Getting My Friendships in Order
There is power in [godly friendships]
Whoever walks with the wise becomes [wise].
But the companion of fools will suffer [harm].
You show me your friends and I'll show you your [future].
- Look at the five closest friends you wrote down today. In what specific ways are they influencing you to become wiser—or leading you away from God's best?
- What would it look like for you to intentionally invest in one godly friendship this week? Who might God be calling you to reach out to?
The right kind of friendships [steer] you.
The sweetness of a friend comes from the earnest [council] that they give.
Where there is no guidance, a people false, but in an abundance of counselors, there is [safety].
A good friend, they sit there and they listen, they ask a lot of [questions].
- When was the last time you sought godly counsel from a friend before making a big decision? How did their wisdom help you?
- Who in your life provides you with wise, biblical guidance? Take time to thank God for them and reach out to encourage them this week.
The right friendships not only steer you, here's what they also do, they [shape] you.
We're gonna play a little tension over a lot of [time] and slowly but surely it's going to be shaped.
Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens [another].
You are the [average] of your five closest friends.
- In what areas of your life (spiritual, financial, relational, emotional) are your closest friends shaping you? Is that influence drawing you closer to Christ?
- What character trait do you see in a close friend that you want to grow in yourself? Ask God to help you become more like Christ through that friendship.
The right friendships, they also [shield] you.
Whether you know it or not, friend, you are in the midst of a spiritual [war].
Better is open rebuke than hidden [love].
Faithful are the [wounds] of a friend.
- Who have you given permission to speak hard truth into your life? If no one comes to mind, who could you invite into that kind of accountability?
- Are there any areas of sin or struggle in your life right now that need to be brought into the light with a trusted friend? What's holding you back from that conversation?
The right friendships will also [strengthen] you.
A friend loves at all [times].
A brother is born for [adversity].
- Reflect on a time when a friend strengthened you during a difficult season. How did their presence make a difference?
- Is there someone in your life right now who is walking through adversity? How can you be a friend who loves at all times and strengthens them this week?