Who is the first person you contact when you’re excited about something? Or, when you’re sad? Or, when you need someone to pray for you? Who are your best friends? The ones you like to talk to on the phone? The ones who text you?
Friendship is sweet. Good friends encourage you, protect you, and defend you. They are someone to laugh with and to cry with. It’s fun spend time together and share what is on our hearts.
Good friends help us grow and become a better person.
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend. (Pro. 27:9)
True friendships are interactive!
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (Pro. 27:17).
Loyal friends can be trusted to keep a secret—to pray for you.
He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. (Proverbs 17:9)
But sometimes being best friends includes tough love with the goal of helping each other grow spiritually.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend… (Pro. 27:6)
Best friendships are long lasting—enduring through good times and bad.
A friend loves at all times (Pro. 17:17a).
About two years ago, I lost my best friend. Jim Klubnik and I had been married almost 56 years. We laughed together. We cried together. We raised our two sons together. We served the Lord together. We loved one another dearly. But then suddenly he was gone. God had called him home. And I was alone. So I grew closer to another friend. One I had known many years, but One with whom I now was growing more intimate.
There is One who is always accessible—One who desires a close relationship with us.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8a).
He responds to us when we seek Him. He knows our every care. And He cares for us beyond measure.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
He loved me enough to die for me. So what is my response to Him? Do I desire His friendship or the friendship of the world?
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (Jam. 4:4)
Friendship with God requires obedience to His Word in order to have fellowship with Him.
You are My friends if you do what I command you (John 15:14).
Someone once said, “If you’re not as close to God as you used to be, guess who moved?” Are you seeking Him in the midst of your problems? Are you growing closer to Him? Are you communicating to Him in prayer? He longs for a close relationship with us. Seek Him as your best friend!
What a friend we have in Jesus! All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share. Jesus knows our every weakness. So take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.1
1Lyrics by Joseph M. Scriven (1855); Music by Charles C. Converse (1868)
Sandra.semaan@yahoo.com says
I love reading that, Peggi
Peggi Klubnik says
Thanks, Sandy. I appreciate your comment.