7 Days of Prayers and Scriptures for Biblical Friendships
Whenever we have a friend who belongs to the family of God, they will be the one who stands with us and loves us at all times. They won't shrink away when times get hard, nor will they leave us without help when we are in need. In our own lives, we need to be thankful for friends such as these because they are truly closer than family. We cannot choose our family, but we can choose our friends.
Challenge Questions:
Do you have a friend who loves at all times? If you do, what is that like?
What do you think it means when Proverbs 17:17 says, “A brother is born for a time of adversity?”
How can you be a friend who loves at all times?
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared” (Proverbs 22:24-25).
As mentioned above, we can choose our friends; however, we must be careful with whom we befriend. Our friends have the ability to either cause our downfall or help us to grow into better followers of the Lord. As Proverbs 22:24-25 tells us, we do not need to make friends with a hot-tempered person because we will quickly pick up their ways. In time, we will also become hot-tempered.
This is because who we befriend will influence us. If we are around angry people, we will soon become angry ourselves. Rather than befriending people who are easily angered, we need to befriend people who are kind, caring, and love the Lord. Their kindness, caring nature, and love for the Lord will influence us and help us to become better followers of Jesus. When you are choosing your friends, make sure you really get to know them and stay away from anyone who could lead you into sin.
Challenge Questions:
Are you a friend to anyone who is hot-tempered? If so, have you seen their own anger rub off on you?
Do you have any friends who are good influences? How have you seen them positively impact your life?
Lastly, as an individual, do you think you are a hot-tempered person? If so, what do you think you can do to turn away from being angry?
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“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
While many people like to claim they are a “lone wolf,” all of us need friends. God didn't create us to walk through this life alone. Friends are a beautiful gift from the Lord, and we must not take them for granted. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us, two are better than one because they have a good return for their work, and if one falls down, the other can help pick them up. Unfortunately, if a person is by themselves and they fall down, there will be nobody to help them up.
This is why we need to prioritize friendships. They can literally and figuratively help pick us up. Whenever we are struggling or feeling discouraged, our friends can pick us back up again and point us to Jesus. This is a beautiful blessing and one we should start including in our lives. If you don't currently have a friend like this, turn to the Lord in prayer, and He will guide you to true friends.
Challenge Questions:
Two is better than one. How have you seen this to be true in your own life?
Have you ever “fallen” and there was nobody to help you? How did you feel?
It is better to be with someone rather than alone. What are some steps you can take this week to make time to spend with friends?
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
For our final day, we are focusing on the importance of choosing friendship with God rather than friendship with the world. As Jesus’ half-brother says, friendship with the world means enmity against God. We need to think over this and truly ask ourselves: “Am I a friend of the world or a friend of God?”
By answering this question honestly, we can start taking the right steps to become friends with God rather than the world. The world doesn't want what is best for us. It will only cause problems and tempt us into sin. Rather than following after the world and seeking the approval of sinful mankind, we need to choose to be friends with God. He is our best friend and the One we can always turn to, no matter what.
Challenge Questions:
Are you a friend to the world or to God?
If you find that you are a friend to the world rather than God, how can you change this?
If you find that you are a friend to God rather than the world, how can you cultivate this friendship?
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, please help me to be a friend to all people and to truly cultivate my friendship with them. Please also help me to mirror Your love and heart for others. Lastly, I want to thank You, Jesus, for being my best friend and always loving me. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
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