The Giving of Friendship

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Philippians 2:1-4 NLT

Life is easier with a friend. Both good times and bad times are better when shared with the love of a friend. There are many things in today's society that work against the fellowship of gathering together, so we must let the expression of our friendship be creative. Face-to-face video calls, or dropping a note of prayer in the mail, a little surprise from an online purchase. Did you know that friendship was God's idea? He left us quite an outline of how to go about it successfully. 

Let's pray about friendship according to His Word. The following prayer is from the book titled Praying the Scriptures for Your Life, written by Jodie Berndt.

Prayer:

Father,

           Keep me alert to my friends’ needs. Prompt me to pray in the Spirit for them on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18.

Make me the kind of friend who is not selfish or vain but who, in humility, values other people and their interests above my own. Philippians 2:3-4.

When my friends experience a win or a blessing, equip me to genuinely rejoice with them without feeling jealous. When they mourn, show me how to come alongside them in their sorrow without a hint of judgment or condemnation. Romans 12:15.

May I be a person who spurs others onto love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24.

In my friendships, help me be quick to listen slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19.

Make me a kind and compassionate friend, someone who is quick to forgive. Ephesians 4:32.

Let me encourage my friends daily so that none of us will be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13.

May I be the sort of friend who sharpens others and makes them better. Proverbs 27:17.

Equip me to love others the way You love me, being willing to lay down my life - my position, my agenda, my reputation - for my friends. John 15:13.

Shape me into the sort of friend who loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17.

When others look at the way my friends and I treat one another, may they know we are Your disciples by our love. John 13:35.

In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen