Proverbs 27:17 NIV — As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

As I have been thinking this week about my various friends and friendships I realize there is one thing they all have in common: I have a connection with all of them. Connection is the lifeline of friendship. Some synonyms for connection include relationship, kinship, affinity, and linkage. Think about how those words relate to your friendships. My relationships are strengthened through being intentional about daily connections such as spending time together, having conversations, phone calls, or texts. My friends and I encourage and challenge one another. How do you foster your relationships?

Now think about your friendship with Jesus? What do you do to strengthen your relationship with Him? How do you stay connected with Him? Do you have a daily time to sit at the feet of Jesus to pray and study His word? If not, I encourage you to make that a priority in growing your friendship with Him.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Help me to be intentional about connecting with my friends and especially with Jesus Christ. Help me to cultivate connections. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 19:26 NIV — Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Has this week been difficult for you as we have been talking about friends and friendship? Are you someone who doesn’t have many friends nearby? Are you lonely and searching for friendships? The best way to make friends is to be a friend. Making friends requires stepping out of your comfort zone and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. To make friends, find ways you can get involved outside of your home. Perhaps you can volunteer with a community organization. Brainstorm ways to get involved with activities at your church.

When tackling a difficult task, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just the first step.” Making friends requires stepping out of the boat and walking on water. It may be hard, but you can do it!

Let’s pray. Dear God, Help me to take the first step in faith and trust that You will reveal the rest of the stairs as I need them. Help me to step out of my comfort zone to meet others and be a friend. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV — Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

As I reflect on my friendships, I realize how blessed I am to have friends so in tune with what’s going on in my life who send me encouraging texts at all times of day. Sometimes I receive a phone call from a friend that is right on time that helps me to persevere in the midst of a bad day. A good friend embodies today’s featured scripture. A good friend builds up and encourages others. Are you a good friend? Are you in tune to the trials and tribulations of your friends? Do you reach out to your friends to encourage and build them up? How can you be a better friend today? Encourage a friend today by sending an encouraging text, note, or phone call.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for friends who are right on time with their encouragement. Help me to follow the example of Christ and be a better friend. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Proverbs 18:24 ESV — A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Think about all the friends you have in all the areas of your life. You may have childhood friends, friends from work, friends from church, friends you know through your children’s extracurricular activities, college friends, etc. As I reflect, I realize I have friends that fall into all of those categories except lasting childhood friendships. As the daughter of a United Methodist minister, I moved often which made it difficult to form lasting childhood friendships. Lacking childhood friendships doesn’t make my life less full of love. Each of the groups of friends have different dynamics and different blessings. However, they are all human friendships which means that like me, they have faults. There are times that each of us fail one another because each of us is flawed. However, we all have a friend in Jesus Christ who is perfect. He will stick closer to us than anyone else will.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Show me my imperfections that sometimes cause me to hurt my friends. Help me to be a better friend. Thank You for the perfect friend we have in our Savior. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

John 15:13 NIV — Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

This week we will talk about friends and friendship. Merriam-Webster defines a friend as someone attached to another by affection or esteem. Spend a few moments today thinking about all of your friends. Reflect on friends you have had in years past as well as your current friends. Then reflect on our best friend, Jesus, who laid down His life for you and me. As you worship today, thank God for the friend you have in Jesus and the relationship you have with Him. Are you a good friend to Him in return? What ways could you be a better friend to Him? Be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Listen, reflect, and obey. Begin your day of worship by listening to Alan Jackson’s rendition of “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” May each of us have a Son-filled Sunday.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is truly the best friend I could have. Open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to ways I need to improve on being a better friend to Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV —- Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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Watch today’s See You Saturday video to hear about a fear Julie and I overcame together with the love and encouragement of Jesus.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank you for Your endless love that helps me overcome my fears. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV (English Standard Version) — So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Pull out your list of fears one more time. Read through them and make notes on ways God has spoken to you or reassured you this week. How are you feeling about fear today? Are you ready to break up with fear? Take a moment now to listen to “The Breakup Song” by Francesca Battistelli.

Are you ready to “break up” with your fears? Are you ready to lay down your list of fears and trust God? Today, let’s allow our faith to be bigger than our fears. Let’s walk by faith.

Let’s pray. Dear God, I lay my fears at Your feet. Continue to give me strength and courage to trust, obey, and walk by faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.