By Michelle Barringer
When was the last time you literally walked with someone? I never knew just how powerful and impactful walking together could be. Walking together in community unites us as God’s family, strengthens our faith and keeps us healthy.
My Summer Wellness Journey
This past summer I ventured out on a wellness journey, which included many components. The most important part was inviting Jesus along for the journey. We walked together every day for three months and logged hundreds of miles. We shared one of the most impactful walking journeys with 10,000 saints around the world.
This community of believers signed up for 21 Days of Walking Prayer hosted by Revelation Wellness. We spent 21 days moving our bodies and our hearts closer to Jesus through walking the “Songs of Ascent.”
Psalms 120-134 are called the “Songs of Ascent” because God’s people would journey together three times each year to the temple in Jerusalem for the annual feasts. As they walked, they’d sing these psalms together. Every step they took together as a community brought them closer to God, and I believe to each other.
The Power in Community
On Day 20, the Holy Spirit filled my soul with joy and awe as I thought about my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world walking, praying and singing together with me. Even though I never met them or walked in person with them, I knew in spirit we were united in community and walking together each day. There is power in community.
Walking in community together even brought me closer to our ancient Israelite brothers and sisters who walked the “Songs of Ascent” thousands of years ago. It astounds me to think that just like us, they once lived on this earth and interacted with one another daily.
We have a common history with them. We are God’s family walking this earth together, but in different locations and sometimes different generations. Still, we are God’s community. Walking together in community as God’s people forms a bond that unites us.
CommUNITY
Have you ever been in a church service and everyone is singing worship songs together to Jesus? Have you stopped singing yourself and just listened to God’s people singing together? It’s beautiful and powerful when God’s family unites in community to worship.
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
I sometimes even ask Jesus, “Do you hear them singing to you? Aren’t they beautiful?” I always feel like Jesus smiles and nods his head in agreement. I’m guessing his eyes fill with tears like mine do when I hear my family singing to him.
What a powerful testimony of commUNITY when God’s family unites in worship. It is good and pleasant when God’s family lives in community, worships in community and walks together in community.
Keep Meeting Together
My summer outdoor walking with Jesus has ended, but my walking with Jesus never ends. Jesus and I meet daily. I also continue to walk with friends and family as often as I can outside (until the Minnesota winter gets a bit too cold for me). But we will continue to meet together.
A Wife Like Me is a special community of God’s family. I encourage you to continue meeting together spurring one another on toward love and good deeds and pursuing strong and healthy marriages:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Walking together in community doesn’t have to mean a literal walk, but it does mean journeying together with your fellow sisters and brothers through this life. Walking in community with God’s family is powerful and impactful. Let’s pursue walking together in community every day.
Wife Step: Seek out one of God’s people wherever you live, who you know needs love, kindness, and friendship. Invite them to walk with you.
Looking for community to grow your faith and your marriage? Join The A Wife Like Me Collective for FREE for 7 days, here!
Michelle Barringer is a writer, speaker, blogger, Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, and a full-time learning and development consultant. She has a master’s degree in communication. Michelle is currently writing her first book in the wee hours of the morning. She is NOT a morning person.
She’s journeyed with Jesus for a long time getting to know Him better, and has gotten to know herself better in the process. Michelle is an encourager and cheerleader. She only has one goal and mission in life: to live the purpose of God and encourage you to do the same. Her biggest passion is to encourage hearts in faith, purpose, and perseverance.
You can join Michelle on social media @michellerbarringer on Instagram and Facebook and her website www.michellebarringer.com where she writes about faith, purpose, and perseverance sharing true stories and biblical insight.
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