Recently, my family took a trip to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. As we passed one of the tanks, I noticed a large school of fish swimming together and had a flashback to elementary science class where I learned fish form these groups for protection. God brought to my mind the concept of the“school of fish” He has placed in all of our lives.

This “School of Fish” is exemplified in Acts 2 where the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread together in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:42-47).

The members of the early church surrounded themselves with others who were of the same mind and were committed to growing in the Lord. This was a time for them to be encouraged, to learn, and to get recharged to share the gospel. Verse 47 continues to say “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” They were not isolating themselves in a Christian bubble but were still meeting others and sharing the good news message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My “school of fish” is a mix of different people from diverse backgrounds. Some of them I have known all of my life, and others God has brought along in the last year. They are men and women who encourage me to stand firm in my faith, teach me who God is, exhibit the love of Christ, and seek to protect me from sin that can overtake and destroy.

• My Husband & Family: Seven years ago, God brought my husband into my life. He is a man whose faith and unwavering resolve to trust God’s goodness constantly amaze me as we face various challenges and situations in our life. I also have a family whose heritage is to love the Lord.
• My Friends: Long ago I asked the Lord to bring godly friends into my life. I can’t even tell you how the Lord has answered that request beyond what I could imagine. These women have held me accountable, cried with me, laughed with me, and shared in my pain and joy!
• My Mentors: The Titus 2 command has been lived out in my life. There are older women who have poured their lives into me, teaching me how to be a wife, pray, care for my home, study the Bible, and so much more.

I am not sure who you can count in your “school of fish.” You may come from a broken home or an unbelieving family, or perhaps you are married to an unbeliever. Whatever your situation is, you can be like the early believers whose goals were to be with fellow believers and to commit to growing in the Lord

If you are blessed to have a large group of fish surrounding you, protecting you, and encouraging you, take the time to thank God for it! Ask God to make you a fish in someone else’s life. Continue meeting together, encouraging one another, and praising God together!