Immune to Fear Week 5Намуна

 Who’s Got Your Back? 

  Ever since the Coronavirus began to spread across the planet, government officials and health care experts have all asked that we practice “social distancing”. While I believe we need to obey the law of the land and do whatever is in our control to help stop the spread of the virus, I also believe it is imperative that we stay connected on some level with each other in the body of Christ—now more than ever. Thankfully, we can stay connected through a wide variety of technologies available to us. It is vitally important that every believer has a buddy in the body of Christ. 

The author of Hebrews said, “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called Today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). When a person is isolated, they become especially vulnerable to discouragement and deception. 

Have you ever watched a wildlife documentary where lions are hunting, on the Serengeti for instance? You will often see how a lion waits for one of the poor creatures on the fringes to separate itself from the herd. The lion will single out the one who strays away from the group because the lion knows that there is safety in numbers – and the devil knows this too. The Bible says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Those who isolate themselves become an easy meal for Satan. In times of pain and hardship, without the support of the body, he knows that we can easily fall prey to his temptations and traps. 

One day as I was reading about the “armor of God” in Ephesians 6, I had a revelation. The passage tells us that God has provided armor for the head, the feet, the chest, and the waist; and He has also given us a shield and a sword. But then I saw something I had never noticed before – all the protection is facing forward – there is no armor protecting the back! At first, I found this very peculiar and then suddenly verse 18 jumped out at me, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance for all saints.” This verse, which is mentioned in the context of the armor of God, says that we are supposed to be looking out for one another and defending each other in the battle. There is no back armor because we are supposed to have each other’s backs. If God equipped us in such a way that we need others to watch our backs, then it is clear that He never intended that we go into battle alone. 

God created us to need one another. This is why if you are going through a trial, a battle, a crisis, or a barren season, you need to surround yourself with brothers and sisters who will pray for you and watch out for you with purpose and perseverance. We all need each other, especially in these last days leading up to the return of Jesus! I want to encourage you to find ways to stay connected to the people God has placed in your life. 

Source: (Surviving Your Wilderness. Survival Tip #2 Assess Your Situation.)