Godly Friends

brother is born. ~ Proverbs 17:17 (CJB) 

Have you ever noticed that godly friends are like good bras?  As a mother of four breast-fed children…well, I will spare you the downer details!  Seriously, godly friends provide much needed UPLIFT & SUPPORT when you are DOWN!  And their encouragement makes us feel a whole lot better, doesn’t it?!  They are a perfect fit and you can’t wait for them to be around you!  SEE!  Godly friends are most definitely like good bras!  I rest my lace…

You know these friends I speak of.  They are there for you.  They will not judge you unrighteously and condemn you, no matter how much of a mess you have made.  They understand (though may not be able to completely relate to) where you stand.  They realize we all travel an Appointed Way and cheer you onward to persevere in HIS strength through your trials.  They are able to see the other side of a given situation and speak the Truth of the Word of God into your ear.   If you do get off track, they will lovingly guide you back in the right direction…God’s direction….provided that your spirit is teachable.  For Proverbs 12:1 says, ‘Whoever loves instruction, loves knowledge; but he who hates correction is stupid.’  (NKJV)  

She is the one you can count on.  You know that nothing will surprise her.  You know that she will love you REGARDLESS of your actions (good, bad or indifferent) – because the essence of grace is undeserved favor.  She is the woman free of critical thinking, generous with her love and holds within her spirit a depth of Kingdom understanding and divine revelation.  She bares a striking family resemblance to her Heavenly Father.  Her face shines with acceptance and is not darkened by condemnation and fault-finding.  She is a fruit inspector, but only of her own fruit!  She is the one you aspire to be like.  She lives the WORD OF GOD.  Her words (which are HIS WORDS) and walk are in perfect alignment.  She has a godly and reverential fear that drive her to her knees in humbleness and holy adoration before HIS Throne.  You feel the Kingdom at work within her because you perceive that only the Father is able to supernaturally reveal both humility and boldness in and through HIS servant simultaneously.  

She is a Merea.  That is Hebrew for ‘a trusted friend and companion’.  Merea comes from the root word ra’ah which means ‘to feed, to provide nourishment, to tend a flock.’  And that she does for you!  She does not stifle your spirit or quench HIS, but encourages you with Living Water that you may grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD.  She gives those she loves, serves and prays for the GRACE, SPACE and TIME to grow.  HIS Name is not blasphemed because  of her ways.  Rather, her conduct gently whispers to all who heed, ‘Where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty!’  

Blessed Father, may we be like this woman because of Your Holy Breath within us.  May all who read this realize THIS IS Your plan for each of us.  May YOUR NAME be hallowed in us and may Christ be regarded as holy in our hearts in our ways (1 Peter 3:15).  Give Your servants deep conviction that moves us to repentance.  In HIS Name.

Quotable Quotes:

In friendship, God opens your 

eyes to the glories of Himself. 

~ Joni Eareckson Tada 

We’ve grown to be one soul – 

two parts; our lives are so 

intertwined that when some 

passion stirs your heart, I feel 

the quake in mine. 

~ Gloria Gaither