We serve a sovereign God whose will is carried out no matter who or what tries to stop it. So why pray? Why petition God if He is going to carry out His will in spite of what we do? Even though He has ordained the outcome (in this case, Capitol Day), He has also ordained the means by which that outcome is fulfilled. That is why we pray; our prayers are ordained by God to see this through!
Please lift up Capitol Day in prayer during the following weeks. There are many things that could endanger our freedom to homeschool. We have made a prayer guide to introduce those areas. As you journey through these twenty-eight days of prayer, please understand that you have been placed here for such a time as this, and THAT has been ordained to accomplish His will.
We live in a fantastic state where homeschooling families can teach their children how they desire without the state’s interference. Oklahoma has the least regulation concerning homeschooling, with the ability to educate our children “by other means” built right into the state constitution. Our desire at Homeschool Oklahoma is to keep homeschooling in our state as free from regulations as possible.
January 21: Please pray for our legislators as they prepare to write, introduce, edit, and vote on bills impacting our state. Their intentions regarding these bills are noble, but as we know, they can and will impact Oklahomans positively and negatively. Please pray for them to have wisdom as they make decisions this year.
January 22: Thousands of bills are being introduced this year. In the past, they have ranged from possibly implementing a “Big Foot” hunting season to how funds in a specific account should be used. Also, in this sea of bills, bills could be introduced that will affect homeschooling families by regulating what they teach or how they teach. Please pray that HSOK’s Eyes and Ears Committee will catch all the bills that will impact homeschooling in any way (both positively and negatively).
January 23: Our state legislators can’t do the job we elected them for if they don’t stay healthy. Please pray that our legislators stay well throughout this year and not grow tired and weary. Pray that their minds will stay sharp and their thoughts clear.
January 24: Today, please pray for the Capitol Day Committee. Pray they finish strong and all the “loose ends” are tied up. Pray that nothing is accidentally overlooked and that everything is organized to aid the individuals talking to the legislators in eleven days.
January 25: Today, we want you to pray for your individual state senator and representative. Once you know who they are, please lift them up in prayer today and regularly. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.” Remember, God is sovereign, and His will is carried out no matter who sits in that Capitol office. To find them, you can go to this web address: http://www.oklegislature.gov/FindMyLegislature.aspx
January 26: The legislators will be busy all year with meetings, sessions, and discussions, but some of the hardest workers of the Capitol are their assistants. They are the schedulers, the deflectors, and the gatekeepers of the legislators. They fulfill their own responsibilities as well as care for their legislator. Please pray they have an efficient year and that everything they do will benefit their legislator. Also, pray that when our Ambassadors talk to them to ask permission to speak to legislators, they will be kind and receptive.
January 27: Pray for the Capitol staff who work behind the scenes, allowing the Capitol to run smoothly throughout the year. They are the custodians, sergeants, research analysts, and many more. Please pray that the people visiting the Capitol respect these positions. The Capitol could not run the way it does without them.
January 28: Pray for the Ambassadors today. Pray that they understand the bills to be discussed and that their thoughts are organized and clear. Pray that they respectfully present themselves to the legislators and their assistants and that their conversations are beneficial, creating relationships for future visits.
January 29: The Ambassadors have volunteered to visit the Capitol next week despite their constant responsibilities to their families, businesses, churches, and communities. So, pray that their schedules will allow for extra time for the meetings at the Capitol on February 4!
January 30: Legislators also have families that must share their loved ones with the state. Pray that they have a spirit of understanding and that their time is of the highest quality whenever they are together as a family. Pray that they stay healthy throughout the year.
January 31: As individuals read and review bills, it’s easy to have a dangerous one slip past them. Pray that no legislation that needs to be addressed will slide under their radar. Pray that the ones looking over these bills will stay alert and focused as they read.
February 1: Capitol Day is just a few days away. Pray that the Ambassadors will rest well and that they are not distracted by the lack of sleep or anxiety. Pray that God will cover them with peace and contentment as they prepare to talk to the legislators.
