I Am The Sum Of My 12 Friends
The Bible teaches us to choose our friends wisely because we become like them. They will shape your future and your happiness. The old saying, “show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”…This last week I celebrated my birthday. (I know you are asking how old I am…I like saying I am two 30’s and a bit more. ;) ) As my birthday approached, I reflected on who I am …and I discovered these scriptures:
Prov 13:20Keep company with the wise and you will become wise.If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.
Prov 12:26The righteous should choose his friends carefully,For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
The Bible helped me to understand I am like the people I hang out with.
My current friends are a reflection of who I am.
So, as an exercise I wrote down some of my friends names and what I liked about them. Then I wrote down my life goals and values and reflected on the friendships I have chosen and the friends that I admire.
WOULD MY FRIENDS REALLY TELL ME WHO I AM?YES! Your friends tell you who you are.
EXERCISE: Write the names of your friends and what you love about them, then ask yourself do I reflect this quality and why do I value this character trait?
Here is a part of my list:
My friends, Simone and Bety, are always kind and giving - just who I want to be. I admire them so much. They are the true Proverbs 31 women: taking care of the poor, honoring their husbands and showing everyone hospitality in their comfortable and beautiful homes. You will find them always serving someone.
Rom 12:10-11Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
My friends, Cristina and Libby, are loyal and genuine – both are trustworthy and keep confidence. They are some of my longest and most treasured friends because they put high value on their friendship with me. Trust is what makes our friendship. I talk to acquaintances, but I trust my friends. If you cannot trust someone, then they are not a friend. These trustworthy women make forever friends.
Prov 17:17A friend loves at all times
Two of my closest friends, Julia and Jenny, can pray me through any storm. They pray fervently until all the clouds are gone and I am in the sunshine. They are uplifting and considerate. You walk away from them feeling like you have been treated as the most important person in the world.
1 Thess 5:11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Philip 1:3-5I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
There are a couple friends, Gaby and Kristine, who stick closer than a brother. They invite me to talk as long as I want and they really listen with empathy this has helped to bring me healing from past pain. I feel so accepted and loved by these two friends.Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.When I am honest with these two friends they help to carry my load and my lessen the pain. You can share your joy with a friend and it doubles it; and when you share your pain with a safe friend, the pain is halved.
Prov 18:24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Ecc 4:9-12Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! …And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Always make room for new friends. My two new friends are Rocio and Kayla. We have so much fun doing life together, shopping, laughing, talking about Jesus over coffee. They both have brought so much joy in my life! I just connect with them immediately. I enjoy their humor, their style and their personality. They are so likability.
Rom 12:25 MSGLaugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down
Prov 27:9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
Two of my best family friends are Gini (my sister) and Martina (my daughter-in-law). Both are so God centered, positive, they look for the best in people and in situations. They make everyone (including me) feel loved, valued and appreciated.
Prov 17:9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
I have some young women who are close friends like Esmae, Michelle and Kassie. When choosing your friends, it's important that you value the same things. You need Christian friends. But your best friends should be Christians. They should be strong believers. Do what it takes to build those relationships. I choose to be friends with godly girls who I can sharpen and mentor in Christ.
Prov 27:17Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Philip 2:4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
My friend group (Ramona, Linda, Karen & Patricia) women who take an evening a week out of busy lives to get together. They choose to invest the time, energy and effort into building a friendship. Deep friendships are intentional. They’re not accidental. Deep friendships are not easy or instant. Deep friendships cost. And no friendship is going to flourish without time spent together.Your friends are too important to pick by chance. That’s why you need a church home. Get to know people at church. Build relationships. Join a friend group.
Phil 2:1-4 MSGIf you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand
I love the part in this verse, where is says …be deep spirited friends. We all search for relationships like this and we suffer a great emptiness when they don't exist in our lives.REMIND YOURSELF: Not every friend is for every season. Some friends will move on. Don’t despair. If friends walk out on you. You don’t need them to accomplish your purpose. If you did God would still have them in your life. Move forward with a new season and a new friend!
My friends have shown me who I am
I love to serve and give to others.I am trustworthy friend and keep confidences.I am a woman of prayer and inspire women to live their God given dreams.I accepting and loving person who values my friends and I invest in them.I am kind to others, patience, compassionate and forgiving.I am happy with who I am, enjoying life, I love to laugh and have fun.I love God, His Word, I believe in the power of prayer for the miraculous and I can pray others out of a jam.I have many wonderful friends who celebrate my life!