Vulnerability Yields True Community

After a particularly hard week, I spent an evening pouring out my heart to a trusted friend.

Having a good listener at the other end of my struggles lifted my spirit.

My sharing turned into mutual encouragement, finishing with a time of prayer for each other, acknowledging that we both had needs that neither of us could fix.

The words that touched heaven were heart-pleas, that God would show us His presence, administer His peace amid overwhelm, and invade the lives of those we love by showing up and doing the impossible. In short – do a miracle in us and them!

Prayer brings peace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit into our lives. 

As friends our hearts united with a longing for God’s truth to overturn old lies. We shared our united passion for God to change the lives of those we love.

As our evening ended, God’s peace swept over me. Through community and prayer, I had regained a godly perspective.

What seemed out of the realm of possibility was now put into God’s capable hands. My fists of control slowly unclenched, and together we shared a united desire to see God fill and empower us, showing us how to live yielded lives, open to the Holy Spirit’s power and direction.

REFLECTION:

When is the last time you shared openly with a trusted friend, and prayed together?

When is the last time you longed for God to show up in the middle of an impossible situation and fully trusted Him for the outcome?

Being vulnerable to share our faults with someone close to us, invites them to speak truth in the middle of the lies we tell ourselves. 

God’s truth will always shatter the enemies lies. 

Our emotions can warp our thinking and override truth. Without someone holding up the mirror of God’s Word, we can get pulled down into doubt, defeat or despair.

As truth is given and received, peace can then make its entrance and pervade a discouraged, overwhelmed heart.

It is here, in this place of communion with others and God, that we are equipped, empowered and made new.

True friendship earns the right to hold up the mirror of truth.

True friendship receives truth and allows it to drive out the lies of the enemy.

True friendship celebrates vulnerability and living fully out of their God-given uniqueness. LJD

PRAYER:

God, thank you that I can come to Your throne of grace and find help in my time of discouragement. It is in this holy place that I am reminded of my need to surrender the impossible situations in my life to You.

Holy Spirit pour out Your power upon my life. Give to me a desire to see You manifest Yourself in me. Show me what I need to give up, so that I can make room for You to fill and empower me.

God, in Your presence my heart yearns to know You. Cultivate Truth in my life, so that what my flesh longs for – no longer takes the upper hand, allowing You to have full reign in my life.

I know that it is here, in Your presence, that I will be make strong, fully equipped to face the hardships that come my way.

God, I long for You! Slow me down. I want to take the time to enter-in, to where You are! Amen.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 ESV

LINDA JANE DINGELDEIN: DIFFERENT BY DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA JANE DINGELDEIN

Autumns flight turns winter white. LJD