October l2, 20l2
Friends That Sharpen
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]” (Proverbs 27:17, AMP).
Friend To Friend
Whether it’s over a steaming mug of dark roasted coffee, a frilly lunch served at the local sushi restaurant, or a power walk in the wee hours of the morning, my accountability partner and I meet regularly to speak into each other’s lives. We trust each other. We challenge one another. I’m a better woman because she’s my friend – because she speaks with honesty and courage – because she is for me – because she turns my heart toward God and His ways.
As much as I love girlfriend time – and I truly do love girlfriend time – there’s a depth to this particular friendship that flows to the core of who I am. I often feel uncommonly exposed during our conversations. Vulnerable, yet safe. She gets in my grill about my priorities, marriage, mothering, ministry, and faith matters ... and I welcome it. I need it.
We all need friends. We need people in our lives that will love us where we are and help us get to a place of higher living. We need friends that will hold us accountable to God's standards - friends that sharpen us.
The Bible makes a compelling point about this type of friendship. “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].” (Proverbs 27:17, AMP)
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Biblesays of this principle: “We are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with. And directed to have in view, in conversation, to make one another wiser and better.”
Take time to consider your friendships today. Do you have any friends who sharpen you and challenge your “worthy purpose”? Who make you wiser and better? Is there anyone in your life who asks you tough questions, shares godly truths, and confronts you when you need confronted? If so, thank God for her. Purpose to connect with her regularly, grant her permission to continue to speak into your life, and ask that she give you permission to do the same.
Are you that friend to anyone? Do you long to have deeper friendships? If you find yourself in a wide pool of shallow friendships, I’d encourage you to pray about it. Pray that God would bring meaningful friendships to your life and that He would teach you what it looks like to be a good friend.
Sharon, Mary and I delight to come along side of you each day as your Girlfriends In God – to spur you on and encourage you towards Christ, but we could never replace the real-life friendships God intends for you to have. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV)
When we have a friend that sharpens and we become a friend that sharpens, our lives are enriched. Think about what our churches, our neighborhoods, our marriages, our work places, and our lives would look like if we all had this type of friend in our lives. Helen Keller said it beautifully: "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."
Let’s Pray
Dear God, Thank You for friendships. You know the people in my life and the needs of my heart. Please help me to grow as a woman in my ability to pour into the lives of my friends. Help my heart be open to godly, constructive feedback that a friend might speak to me, and give me the capacity to love my friends as You love them.
In Jesus’s name I pray, amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
- What friends came to your mind as you read this today? Consider forwarding this email to them.
- Send a card, an email, a letter, or a text to a friend today ... just to bless her.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Are there any friends in your life that are toxic? If so, prayerfully consider how that relationship affects you, your family, and your faith. If a friend encourages you to make bad choices and to live contrary to God’s Word, then it’s probably time to reconsider the friendship.
- Where does today’s devotion find you? Let’s talk about it – and pray about it – on my facebook page:www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic.
More From The Girlfriends
Need help finding a trustworthy accountability friend? Pray about it first, then connect with the women’s ministry director or family pastor at your church and ask if they could introduce you to some women who would be well suited and available for such a friendship.
Ready to Go Deeper with God? Learn how He wants to bring you beyond your past mistakes and your present challenges to His wholeness, strength and beauty. Broken into Beautiful is a book filled with stories – real stories … gritty and honest, not cleaned up and phony. It’s also filled with Scripture that will inspire you toward the life-changing grace of Jesus. To order the book, go to Amazon or, for a signed copy, visit Gwen’s website: www.gwensmith.net.
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Girlfriends in God
Matthews, NC 28106
info@girlfriendsingod.com
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Originally published Friday, 12 October 2012.
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