Take a look around. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Are the people in your life building you up and spurring you on? Or are they tearing you down and negatively influencing you? Our community has more influence on us than we may realize. You guys have heard me say this a million times, but it’s because I think this topic is really important and it is something that we all need to hear. There are 3 things I want us to evaluate today when thinking about the people in our communities: 1. Is your friendship rooted in Christ? 2. Do they make you better? 3. Does their presence bring you peace? So, let’s dive in!
I think this first question is one that we often dismiss. Do your friends love the Lord and is your relationship with them rooted in Christ? Some of you may answer with a very confident “Yes,” some of you may know right away that the answer is “No” and some of you may feel very confused because you are unsure. Think about all the conversations you have with your friends. Do you leave them feeling filled up, optimistic and closer to God? Or do your conversations make you more confused and feel like you are further away from God? The people around us have such a huge impact on almost every part of our lives. The places we hang out, the clothes we wear, and even the things we say are all adapted from those who we spend a lot of our time with. So, if your closest friends don’t know the Lord, you’re going to have a hard time getting closer to him because they are going to pull you away. I encourage you to really evaluate each of your friendships and how they influence you.
Next, I want you to ask yourself: Are my closest friends making me better? Are they pushing me to reach my potential and the calling God has for me? Or are they holding me back, causing me to question my abilities? I want to encourage you to surround yourself with people who are doing it better than you. If we want to achieve greatness, we have to surround ourselves with greatness. We have to find people who will not only hold us accountable, but who will push us to higher heights. The best kind of friendships are those that champion one another in their successes, push each other out of their comfort zone to accomplish their goals and spur one another on in their faith. I think it’s also really important for your friends to be able to ask you the hard questions, and vice versa. Open up and be vulnerable with one another. Bear each other’s burdens as scripture tells us to in Galatians 6:2, for this is what community was made for!
Lastly, does the presence of your friends bring you peace? Do they make you feel loved and are they easy to love? Proverbs 17:17 encourages us with this: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” This is what a friendship should look and feel like. Full of love and always showing up for one another. If you don’t feel comfortable opening up to someone, or if you experience a lot of anxiety when you are with that person, then I would encourage you to create some boundaries. If it’s from the Lord, you will be filled with a sense of peace. Anything else will leave you with an uneasy, unsure feeling.
I want you all to hear that my hope is not for you to “ditch” anyone or completely cut people out of your life because you are unsure if your friendship with them is healthy. Rather, my prayer is that you would acknowledge the influence people have on you and surround yourself with like-minded friends, yet still continue to love on and encourage everyone else around you, even when it’s hard. Scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” Yes, I believe your closest friends should be those who love you well and encourage and push you to always keep growing. Yet, we are still called to love on and care for everyone else around us as well. We were not made to do this life alone!
Challenges:
- Pray for yourself. Pray for clarity from the Lord to show you what is best for you and who to surround yourself closely with. Pray for the Lord to allow you to open up and to let community be all that it was made to be in your life.
- Pray for others. As I mentioned earlier, we are called to pray and encourage all. Pray for those who are lost, weak and discouraged. Pray for them to find community that will spur them on and lead them closer to the Lord. Pray for their hearts to be open to letting people in.
- Don’t wait! If you don’t have a godly community, get plugged in somewhere that will help you meet people. If you do already have healthy Christ-like friendships, keep diving in headfirst! Community is one of the most beautiful gifts from the Lord! Find it and be hold onto it!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you so much for a new day! Thank you for your Word and all the truth that is written inside of it. Thank you for community and that we have the ability to surround ourselves with people that help push us to look more like you day after day! I pray for those reading this that are seeking new friendships. I believe that you will be faithful in providing if they are faithful in asking. I pray for those already in godly communities, that they would continue to be open and vulnerable with one another and will keep the focus of their friendship on you and glorifying you in all they do. Thank you for the beautiful and precious gift of friendship. That we don’t have to do this life alone, but you give us people to walk through it with. Help us to love others just as you love us! We love you and we praise you! In Jesus’ name! Amen!
