Together We Stand
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established – that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. – Romans 1:11-12 NKVJ
I love this verse. Every time I see it I’m reminded of how many times I’ve come to a ministry planning meeting of some sort, all prepared to encourage the group I’m leading, only to find that during the meeting I end up being encouraged myself. Paul was no different. He was planning on coming to see and empower the church at Rome and yet in the middle of writing his letter, it seems as if he realized just how much those people meant to him. There is something about sharing like passions and struggles with a fellow believer that is beyond compare, isn’t there? We need each other. We are fellow laborers (1 Cor 3:5-9) for God’s Kingdom in the battle for the souls of men. The journey is long and it can be a lonely one if we stand for the truth.
As I write this and think about all that God has done in my life within the past 15 months, I am speechless when I think of God’s provision for me. When I’ve felt alone, He brought me a friend. When I’ve need prayer, I learned that someone was praying for me. When I’ve needed to change my ways or questioned my decisions, God proved faithful through His word and through a fellow sister in Christ to get me back in the game again. And when I just needed to know, even without words, that I was understood, I knew that God had given me that too.
Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. – Ecc 4:9-10 NKJV
Paul recognized that he could not accomplish his purpose on this earth alone. He knew that his strength came from God and continually thanked God for the support he received from other believers in his life. He made sure that his supporters knew they were appreciated.
Who has been an encourager or fellow laborer in your life? Whether it is one person or a number of people, when was the last time you told them how much you appreciated them? Do you recognized them as they are…as gifts from God? I do. I really do. And I thank God every day for those blessings…my friends. Take today and thank God for the blessings of people He has put in your life. We won’t go very far alone.
I thank God for my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, all the time. He is so good to us. I’m glad we don’t walk alone.
Janna,
I am undone when I consider the provision of Christ. The friendships made. I am humbled. Thank you for this post.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the sisters You have sent into my life. I love them. Let me be a friend You send into their lives as well. Amen
It is so sweet a post. I thank the Lord for sisters in my life, my beloveed family members in my life,
I’ve been thinking of this a lot lately and feeling quite overwhelmed by the love others have shown me. I pray that I can extend that love and encouragement to others.
This post comes a time when I am feeling a little burdened by some of the cares of this world. However it encourages me to take the focus off myself a bit and thank God for some of the blessings he has placed in my life in the form of family and friends.
Thanks Janna
So true Jana! Just yesterday I was talking to a fellow ministry leader wanting to encouarage her and we began to share how lonely leadership can be at times. While I do believe that God can and does use that time to draw us closer to Him, it’s good to know that we are not alone-that we have sisters who understand. It’s a wonderful feeling when you BOTH come away encouraged. Blessings.
Thank you sweet one, so true, and so beautiful.
I had someone that had been praying for me through my entire pregnancy. I did not know this until near the end. It was great to know that someone cared about me and our baby so much that they would spend that much time praying for me. We had our baby last Wednesday. Thank you to one of my friends that was faithful in praying for our baby.
You are right, Janna. We can not labor in His kingdom without His help or the help of others 🙂 – I am thankful for the people the Lord has places around me and I try to let them know as much as I can.
Blessings to you and yours.