Thank You, Lord, for the treasure of friendship. And for the ways friendship allows us to speak Truth to one another. "Friendship truth"--I've decided that God's Truth packaged in the winsome, welcoming shape of phileo love. And that friendship truth/love strengthens us when we're weak, corrects us when we're misguided, encourages us when we're defeated, laughs with us when we need to smile, speaks truth when the enemy's lies have stolen our hope in Christ, and loves us even in all our stubborn imperfections! Friendship halves our sorrows and multiplies our joys.
Might we never, ever take for granted the irreplaceable gift of our friends and their friendship truth!
Just today I had the privilege of eating lunch with two dear friends. And we shared friendship truth about things we all knew--but had forgotten. Things like not giving in to negative thoughts and emotions and choosing to speak true and positive words to our family and friends. What we say matters! Don't even let those negative words exit our mouths. (Philippians 4, baby! God's dynamite for negative, destructive thinking!)
Or choosing gratitude--moment by moment. That's a lesson that never fails...though we sometimes fail to remember it and dwell upon the little we lack rather than the astounding surfeit of blessings in our lives. As Mark Buchanan writes: "The heart of wickedness and godlessness is that: a refusal to glorify God. It's the refusal to thank Him." Amen.
Yep, we need friends to remind us of what we already know...but tend to forget in the muck and mire of daily life.
So thank You, ever-faithful and patient, Abba, for friends, for friendship truth, and for never giving up on us quick-forgetters! Might we be friends today who lighten someone else's load and speak Your life-giving truth--friendship truth--into their lives so that their hearts are encouraged. and their perspective restored.
To God be the glory.
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