Over the past week or so, I've been working through a bible study written for Ministry Wives. It has had so much to say to me and teach me to apply to my life. And although this particular study is written for the pw's, I think that the topic of each chapter has something to say to us all.
This last chapter was about friendship and that is what I wanted to share with you all about today. In these technology driven times of texting, tweeting, blogging and email, it is easy to say that you have lots of friends. I'm not saying that the friends you have on face*book or blog friends aren't 'real', but I would venture to say that they aren't your besties. (Did I pull that off? No? Well, I tried).
I'm talking about the girls in your life that connect with you in a deep way. The ones that accept you the way you and who love you enough to want God's best for you and are willing to tell you when you aren't living in that way. God wants us to have this kind of friend in our lives and he wants us to be this kind of friends for others. In His Word, He tells us how to be a godly friend. In fact, I believe that God brings girls into our lives that He wants us to be friends with and He expects us to invest in those friendships. True friendships are give and take relationships.
God also wants us to have girls in our lives that are mentor's to us. These are the girls who invest in our lives, giving their time to help us become more godly. I have a few of these ladies in my life. They are my friends but more than that they show me how to live in God's way. They give me an example to live by. AND they aren't afraid to tell me when I am way off track! God wants you to pay it forward, too. You should have people in your life who you are mentoring as well.
My point is this. When our friendships are only at face value then we have no accountability in our lives. And we NEED other women in our lives to hold us accountable to living the way God calls us to live. I fear that in this society that we don't want to be held accountable nor do we want to hold one another accountable. I see this all the time. We live in a world (even in our churches) where we have the mantra "Live and let live" and that my friends, is NOT a biblical principle. We need friends who speak the truth in love to us and we need to be friends who speak the truth in love. We need Godly women in our lives who will ask those tough questions, like "Did you put God first today?" and tell you the honest truth when the way you. responded to your husband was less than Godly. But she is also going to be the one who listens and doesn't judge you, who helps you get back up when you get knocked off the narrow road and walks beside you and loves you even more!
Do you have authentic friends like these? Are you an authentic friend to others?
If you do and are I'd love to hear about how you are doing life with your girlfriends. If you don't, then I encourage you to pray and ask God to lead you to these sorts of friendships.
And enjoy this video that's all about "Girlfriends"
I hope you all have a blessed weekend with your families AND your girlfriends!
In HIM -
I want to do that bible study. I do have a few close godly friends and I'mso thankful for them.
ReplyDeleteAmen and yes, and preach it friend! I've recently re-examined this own issue in my life. I NEED A MENTOR! I've always longed for one; often I find myself being on the other end of things ... being the mentor, and that, too, is a most worthy calling. I'm afraid I don't do it too well, though.
ReplyDeleteI don't have many "kindred" friends here. A few ... sisters I can call upon that love me at a deeper level and will really pray for me. Like Nancy ... a lady who is in her 60's who "gets" the entire mothering/letting go thing and who called me this morning just to check on me. It comforted me to know that someone cared enough to simply call. That's a true friend.
Lisa Bevere has written a great book on the topic called "Nuture". It's been a favorite "read" as of late.
Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble. I'm not blogging much this weekend, but God drew me here. Glad he did.
peace~elaine
I have 3 friends here that are my "besties" - as in they know the good, the bad, and the ugly about me and vice versa for me with them. They encourage me to love the Lord more, stay in His word more, be a better wife, mom, etc. etc. etc. I don't know what I'd do without them, and I'd definitely rather have just them and no one else than a ton of people and no one like them.
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