Fearlessly Courageous

Have you ever had anyone to lean against?

One of our questions in our men’s group on Monday night was: Have you ever had anyone to lean against? What are some of the benefits? I decided to do a search on Google and ask that question. The Internet was on fire with, be independent – Best not to depend too much on others. Being independent is liberating. Their recommendations of self-help books. Do it on your own. There seemed to be no place in society that encourages men to lean into God and to lean into other men so that they stop walking alone as has been the history of man since the beginning of time.

Healthy dependency: that flexible middle ground between rigid independence and unhealthy over-dependence, is the ability to balance intimacy and autonomy. It is the humility that’s involved in learning to lean on others at times while still maintaining a strong sense of self, so you can still feel good, not guilty, about asking for help when you need it.

So my question is – who are those friends that you can tell your darkest secrets to?. Those people that you can bare your soul with? In the military, they say, who’s got your six? Who is in your circle spiritually?

You know it’s amazing that boys start out feeling as connected in their relationships as girls do, but they tend to neglect personal relationships to pursue external success. Does that sound familiar?

The world robbed that from us. Satan is forever chiseling away at any spiritual strongholds or foundations that may have been laid for us in our youth. Perhaps you had the occasion to speak a spiritual truth or principle to someone at an early age and they looked at you like you were some kind of a foreigner. Or they may have said something like; you really believe that stuff? And so many of us just left our faith on the floor. And we went on to be like everybody else striving for external success and security. Forgetting that all things come from the father. Forgetting that he owns the cattle on 1000 hills.

Forgetting that he owns it all.

We get lost in the sea of striving for success and we typically walk alone, work it out alone, and too many of us even go through our divorces alone. Why? because we can’t share our deepest feelings with those that are closest to us or if we do, it comes in a surge of anger or something we view as weakness.

What does it mean to be in a battle and rely on a group of men around us,? Those of you that have been in the military understand how every man's responsibility protects the life of the man next to him. To know that whatever your small part is, lives hang in the balance. If the truth is known we are all living on a spiritual battleground. 2 Cor 10: 3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” 1 Peter 5:8. Satan continues to prowl around like a lion looking to devour those that are struggling alone, those who are injured and beaten down. They become easy prey for the devourer whose only goal is to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10

God has called each of us to be a part of his army. He has given each of us gifts that are unique and special. One man last night recounted the story of sharing with another military friend at a post they were stationed at. Years later they were reunited at another post. The young man confided in him that during the time of their last meeting he had contemplated suicide because he felt so alone and so unhappy. But this friend's encouragement saved his life. My young friend had no clue that his words would have that kind of impact. But the truth be told, we are all influencers. We all touch and influence our spouses, our children, our friends, and neighbors far beyond what we can even fathom or figure out on our own. This is why it’s so important that we guard our tongues and guard our hearts and always be uplifting with those that are around us. It’s why it’s so important that we develop relationships with other people that will be there to encourage us, to confront us, to challenge us…

when we grow weak and apathetic.

Each of us needs to cultivate relationships and have Christian friends where the door is always opened. Where trust is always there. Where there is no judgment… just freedom to speak from the heart. We each need a safe place to land and we need to provide the same That will take some real time of intentionality planting some seeds and growing those types of relationships. Historically most of us are not very good at that. But by putting yourself out there by being a part of a group with other Christians will put you on a track of putting God first in your life and through that obedience and vulnerability, he will reveal those people that will have your six. They will have your back.

What does it mean and how valuable is it to have a friend who pushes past your attempt to fluff them off? No, I’m OK Bill… I’ve got this… I don’t need any help. But because of the history, you have they call you out and say, I tried that on you one time Bill and you wouldn’t have any part of it. I’m calling you out the same way today. Let’s get real together. Let’s talk about this and then let's pray about this and I’ll walk with you. I’ve got your six! You don't have to wait until you are completely broken before you ask a friend for help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP2kZCigZKE

Steve Green Broken and Poured Out