Have you ever felt lonely in a crowded room? That feeling can be a bit painful and unnerving, can’t it? Do you know there may be others all around you who feel the very same way? How do we overcome feelings of loneliness?
It is so comforting to know that God knows our hearts, our desires and needs, far better than we do ourselves. God created each one of us for a relationship with Him and with each other. The Bible has answers for every challenge we face in life, even loneliness. In Proverbs 18:24, it says if we want friends, we must be friendly. You see, God’s antidote for loneliness is found in FRIENDSHIPS! We ALL need friends, to unite, connect and to do life with
Making friends may be easier than you think. The dictionary defines the word “friendly” as to be kind and pleasant. We all like to be around people who display those qualities, don’t we?
God assures us in His word that every believer has the Holy Spirit living inside of them. One of the beautiful traits found in the Spirit, is KINDNESS! As we spend time developing our friendship with the Lord, His character begins to manifest in our lives. His kindness will flow out of us, and people will be attracted to the friendliness they see in us.
God will equip us for everything we need in life, if we simply ask Him. Let’s make it the prayer of our heart to be kind and friendly to those we meet, and to be an even BETTER friend to those we already call our friends.
Remember, Jesus calls us His friends (Check out John 15:15 to read up on this)! He wants to be our closest friend of all. HOW AWESOME IS THAT? That is quite an honor and a privilege, isn’t it? As in all relationships, spending time with Jesus is incredibly important. And, how do we do that, exactly? Through reading His Word and through prayer. Those are the ways He uses to communicate with us. Let’s be women who prioritize taking time to grow and nurture friendship with God DAILY!
Here are a few things to consider this week on the topic of friendships. Ask God to speak to your heart as you spend time with Him.
What are some specific ways you can show yourself to be even more friendly to others?
Read Galatians 5:22 and list the fruit of the Spirit you find there. Ask God to develop these traits in you so that others may see them. Consider how allowing God to transform you to become more like Him impacts your friendship with Him and others.
What does it mean to you that Jesus calls you His friend? Read John 15:15-17.
What are the Lord’s instructions to us in John 15:17?
To have a friend, we need to be a friend. How can you encourage those close to you?
Take some time this week to pray over this area of your life and to seek God’s direction in navigating and uniting in friendships.
