Verse: Philippians 3:17
“Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.”

Devotion
Virtual school has started in our home and I cried the first day. “Finding” our routine has been difficult. I’m so thankful I don’t have to juggle a full time job on top of remote schooling! After our epic fail of a first day, I called a few veteran homeschool moms who encouraged me. These moms have been in the trenches. They’ve put in late nights and early mornings. They’ve cried and prayed and fought and rested in His power and grace. They could whole heartedly tell me to pattern my life after their example.

We all have patterns and behaviors, routines and ruts. Are we comfortable telling others to pattern their lives after ours as we follow Jesus? As Christians, our blueprint is the Bible. If I don’t keep my eyes fixed on Jesus with constancy of purpose, I find that my life goes off spec. Often I need advice from a foreman, a carpenter and an electrician. Get the picture?

One way that helps keep me on track is that every week I call my strong Christian friend and we ask each other: “How is your soul?” or in other words, “How is your walk with Jesus?” Then we confess our sins and pray for each other. We hold each other accountable and mutually encourage each other!

We have a rich heritage of strong and faithful believers that have gone ahead of us! People who we can pattern our lives after. There are so many resources out there! I encourage you to evaluate your pattern of life in prayer. Then call someone with a good track record, pick up a book, write down some goals and remember it is only through His power we can do anything!

Prayer
Jesus, we love you. Our desire is to follow you whole heartedly, through every mountain and valley. Help us to pattern our lives after you. Give us wisdom as we seek counsel and accountability. May we consistently seek your face so that we can walk out this journey of faith with intention and grace.

Also, Jesus we ask that you encourage, strengthen and protect all the caregivers who are teaching children at home and at school!

Amen

Author: Michela Brownell