Bumper People

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." -James 5:16

What is a "bumper person"? Ford Taylor, in his Transformational Leadership training describes a "bumper person" as someone we trust who can bump us back into place when we start getting out of alignment with God's call on our lives.
 
There are many great people who started out running their race well, but fell out of favor with God due to the enemy's deception in their lives. When we get into things we feel ashamed of, the last thing we want to tell someone - we think they might judge us.
 
But, when any sin is brought into the light, it loses its power. Therefore we need to develop relationships with people we can trust so we won't be caught in anything outside of God's plan. If you are a leader, often it is even more difficult to do this - it is lonely at the top. But, the reality is, we can't do this life on our own, no matter who we are.
 
What are some good qualifiers for bumper people?

1. Friends that are trustworthy
2. People that you trust enough to tell them when you are moving away from God's design, or give them permission to speak into your life

"The righteous chose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." -Proverbs 12:26
 
I have about 4-5 close friends who I consider to be my bumper people. They can help set you straight when life gets tough! No one has 360 degree vision, so we need different perspectives to see a situation more clearly.
 

Do you have bumper people in your life? If you don't, pray that God would send people into your life who could be that for you, and you for them.