Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Do you have a living room, or a sala, or a salon in your home? If so, you’ve got what it takes for community to happen.

If you’ve ever experienced loneliness, you’ve felt the sadness of unmet need—the need that God gave you for other people. In the first book of the Bible, God revealed that we were made to help each other and live in community (Genesis 2:18). Being in a community means having other people who know you and are a part of your life. Life, and especially our spiritual journeys, were never meant to be walked alone.

When we open our lives to others           , we experience God more. Speaker Jennie Allen writes, that her ministry began “…all because I believed in what God did in my living room for 15 years. For 15 years I led group after group of women. We cried together, prayed, imagined better futures for each other and simply studied our Bibles. It’s where my life…[and] many lives changed right in front of me. I fear we’ve forgotten the power of living rooms.”[1]

God loves revealing Himself and speaking to us through others. We can receive encouragement when we’re struggling, wisdom and advice from people who’ve been through the same struggles, and even correction when we need it. All of this brings us into a healthy and enriching relationship with God and others.

But it’s hard to form deep friendships with people you don’t see regularly. Scripture reminds us, “…let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25).

Let’s remember the power of living rooms.

For a free Bible study on spiritual habits, go to guidelines.org/healthyhabits.

[1] Allen, Jennie [@jennieallen]. “The Power of Living Rooms.” Instagram, December 7, 2022, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl45zgYOhWm/.