The Importance of Community
The Importance of Community
By Luci Boudreaux
Spiritual Insights Blog
Scriptures: Romans 12:4-5, 15 and Colossians 3:16
Romans 12:4-5, 15
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing (counseling) one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Today we will be talking about community, in the sense that God calls us to be, and how it impacts us. Recently, I have experienced it in a powerful way. Two years ago, one of my beloved dogs became very ill with three life-threatening diseases, one after the other. It was not only heartbreaking to see my darling Chloe suffer, but it was stressful both emotionally and financially. The cancer she developed the last year finally took her from us. While caring for her, my dog Ranger’s IBD, which we had been coping with for many years, became chronic, which was also stressful and exhausting. Soon after we lost Chloe, our third dog (Jackson) was having stomach issues, but I was managing it until just after Chloe died. Then it quickly became a crisis.
While dealing with this, my husband cut his lower leg very deeply while working in the field, which put all the chores on me. While he was laid up, we had two major winter storms, which made it very difficult for me to manage. I mean, falling down on the ice kind of managing! While all this was happening, I was getting sharp pains in my abdomen, which eventually drove me to the ER. And the same day Jackson was diagnosed with a mass in his abdomen, I was diagnosed with GB issues. The doc said it needed to come out ASAP.
It took weeks to get through the storms, and we had to postpone all medical appointments. Once we were plowed out, I took Jackson to the vet for exploratory surgery, which led to having him euthanized over the phone, due to cancer. I was still so sad from saying goodbye to Chloe just a few weeks before! And I had surgery scheduled within a couple of weeks.
I know this is a lot of detail, but I wanted to give you a sense of what was going on when I reached out to my community of women prayer warriors and church members who were there for me, praying, sending heartfelt gifts and offering encouraging words to get me through! I received offers to help around the house, meals, prayer (most cherished) notes and texts of encouragement! It helped me to stay focused on the Lord and better days ahead. Without the support of my community, I would have been distraught and very alone in my pain. Instead, I felt supported, loved, and strengthened. God created us to flourish in community!
A previous blog from Toni:
“Why is community so important? You have all heard the saying, “There is safety in numbers.” That is true for your spiritual life also, not just your physical safety. When we stay connected in community, we are protected from the enemy’s fiery darts. His primary goal is to get Christian women isolated so he can lie and torment us. How many of you know what I am talking about? We have all experienced the loneliness and despair that overcomes us when we are isolated, especially women with abortions and abuse in their past; we are an easy target for the enemy. But after we join a safe group and stay accountable, we are now protected.
It’s not just being a part of a group that protects you. It’s being an active member of the group, serving and participating consistently, not just being an observer. We must invest in the group by sharing our hearts, our tears, our triumphs, and our prayer requests. By sharing with the group, you don’t know how your share may help encourage another woman.
I have noticed over the years that the women who stay connected and accountable in a safe community continue to grow spiritually, and they feel safe, deeply connected and loved. These women have huge victories in their lives because they are dedicated to following the Lord and living in community.
Each of us has been given a role in the body of Christ by God. We see in the Scriptures above that Christ is the Head, and each one of us is a part of the body. We are called to do a specific job in the body to keep the body functioning properly.”
“My hope and prayer for each of us is that:
Our faith will grow stronger.
Our relationships with one another will grow deeper.
We will be mature, strong, confident believers in Jesus.
We will not be tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine.
We will have a strong biblical worldview.
Christ dwells in our hearts through faith.
We will be rooted and grounded in love.
We will know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.
We will be filled with all the fullness of God.
Everything that we do is pleasing to God.
Our words will always speak life and encouragement to others.”
(Ref. Ephesians 4:14; 3:17,19)
“I pray you are encouraged to step up your game and make Jesus and sharing His love your priority in everything you do. I pray if you have not been regularly connecting in a deep and meaningful way that God will give you the courage to be open and vulnerable to share. God has so much for you as an individual and for us as a group to accomplish.
Will you pray and ask the Lord what your role in the Kingdom of God is and in this ministry?”
Questions to take to heart:
- Have you experienced the support of a Christ-centered community?
- If so, how has it improved and strengthened your spiritual and emotional growth?
- Why is it important to be connected in a Christ-centered community?
- How can we pray for you?
Please reach out if you want to be a part of a godly group of courageous women who trust God completely and want to see Him glorified through our lives. You can reach me at: overcomer982@icloud.com.
Your Friend,
Luci
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