“Therefore, since such a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
As a transitional pastor, my husband is responsible for helping spark renewal and, in some cases, the revival of churches when a pastor leaves in anticipation of the new pastor being hired. On his first Sunday at his new church, I visited to get to know the people and prayed fervently for God to meet them where they were. The church was hurting and in need of a pastor. God sent my husband to them to solidify the vision, help start the healing process from past church conflict, and get the church healthy before the new person was hired.
Because the church had been without a pastor for so long, I expected it to lack spiritual fervor. Many people had left due to issues with the last pastor, and I expected the congregation to be frustrated, exhausted, and desperate. However, when the service started, it was anything but that. At the end of his sermon, my husband called anyone who wanted to feel more of God in their lives, reconnect with the Holy Spirit, and start the healing process.
Before he could finish his sentence, 2/3 of the church approached the altar. With hands extended and tears in their eyes, my husband prayed that the Holy Spirit would come and renew the congregation like never before. The people were so excited when they left. They understood why God had brought my husband to them during this painful transition.
Since COVID, church attendance has been down. I expected church attendance to skyrocket because we'd spent so much time quarantined without the community that people would be so desperate for it that they would go back to church in droves. However, it created a culture of comfort and convenience rather than longing for community and worship with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This was disheartening, to say the least.
The above verse tells us that we need to be surrounded by other witnesses telling their stories about God and what he's doing in their lives. The word of others’ testimonies will help us get through the challenging circumstances in life. When life feels chaotic, and the world doesn't know the difference between right and wrong, the testimony of others watching God work in their lives is the truth we can be anchored to in addition to the Word of God.
Surrounding ourselves with community is imperative in a Christian’s life. Not only does it help us rid ourselves of sin, but it also gives us the accountability we need to prevent sin from occurring in the first place. Additionally, we can comfort each other in our trials, cheer for each other in our triumphs, and live together in harmony. There's nowhere in scripture where people are doing life alone. Jesus always sent out his disciples two by two.
This is so that when one gets discouraged, the other can lift them up. When life got tough and the disciples didn't have a place to stay or food to eat, they could be each other's encouragement, reminding themselves of the greater purpose of their actions. When they longed for their comforts and luxuries, they could be each other’s comfort as they walked and talked along their journey. Additionally, they could sharpen each other as they sought to heal the sick, drive out demons, and preach the gospel.
We need others in our lives. Seek out the wisdom of wise counsel in your life. Find older, more mature people in your congregation who will mentor you. It can be a quick cup of coffee once a week, a Zoom call, or a Bible study. Whatever that mentorship looks like, please take advantage of it.
People who have lived life have experienced lessons we could only think of learning. As we seek to learn from others, we grow spiritually. We need to be surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses so that we can run our race of the Christian life unhindered by Satan’s schemes.
Let's pray:
Father, let us surround ourselves with faithful witnesses to you. Help us seek wise counsel in our churches who can comfort us in our trials, cheer us on in our walk, and help us grow spiritually. Let us surround ourselves with witnesses so we can live together in community. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/People Images
Related Resource: Praying Through Psalm 51: Restoring the Joy of Salvation
Can a heart stained by the worst kinds of betrayal ever truly be restored?? When the world demands justice, does God offer a different way back? In this devotional on Psalm 51, we step into the wreckage of King David’s greatest failure—the affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We move beyond a simple apology to uncover the specific Hebrew anatomy of David's confession: Pesha (rebellion), Avon (twistedness), and Hata'ah (missing the mark). We explore the shocking reality that under Mosaic Law, David should have faced the death penalty, yet he boldly asks God to "create a way" where the law offered none. If you’ve ever felt like your mistakes have disqualified you from God’s presence, or that you are not worthy due to your past mistakes, this episode offers a roadmap from guilt to gladness. Come ready to run toward the Father who doesn't just want your perfection, but your broken and contrite heart. If this episode helped you connect with God, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 10 February 2025.
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