I'm in the process of sharing quotes, tidbits, and reflections from the various sessions at the Apologia Live Retreat which I had the opportunity to attend recently.  Start here to read about my over all experience at the Apologia Live Retreat and head over to this post to read reflections from other sessions.

Loving God with All Your Mind

with Debra Bell

Debra's session was really titled “Celebrating the Journey in Awe and Wonder.” But, it was loving God will all your mind that really stuck out to me. She used the framework of how God speaks to us through Scripture, Jesus, Creation, and through man as the Creature.

We can create a context for our kids to learn about God, but only God can bring about the revelation that we're sinners. We do out best, but ultimately it is up to God and the decision of our children as to what happens to them. (I talked a little about this in my reflections from Shepherding a Child's Heart Chapter 2-3.) Isn't that just a little freeing to realize?

What really stood out to my from Debra's session was in reference to loving God with all your mind. It seems like so often we can handle the idea of loving Him with our heart, soul, and even strength, but somehow loving Him with our minds seems unbiblical and heretical. Christ-followers tend to fear the mind. To use Debra's phrase, we're skiddish about loving God with our minds.

The thing is, God created us with minds to be used for Him. He has given us curiosity and a love for learning. We're naturally wired this way. We're created to be healthy when we are learning. Our conventional schooling model tends to squash this curiosity and love for learning in our children. It pushes down our innate need to explore and seek after God with our minds.

Encourage curiosity and pursuit of loving God with all your mind in your homeschool!

Want more from Debra Bell?  See Debra's website.

How do you encourage curiosity, love of learning, and loving God with all your mind in your homeschool?