Day 1: Godly Patterns
(When you see “these children”, insert the names of the children for whom you are praying.)
Lord, may these children not conform to the pattern of this world, but may they be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they may be able to test and approve what God’s perfect will is. Romans 12:12
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I remember when my mother used to sew for us. I remember the feel of the thin paper pattern, I remember watching her lay the pattern on top of the cloth, pin it onto the fabric with straight pins, and then slowly and carefully cut along the pattern lines. It makes me smile to remember that.
What pattern is laid on your life? What is pinned to you, determining how you will be shaped? We are told that we are not to conform to the pattern of this world. Instead, we should allow God to lay His pattern found in His Word on our hearts, pin it securely there and cut away the access, so we may look and act the way He intends for us to look and act. But it won’t look much like the rest of the world. And for us to be okay with that, we must change our thinking—renew our minds. Then we will clearly see and be glad of His perfect will being fulfilled in our lives. May it be so for us and for our children.
Update: Last night was a big night for many teenagers around here. It was Formal night and my son, Troy, got all dressed up in a black tux. I know I am a proud mom, but he was one handsome dude. His big brother Joseph decided to pick him up for a funny picture, and off popped the front button on his tux jacket. Of course, this happened to be five minutes before he was supposed to leave. As they looked for the button under the sofa, I ran to the back for black thread and a needle. After screaming for my “readers” and finally getting the thread through that tiny hole (how did I ever used to see that without glasses?), I did a fast job of sewing back on the button, just in time. The job wasn’t beautiful. I am not a great seamstress like my mother was. But I can sew on a button in a pinch.
It occurred to me that there may be a lesson in that for me. You see, as Christian parents, we deep down want our kids to be perfect, don’t we? It is good and right to train them in the things of God and expect them to follow the pattern of Christ. And we rejoice when we see good fruit in them. But don’t freak out if a button pops off every now and then. It does not mean that they will end up in jail or walk away from Christ or lead others astray. It means they are human beings in need of a Savior, just like we are. So, instead of freaking out, sew the “button” back on and get on with life, walking in grace and respect and forgiveness and great expectation that the pattern of Jesus does make all the difference.
