Topic: You Need the Support of a Small Group [RICK WARREN Devotional 13 December   2023]

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You Need the Support of a Small Group

BY RICK WARREN — DECEMBER 13, 2023
FROM STRATEGIES FOR STRESSFUL TIMES

“Then he chose twelve of them to be his apostles, so they could be with him.”

Mark 3:14 (CEV)

If I were to ask you to complete this sentence, “If you want a job done right . . .” you would probably finish it with this: “. . . do it yourself.”

But that’s the motto of a perfectionist headed for burnout—because you can’t do every job by yourself.

Jesus was human, just like us. And just like us, he was never meant to handle the stress of daily life by himself.

Do you know the first thing Jesus did when he started his ministry? He formed a small group. Mark 3:14 says, “Then he chose twelve of them to be his apostles, so they could be with him” (CEV). That was his small group! Jesus gathered a small group before starting his ministry, because he knew God wanted him to do ministry and walk through his hardest days with his friends by his side.

If anybody had a right to say, “If you want a job done right, do it yourself,” it was Jesus. He had the power to do anything, yet even he knew the power of having a small group for support.

When he went to the Garden of Gethsemane, just before the cross, Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 26:38, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (NIV). Even Jesus needed people to pray with him. Even Jesus needed the support of a small group when he was in a crisis.

So much of our stress is self-imposed. We get uptight when we think it all depends on us—but it doesn’t. God hasn’t called you to be the general manager of the universe, let alone expect you to be able to manage your own life by yourself. You need his direction and strength, and you need the support of a small group.

We often don’t accept help from other people because of our insecurity and pride, and so we stay stressed out. But there are people of faith who are willing to help and support you—and people who need your help and support.

Humble yourself and admit that you can’t do it on your own. And you don’t have to! God made the church to help you in stressful times. And he will lead you to the people you need if you’ll just let your guard down and trust him to provide.

Also Read: Open Heaven 13 December  2023 – DANGERS OF FAME 

Talk It Over

• Why are vulnerability and humility necessary for biblical community?
• How do you know when you’re headed toward burnout? What are the warning signs?
• In what ways do you need support from a small group right now? Pray, and ask God to provide for you in those specific areas.

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