Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

*ANYTHING I WRITE, PLEASE CHECK WITH SCRIPTURE *

Today, a dear friend of mine texted me about something and I responded what she knew but did not want to hear! It’s never pleasing to be on either side of that conversation.

It’s a little funny to me that I will choose who I ask about certain things. If I want to know if my hair looks nice, I typically go to someone I am pretty sure will tell me that it does, or at least GENTLY recommend a subtle change.

My stand is, if you ask a question, you (typically) know but (perhaps don’t want to admit or accept) the answer. Trust me, I have had friends repeat that back to me. You know the adage easier to give than receive, yeah!

As I matured both chronologically and spiritually, I migrated from casual relationships to genuine friendships. It has taken me years to appreciate the difference.

Ironically, the friend who contacted me today is the one who has spent a great deal of time educating me on the differences between “acquaintance'” and “friend”. The first has no proven loyalty, but latter is personally invested in your life and established that he or she is concerned with what is in your best interest.

Even friends can be wrong, yes they can, shocking, right? Although they may offer what they consider to be the best solution to a situation, doesn’t make it right. A good friend will ALWAYS insist that you bathe any situation in prayer, offering to do the same and encouraging you to follow in obedience to the Lord! Not to say that we should not be friends with non-believers who possibly do not consider prayer, that is a different topic altogether and I do not personally think it is anything the Lord would have me address at this point. Please consult Him about that.

I so appreciate her patience, love and commitment as a sister in Christ to guide me through an extensive process! How reluctant I was and resistant to listen to what I did not want to learn, but she never conceded as a lost cause! She prayed for and with me and now through the power of Jesus, we can claim victory in this area of my life!

Although we don’t always like what we hear, we know, when given in love, it is such a blessing to have those to hold us accountable. Not many individuals are willing to do what needs to be done or say what others refrain because they do not want to alienate or offend!

Check smugness at the door when a friend is in need of support or understanding and remember, but by the grace of God we all go! . 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

PRAYER
O Lord, our Precious and Loving Father
Thank You for this day
We ask that You will please show us how to extend grace to others
As You have shown to us

Thank You for our friends
For those who love us enough to speak TRUTH into our lives
And who expect us to do the same for them

How blessed and humbled we are
That You call us “friend”

In the Name of Jesus
AMEN

SONGS
“Friends Are Friends Forever”

“Iron Sharpens Iron”

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus”

credits: GOD THE FATHER, JESUS THE SON, HOLY SPIRIT, BIBLE
chapters and verses from Scripture
experiences from lives of family, friends and my own
ability and opportunity to share God’s Word, GLORY BE TO THE LORD!
encouraging words from the Lord, family and friends