You can’t do life alone….
I straight up struggle with community sometimes. Not in terms of actually living in it but actually buying in to it. There’s a difference.
College taught me how you can live with someone all year and barely see them. Go through the motions of living near someone but not needing to rely on them. You would call it community living but you didn’t need to go out of your way to make it work. You did you, and let the other’s figure it out on their own.
True independence set in after getting my first real job out of college; moving 9 hours north from home, and standing on my own financial feet. I had all the choices – get a roommate or live solo (wound up doing some of both), where to live, what I wanted to eat, and how much community I desired. Stared down the decision of how much of Canton, Ohio did I want! At first I put in my toe into the community and only saw minimal relationships because of it. Later, I choose ALL IN and it was the most rewarding choice as friendships grew deeper, sense of responsibility grew, and true community impacts could be made!
World Race happens and community living is standard. It’s the way of life. But the choice is still out there:
To endure through it or fully embrace with an ALL IN attitude.
To go through the motions or pour out every emotion you have.
To float through the friendships or dive head in to the depths of true friendships.
To be honest…I have been in both spectrums for some length of time at some point…but I consciously choose the latter….to buy ALL IN.
God reminded me that through one of my fasting days. When I was experiencing His strength (see part 3), I did not feel as if I needed to rest. So I didn’t. Everyone else went inside to cool off and I stayed in the ditch shoveling. Determine to forge on and continue to experience God working through me.
Then it hit me….I was attempting to do a task that required a TEAM and I am an INDIVIDUAL.
Eric, you can go FAR alone and I support you. But I cherish community and support that too. Imagine how far WE could go if you invited others.
The revelations of what I could of done hit me….I probably should have rested with my team and spoke life into them and used that time to pray over them. If God can remove my physical pain, He surely can heal them too. The imagine of all us working in His accord flashed through my mind and I saw GREATER things!
Where ever you are….buy in, not just part of the way but ALL IN. Seek the community around you. If Jesus had a group around Him to do ministry, why do we think we can do it alone? Because the devil is a liar and seeks to isolate us. Fight back by fighting for others.
Choose to love dangerously in community.
Be Bold in pursuing your community
Be Intentional with each other and hold nothing back.
That concludes the lessons God taught me through that period of fasting! I am excited about what’s to come and living out these precious insights DAILY! May you seek God’s wisdom and ask Him to lead you through a season of fasting with the sole purpose of getting closer to God.
God Bless
