Who are we working with? Partnership is the ninth principle in my book The Posture Principle: A practical guide to embracing your true calling. As normal, I will include one quote and make three points for our reflection.

‘We are not made to live and work alone but in fruitful partnership, each contributing who we are to the whole, worshipping the One in whom we have our life and who lives in each of us.’ Martina Davis, The Posture Principle: A practical guide to embracing your true calling.

Why is Partnership amongst these principles? I have described each principle as a ‘vertebra’ in our spiritual backbone, in my book. Without just one of these principles, our spiritual spine is weakened. The vertebra of Partnership means each of us has a part to play in the whole – in fact the Church is described as the Body of Christ. Every one of us has certain gifts, abilities, and characteristics, which complement those of other people around us. We are to support and encourage one another. This strengthens our spiritual spine – and that of the Church.

How would I put Partnership into practice? Watch what Father God is doing, and join Him. This means having our spiritual ears and eyes open to what is going on around us, where He is calling us, and with whom He wants us to connect. We do that by spending quality and quantity time with Him in relationship, learning to hear His voice by the Holy Spirit, watching for what He shows us, and acting on it. We also need to be alert to false leads – we have three possible sources: ourselves and our will; our enemy who plants seed thoughts, fears and ‘oughts’; and the Holy Spirit. Discerning how God (the Father, Jesus, and His Holy Spirit) speaks to us and relates, is important.

What is Partnership? Just a thought on which to meditate. I have, at the end of the last point, mentioned the Trinity. God is Three in One: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Community! Living and working in partnership. A community depends on partnership – each working with the other to create it, and focused on the aim. For us, the aim is to see Christ’s Kingdom come. One thing of which we must be aware, is that not all partnerships are healthy. Are we focused on the same aim? Do our principles line up? Are we agreed on the key beliefs on which our faith is based? We really do need to ensure we are with the people God wants us to be with.

The harvest is plentiful – we need the workers to bring it in. Let’s listen to God and truly hear what our role is. Blessings! Martina.