Read Proverbs 13:20Like our devotional last week about the importance of words, I think friends come in a close second. Think about how much influence your friends can have on you - both good and bad. It's so important to surround ourselves with friends that will lift us up, that we can learn from and that will keep us accountable in walking a straight path.
Our growth in being trustworthy can be directly traced to those we intentionally have chosen to walk with. What are some important ways we gain wisdom from our friends?
Remember the study we did a while back called "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith?" It was by Andy Stanley - the brown book with the funky looking tree on the cover? One of our sessions was on this exact passage in Proverbs. The session was called Providential Relationships. How God can use relationships to grow our faith. You can go back and listen to it here if you like.
One of the things Stanley says at the very end is this:
"Your friends will determine the direction and quality of your life."Can you think of friends that have been 'providential relationships' for you? What about friends you wish maybe you had steered clear from?
Sorry it has been so long since we have made a post! I am just reminded of some of the friends that Kenny and I made when we first joined the military and how we veered off the path of Jesus...it took us a long time to recover from some of the decisions we made and finally we feel like our choices and decisions are starting to pay off. God has lead us to Brookside and to this life group and I definitely think we have gained strength and wisdom from the people we have chosen to spend time with and it is so much more "worth it" invest in those who are going to impart wisdom and help grow our faith.
ReplyDeleteThanks we love you guys too Sam!
DeleteI definitely can attest to the impact of relationships. I have had those friends who I should have steered clear of and I have some great friends I am so proud to know and call friends.
ReplyDeleteAs Jill reminds us about providential relationships I think back on how these people came into and out of my life and I can clearly see the hand of God steering me away from people I thought I wanted to be friends with and bringing me to the people I am so close to now I consider them family. This group is not so different. God has brought us together providentially with the intention to be a blessing to each other and people around us also. I can say truly I am blessed just for knowing you all.