And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another. The essence of Christian friendship is companionship forged in the fire of two convictions: 1) Jesus alone can satisfy the soul and 2) his kingdom alone is worth living for. Who makes you laugh, brings you ice cream when you are stressed, or coffee when your newborn has you up all night? He wants to provide us support systems that point the way to Him. When we spend time with someone prone to gossip or swearing, we will also find ourselves losing control of our tongues. They are truly a gift from GOD. You are a hindrance to me” (Matthew 16:23). They were created to live in a community. Their honesty and loyalty will keep them close. Learn how your comment data is processed. Psalm 145:18. After a short period of rejoicing, they started to feel the pain of desert living when they’d been used to life of abundance in Egypt. In contrast to what many of us believe, we are not born ready for a godly relationship and need to This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). Bible verses related to Closer To God from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order Luke 9:23 - And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. A real friend will tell you when you are going off track. 1. Excruciating. There is a simple way to think about it. True friends will never leave your side, during the best and the worst times. This is a vital function of community that few people want. Yet Jesus confers a greater honor. God uses problems to PROTECT you - A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Like everything else, the end goal of our friendships should be God and his glory. Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33. To bring you closer to Him. I’m in love with my five kids, homeschooling, and all things chocolate. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7 17. We were made for him — to enjoy him and center our hearts and lives on him. They stick closer than family, and often know you better. 3 Tips that will bring you closer to happiness in these trying times. (Luke 5:18–19). We were created to be in community with others and to do life together. Abraham responds by telling God his thoughts and feelings about the situation. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When you experience his love and support, you will want to draw close to him. Opening of a letter to his friend Conrad Habicht in which he describes his ... imposing. If we only go to him to ask for spouses, friends, or kids to enjoy, it reveals we see God as the means to someone else. The encouragement we are told to give isn’t flattery, or superficial inspiration. These hens are as much a part of our family as our dog. Since our hearts are prone to wander away and worship other things, we need these constant reminders of his glory and his worth in our friendships. It has to do with the personal spiritual journey that you're on. Now that we’ve heard a couple of warnings about friends, let’s talk about choosing good friends! Spiritual friends make us better people. Somehow a great meal is more satisfying when shared. I love the teaching on this topic by Time of Grace entitled “Friend Request: Choose Friends Carefully”. Nothing relieves stress better than a long, chatty walk or a couple of hours at a coffee shop with my closest peeps. Even physically painful. Suddenly, some of the things you might have considered a deal-breaker in the past, you now have compassion for and lead you to your future husband. So, how can we avoid Peter’s mistake in our friendships? By confessing our sins, practicing humility, and transforming our thoughts with Scripture; we can become more like Christ and get closer to God. Most of us do not like the idea of accountability but the truth is that we need it. Friends that lift us up and encourage us, but more than that, friends that lead us closer to you. God warns us to be careful with the character of others when we are making our friends. What do they fulfill and how do they bring us closer to God? They can see more clearly because they are not emotionally involved. While what President Benson said will be true in the future, we need to feel now that God knows us and loves us as individuals. There are easy steps you … The more you pursue those virtues, the more you’ll develop a stronger character, so that every day you can grow closer to God. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. That is essential to saving faith and obtaining a … Friendships are important to living as God intended. A close friend rejoices in your joys and sorrows over your pains. You can argue that God would never plan for any divorce or any of the pain that comes with it. Rarely are they alone. We affirm that their obedience glorifies God and counts in eternity. Our needs run a little deeper than instinct, but we were created to live in families, loving and supporting each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Do you truly believe in God? When you sincerely fast, God is pleased and will help you grow spiritually. Top Christian Affiliate Programs for Christian Bloggers, Free Printable Monthly Bible Reading Plans, Free Bible Study Printables and Worksheets, What Does the Bible Say about Friendships, Characteristics of a Good Friend According to the Bible, Godly Friends Help Us Through the Dark Seasons, « 3 Minute Devotions for a Little Bit of Jesus on the Go, The Best Free and Low-Cost Keyword Search Tools ». Proverbs 17:22. Proverbs 27:6. Dolors Massot-published on 02/18/21. You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Whether we are talking about physical labor or emotional and spiritual support, a spiritual friend has your back. It’s tempting to flip and distort this formula by using God as a means to enjoy people more. They guide us when we’ve gone off track, help us to make godly choices, teach us about ourselves, and keep us focused on Christ. Walking through life in a God-belittling world, with our sin-ridden flesh, against a hell-bent enemy, is too hard to be attempted alone. You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth. True friendship stories are found throughout the Bible. Hi, I’m Heather from Lessons from Home. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. They keep an eye out for predators and help each other find the best places to feast. Pray that God brings you more godly friendships! True Friendship Quotes for Your Dependable Friend. Often, obedience to God takes more courage than we can muster alone. Remember that God is always right next to you. Peter rebukes Jesus with what was surely a well-intentioned comment from a loyal friend: “Far be it from you, Lord! Conversely, the worst distortion of friendship arises when a friend encourages us, consciously or unconsciously, to place our affections elsewhere. You’ll find that you’re more in tune with the Spirit. What Can We Learn from Jesus Feeding the 5000, Examples of Faithful Servants in the Bible. Jesus tells his disciples that he will die and rise again (Matthew 16:21). A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. They make space for you when life falls apart, and they rejoice with you when all is well. God told Moses to move His people out of Egypt into the desert. This is why we desperately need friends. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice. Pursuing Godly friendship means spending more time investing in those relationships that do bring you closer to God. We listen to a sister confess a hidden sin and wash her with the truth that Christ has cleansed her and made her whole. You will also find content on all aspects of faith and Christian living, written by our amazing contributing writers. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. They share your feelings, weeping with you when you weep and rejoicing with you when you rejoice. If you do this, you will probably find yourself talking to God more and more. They pray bigger things for you than you pray for yourself. What Peter thought was helpful, Jesus called a hindrance. Some Christians are still full of negativity, not faith, and you will drag yourself back into that if you aren’t careful. Proverbs 22:24-25 NKJV. Read More…. I’m sure we can all look back over our lives and see that when we were getting into trouble, we were rarely alone! Those times can come more often. I have often used this as a marriage verse but I believe God created us to live in communities, to join together in relationships, and to support and love one another as we journey the ups and downs of life. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. He gives you the answers you were looking for through these people. Kingdom Bloggers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. What you can do: As you read the Bible, apply God’s advice and experience the benefits this brings. Even when we aren't faced with big problems, we should fast occasionally as a special form of worship and to draw closer to God. My favorite movie is good when watched alone, but it’s better with a friend. We laugh, cry, confess our fears, and encourage each other. When looking at His beautiful creation, God saw Adam and said that it is not good for man to be alone. I'm LeeAnn and I am passionate (or obsessed lol) with helping Christian bloggers flood the Internet with more Jesus! What we often fail to realize is that God plays a part in our friendships, and it is only with God that true friendship can develop. Last year a friend of mine was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss asked him to do. Unfortunately, they may not be on the same walk as you are as far as growing closer to God. Friendships are such an important part of living a healthy life. The first place I met a new friend was at church. He knows there will be great sorrow as the result of the fall and He wants us to not only walk with Him but also supply godly friendships to carry us through.

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