Take a look around. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Are the people in your life building you up and spurring you on? Or are they tearing you down and negatively influencing you? Our community has more influence on us than we may realize. You guys have heard me say this a million times, but it’s because I think this topic is really important and it is something that we all need to hear. There are 3 things I want us to evaluate today when thinking about the people in our communities: 1. Is your friendship rooted in Christ? 2. Do they make you better? 3. Does their presence bring you peace? So, let’s dive in!
I think this first question is one that we often dismiss. Do your friends love the Lord and is your relationship with them rooted in Christ? Some of you may answer with a very confident “Yes,” some of you may know right away that the answer is “No” and some of you may feel very confused because you are unsure. Think about all the conversations you have with your friends. Do you leave them feeling filled up, optimistic and closer to God? Or do your conversations make you more confused and feel like you are further away from God? The people around us have such a huge impact on almost every part of our lives. The places we hang out, the clothes we wear, and even the things we say are all adapted from those who we spend a lot of our time with. So, if your closest friends don’t know the Lord, you’re going to have a hard time getting closer to him because they are going to pull you away. I encourage you to really evaluate each of your friendships and how they influence you.
Next, I want you to ask yourself: Are my closest friends making me better? Are they pushing me to reach my potential and the calling God has for me? Or are they holding me back, causing me to question my abilities? I want to encourage you to surround yourself with people who are doing it better than you. If we want to achieve greatness, we have to surround ourselves with greatness. We have to find people who will not only hold us accountable, but who will push us to higher heights. The best kind of friendships are those that champion one another in their successes, push each other out of their comfort zone to accomplish their goals and spur one another on in their faith. I think it’s also really important for your friends to be able to ask you the hard questions, and vice versa. Open up and be vulnerable with one another. Bear each other’s burdens as scripture tells us to in Galatians 6:2, for this is what community was made for!
Lastly, does the presence of your friends bring you peace? Do they make you feel loved and are they easy to love? Proverbs 17:17 encourages us with this: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” This is what a friendship should look and feel like. Full of love and always showing up for one another. If you don’t feel comfortable opening up to someone, or if you experience a lot of anxiety when you are with that person, then I would encourage you to create some boundaries. If it’s from the Lord, you will be filled with a sense of peace. Anything else will leave you with an uneasy, unsure feeling.
I want you all to hear that my hope is not for you to “ditch” anyone or completely cut people out of your life because you are unsure if your friendship with them is healthy. Rather, my prayer is that you would acknowledge the influence people have on you and surround yourself with like-minded friends, yet still continue to love on and encourage everyone else around you, even when it’s hard. Scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” Yes, I believe your closest friends should be those who love you well and encourage and push you to always keep growing. Yet, we are still called to love on and care for everyone else around us as well. We were not made to do this life alone!
Challenges:
- Pray for yourself. Pray for clarity from the Lord to show you what is best for you and who to surround yourself closely with. Pray for the Lord to allow you to open up and to let community be all that it was made to be in your life.
- Pray for others. As I mentioned earlier, we are called to pray and encourage all. Pray for those who are lost, weak and discouraged. Pray for them to find community that will spur them on and lead them closer to the Lord. Pray for their hearts to be open to letting people in.
- Don’t wait! If you don’t have a godly community, get plugged in somewhere that will help you meet people. If you do already have healthy Christ-like friendships, keep diving in headfirst! Community is one of the most beautiful gifts from the Lord! Find it and be hold onto it!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you so much for a new day! Thank you for your Word and all the truth that is written inside of it. Thank you for community and that we have the ability to surround ourselves with people that help push us to look more like you day after day! I pray for those reading this that are seeking new friendships. I believe that you will be faithful in providing if they are faithful in asking. I pray for those already in godly communities, that they would continue to be open and vulnerable with one another and will keep the focus of their friendship on you and glorifying you in all they do. Thank you for the beautiful and precious gift of friendship. That we don’t have to do this life alone, but you give us people to walk through it with. Help us to love others just as you love us! We love you and we praise you! In Jesus’ name! Amen!