February 2: In the past few years, we have seen an exodus from brick-and-mortar schools to a homeschooling environment. With that comes confusion, questions, and frustrations. Please pray for the homeschooling families in Oklahoma. Pray that the parents are patient and understanding and that they find the answers to their questions.
February 3: Tomorrow is the day! Pray for the Ambassador’s travels to the Capitol. Pray for the weather, roads, and traffic. Also, pray for their vehicles because many travel far across the state.
February 4: Today is the day!!! As we talk to the legislators today, please pray the legislators will have a receptive spirit. Pray that they will listen favorably and respond well. Pray that they hear our concerns and consider our desires. Pray that they would trust our intentions and not be suspicious.
February 5: Today, the sessions and debates begin. New bills will be introduced, discussed, edited, “killed” on the floor, or passed on to the next level to become bills to follow. Please pray that these sessions will benefit homeschooling families in Oklahoma and their freedom to homeschool will not be infringed upon.
February 6: Pray that the bills dangerous to our homeschooling freedom in Oklahoma will be edited to correct such danger or be thrown out altogether.
February 7: All Legislators must be re-elected or replaced. So, new legislators often find themselves in uncharted territory. Please pray that the new legislators will quickly find their groove. Pray that they understand how things flow within the Capitol and that they will be able to focus on the important things their positions demand.
February 8:Today, pray that the legislators remember the families that sent them cookies and that they remember the faces of the Ambassadors who visited four days ago. The discussions are more meaningful when families and faces are connected to bills.
February 9: Pray that the legislators will remember the homeschooling parents and children they met on Capitol Day. Memory is a powerful thing and can influence decisions. Pray that those memories will be the drive to protect homeschooling in Oklahoma.
February 10: Pray that positive relationships between legislators and their home-educating constituents develop throughout the year. Other homeschooling groups will visit throughout the year. Good relationships are vital for beneficial communication. Pray that nothing hinders those relationships.
February 11: Now that we are one week past Capitol Day, please pray that the Capitol Day Committee gains all the information they need to make next year’s event even better. Pray that we will be honest about what worked and what didn’t. Pray that suggestions and opinions will not be taken personally and that our pride and selfishness never challenge our desire to give God all credit.
February 12: Today, pray that bills that support and protect homeschooling in Oklahoma are on the road to being passed. Pray that no obstacles get in the way of these bills and that the opportunity to homeschool in the state is realized as a benefit to the future of Oklahoma.
February 13: Please pray for Governor Stitt. Pray that God will give him the wisdom and fortitude to lead the state. Pray that God will direct him and that his decisions will benefit and support Oklahoma families and their desire to teach and disciple their children.
February 14: Pray for Lieutenant Governor Pinnell and his decisions this year. Pray that the communication between him and the Governor will be clear and open. Pray that God will use him to advise and help the Governor in difficult decisions. Pray that he leads the Senate this year with determination and confidence.
February 15: Please pray for Homeschool Oklahoma. Pray that God gives us wisdom on how best to help the homeschooling families of Oklahoma. We desire to encourage, equip, and protect homeschooling families. With the homeschooling landscape changing yearly, we must stay ahead of those changes to serve Oklahoma better. We covet your prayers!
February 16: Pray for the homeschooling students in Oklahoma. Pray for their desire to be homeschooled, whether they have started this year or are in their thirteenth year. Pray for their education as their parent or guardian teaches them. Pray for their understanding of who God is as they study His creation and how it works. Pray that they will desire to take the torch from their parents and homeschool their children.
February 17: Pray for the parents and guardians who homeschool. Whatever their reason, they believe that homeschooling is the best way for their children to learn. With that comes frustration, doubt, and tears. Pray that they find the answers to their questions. Pray that God directs them to a support group that encourages them and allows them to share their struggles. We are all in this together!
Thank you for the commitment you showed in the last 28 days! During that time, you prayed for our state, leaders, and homeschooling families all over Oklahoma. Continue to pray throughout the year. Please revisit the things you prayed over and add anything that we overlooked. I cannot wait to see what the next year will look like for Oklahoma’s home-educating families. I do know it will be an adventure!