Celebrating the friends we cherish! 💕 It's so important to show up for the people we care about and nurture our friendships. As we grow older, it's easy to become disconnected and walk in solitude, but unless the Lord is calling you to a season of separation, let's remember to be present for those we prayed for. Let's honor the relationships that enrich our lives!
Here's what the Bible says about friendships:
”One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.“ Proverbs 18:24 NIV
Friendships are a two-way street, they require us to not only be partakers of what we desire in a friendship but to also be able to give when we can't receive anything. There are times in life when our friend's need us to be reliable and consistent. To show up for them in ways they would show up for us in return. The verse talks about having an unreliable friend, so my question to you is are you the unreliable friend?
Question: Can your friends count on you? Are you dependable? If they need someone to talk to ? if they need a shoulder to cry on? can they come to you?
This isn't for the one's that claim "I don't have close friends because people can't handle the truth".
Well, i'm sorry to break it to you, but your dealing with pride and are probably a bit mean. There is a line between being blunt and honest and being mean and showing no grace when people slip and fall.
Can your friends call you when they are down?
”Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.“ Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV
How tight is your bond with your friends? I know this verse can be interpret as having a friend group of 3. But I want us to look at it from a different prespective. You and a friend and the Lord being the 3rd strand.
Q: When was the last time you prayed over each of your friendships?
Q:When was the Last time you invited the Lord into the friendships that you do have?
”Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”“ 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
We know the saying, Birds of a feather flock together. Well the verse above is the biblical version of that saying.
DO NOT BE MISLED - Don't be fooled into thinking that you can change someones character. As people of the kingdom, the Holy Spirit should live inside of us and with him being inside of us, we should use our discernment to know that no everyone should be considered our friend.
It is ok to have a Hi and Bye relationship with some people. Love them with the love of God.
If you are still a baby in the faith or a new believer i encourage you to cling onto the Lord. It is very easy for anyone to be brought back into sin because of the people you decide to invite back into your life.
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.“ Proverbs 27:6 NIV
People will hurt you, that's the reality of the world in which we live in. My question to you is .... Are they a Judas or did they have a Peter moment?
- Judas betrayed Jesus due to who he was and Peter denied Jesus 3x and it was a weakness of his.
Our friends, espiecally those in Christ, they should love us enough to correct us. When we're going the wrong way or when the enemy is knocking and we keep letting him in. Our kingdom friends should hold our head up.
I pray that the Lord sends you good Godly friends and be sure to know that a good friend does give out correction in love of course. Sometime it will sting because it’s advice that comes against what we think is good or correct. A man of God once said “it’s better to have a friend that will love you to heaven and not love you to hell."
Here’s a prayer for those who are used to celebrating others but it seems like nobody celebrates them.
Heavenly Father,
I invite you into my friendships. I desire to have good, Godly friends. People that are after your heart, that i can walk this journey with. People I can pray with and grow in Christ with. Lord, I surrender my desire for friends to you and allow for you to guide me to the men and women you are calling me to be friends with. Jesus, I want friends that desire you and are fully surrendered. Jesus, pleas show me my shortcomings so that I can also be a good friend to others. Open my heart and increase my discernment so that I see who you are sending to me. Thank you, Father for hearing my prayer.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Thank you for reading this post! Feel free to check out my other posts
Remember that YOU ARE IMPORTANT, YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.