Sweat Now, Summit Later: Four Days to Getting the Most Out of the MountaintopSample

The Power of Your Posse

Have you ever been in a situation where you just felt so alone, where you just felt so aware of the fact that no one was around you at that moment, and you just desperately needed them? The question is, really, have you ever been in a sketchy part of town, walking from a grocery store to your car and not having any weapon besides your car key? (Why is it that we brandish our car key in those situations like we're really going to do something with it? What are you going to do with your key?)

God intends for you to feel backed up in this life, to live and feel like you have a posse and a spiritual squad up in your corner. It's called the church! And Jesus intends for you to feel like you've got people who's got your back as you follow Him.

When you get yourself together with God's people, you will:

1. Meet who you need to meet. It matters who you spend time with. Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future...so choose wisely!
2. Hear what you need to hear. It might not be what you want to hear, but what you need to hear.
3. Develop the habits you need to develop. Habits form naturally, so when you put the right rhythms into place–gathering in God's house with God's people–the right habits will follow.
4. Become who you were born to be. Surround yourself with people who will call you by your real name and speak to the true identity that Christ has put inside of you so that when you're insecure, you get to have people who will remind you that you've been fearfully and wonderfully made.

But vulnerability is the key to unlocking all of this and genuinely stepping into community. You have to be willing to open yourself up, be honest, invest in people, and let people invest in you. It takes bravery to be vulnerable. It's not easy, and you'll feel fear. You'll want to put the mask back on. It's easier to become a glossed-over and fake, and as a result, we end up trading vulnerability and community for loneliness and shallow friendships. The only way to tap into the power of the posse is through vulnerability!

To make the most out of your mountain-top experience, let people in.

Ask God to give you the bravery to be vulnerable this week–to open your heart, be honest, be real, and let God use the people in your posse to strengthen and encourage you.