resources

Journal Through the Bible in 2026

Have you ever wanted to read through the Bible but found yourself giving up? Or even worse, you read the chapters and at the end question how they apply to your life. Tricia Goyer understands. For years she felt frustrated that she couldn’t stick to her commitment to read God’s Word all the way through. Things changed when she found a doable plan and wrote out a daily prayer. Tricia’s heart changed. Her life did, too.

God can bring real transformation into your heart and life when you daily commit to reading your Bible and praying through God’s Word. Praying through the Bible in One Year offers a guided reading plan and a daily prayer starter to help you make God’s Word applicable to your life. Discover the inspiration for real-life transformation.

Purchase a copy of Praying Through the Bible in One Year HERE.

Do you ever feel like you’ve run out of your own words to help your child? Good news! You can turn to the Bible for fresh ones. You don’t need to be a theology scholar to find comfort and direction in Scripture.

Here is a simple, step-by-step guide for using Bible Hub, a free online tool, to find verses that match exactly what your child is going through today.

Step 1: Search by Topic

Bible Hub has a massive library of verses organized by subject. This is the best place to start when you are looking for help with a specific behavior or need.

1. Go to BibleHub.com.
2. In the drop-down list in the right corner, click on “Topical.”
3. Click on the results under “Torrey’s New Topical Textbook” or “Nave’s Topical Bible.”
4. In the search bar, type in a “felt need” or a specific trait. For example: anxiety, patience, kindness, laziness, or courage. These will give you a list of verses specifically about that theme.

Step 2: Choose a Verse That Speaks to Your Heart

Once you see a list of verses, don’t feel like you have to read them all. Scan the short snippets of text.

• Look for “I” or “You” statements: These are often the easiest to turn into prayers.
• Switch Translations: If a verse feels confusing, look for the “Parallel” button. This lets you see the same verse in different versions. The NLT (New Living Translation) or HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) are often very clear and easy to understand for modern readers.

Step 3: Turn the Verse Into a Written Prayer

This is where the magic happens for a homeschooling parent. You take the ancient truth and wrap it around your child’s specific name.

The Formula:

“Lord, I pray that [Child’s Name] would [Action from the Verse]. Please help them to [Benefit from the Verse].”

An Example:

If you looked up “Peace” and found Philippians 4:7 (“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”):

Your Written Prayer: “Lord, I pray that your peace would fill Sarah’s heart today during her math test. Guard her mind from the thoughts that tell her she isn’t smart enough, and let her feel Your calm instead.”

Why Writing It Down Matters

In the rush of homeschooling, we often feel like we can’t take time for what matters. Yet, writing out our prayers helps us slow down and see God’s hand at work in the details of our children’s lives.

When you write these prayers in the margins of your lesson planner or on a sticky note, you are creating a record of God’s faithfulness. You may see your child’s weaknesses, but through these scriptures, you start to see the strength God is building in them.

Praying for Children from Trauma

My husband John and I have adopted seven kids. It is a profound weight to walk beside a child who is navigating the echoes of trauma. Maybe you understand, even if adoption is not part of your family’s story. Trauma comes to families in many ways.

As a homeschooling parent, you are on the front lines, seeing the way these wounds manifest in a search for identity through things that don’t truly satisfy. Our children’s struggles are not just problems to be solved, but invitations to pray more deeply and love more fiercely. 

Kids who’ve faced trauma are often drawn toward unhealthy influences and substances. Parent, you have the privilege of standing as a priest for your teen, speaking God’s truth over those exact areas.

Here are four scriptures tailored to these struggles, with placeholders for your child’s name:

1. A Prayer for Identity and Belonging

When a child is drawn to “tough” or disrespectful crowds in search of a sense of self, we pray that they find their true identity in Christ.

“Lord, I pray that [Child’s Name] would know that he is Your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You prepared in advance for him to do. Let him find his belonging in You rather than in the world.” – Inspired by Ephesians 2:10

2. A Prayer for a Renewed Mind and Pure Influences

For the struggle with foul music, videos, and negative online relationships, we ask for a shift in what his heart hungers for.

“Father, I ask that [Child’s Name] would no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of his mind. Help him to discern what is good, pleasing, and Your perfect will regarding what he watches and listens to.” – Inspired by Romans 12:2

3. A Prayer for Protection from Substances and Self-Harm

This prayer focuses on the body being a temple and the desire for sobriety and clarity.

“Lord, I pray that [Child’s Name] would understand that his body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in him. I pray he would honor You with his body and choose the life and sobriety found in Your Spirit over any temporary substance.” – Inspired by 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

4. A Prayer for Healing from Trauma and Escape from Deception

For the child searching for “toughness” to cover past pain, we pray for the healing of the heart and the breaking of unhealthy ties.

“Lord, You promised to be close to the brokenhearted and to save those who are crushed in spirit. I pray You would heal the wounds in [Child’s Name]’s past. Lead him away from the path of the wicked and the counsel of the disrespectful, and let his delight be in Your word instead.” – Inspired by Psalm 34:18 and Psalm 1:1-2

In the busy hours of teaching and mothering, remember that prayer isn’t the least we can do; it’s the most important thing we can do for our kids. These words are seeds of life being planted over his heart.

Which of these areas feels most urgent for your family today? Take a moment now to pray.

Continue Your Journey of Prayer and Legacy

As we labor in our homes to point our children toward Christ, we have the opportunity to leave a tangible roadmap of our faith. If you are looking for more ways to ground your family in the Word and the power of prayer, I invite you to explore these resources:

Create a Lasting Heritage

In How to Create a Legacy Bible: An Instructional Guide for Passing on Faith Across Generations 

Leslie Nunnery and I share a practical roadmap for embedding your personal faith journey into the pages of Scripture. This guide helps you craft a personalized handbook of faith, filled with stories and prayers that will speak to your children and grandchildren for years to come. As parents, we are stewards of our family’s faith journey, and this book shows you how to ensure that light shines through your lineage.

Discover the Power of One Prayer

Prayers that Changed History: From Christopher Columbus to Helen Keller, how God used 25 people to change the world

History is often told through the lens of great deeds, but the most significant shifts often began on someone’s knees. In Prayers That Changed History, I share the stories of twenty-five notable people—like Martin Luther and Sojourner Truth—whose lives were transformed by prayer. God is not finished changing the world, and He wants to use your prayers to make history today.

Stay Connected and Encouraged

Building a culture of faith is a daily process, and you don’t have to do it alone. Join our community for daily inspiration and literary encouragement:

• The Daily Bible Podcast on Substack: Start your morning with a “coffee club” atmosphere as we dive into the Word together. Join the conversation here.
• Avid Readers of Christian Fiction: If you love stories that nourish the soul, find your next favorite book and connect with other readers. Subscribe here.