Rise Above: Breaking Free From the Chains of Spiritual Isolation a 5-Day Devotional With Katherine ShorterSample

Day 2: Unity as a Weapon

I remember the conversation that I had with my (then) boyfriend to tell him about my past. I was already in love with him and was terrified to let him know that he was dating damaged goods. More than anything, I was afraid that he would find out the truth about me and decide that it was just easier to be with someone who didn’t have so much baggage. His reaction was a perfect example of God’s grace. He embraced me, loved me, and became my fiercest protector.

When he showed me that I could trust him with my hurt and my pain, God positioned him to be a part of my hedge of protection. Through His child, God provided a sanctuary where I was able to limp along until my wounds healed enough that I could move a little better on my own. To my surprise, the same thing happened when I shared my story with some of my sisters in Christ. My hedge got bigger and my wounds continued to heal.

The enemy’s goal is to keep you outside of that hedge, limping along behind the flock, as easy prey. When we’re “on the outside”, we can succumb to the darkness and isolation that is driven by the fear of judgment. None of us are without sin. God sent His Son to die for our imperfections and mistakes. And because we have all fallen short, there is a community of believers who can empathize with your journey and, through grace, will be there as your hedge of protection in the faith.

When we are instructed to put on the Armor of God, we do well to remember that we are not an army of one. We have fellow soldiers (our sisters and brothers in Christ) who are fighting alongside us.

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What would it look like to you for a fellow soldier in Christ to fight alongside you?