A true friend will bring you up higher.
A true friend loves regardless of the situation,
and a real brother exists to share the tough times.
Proverbs 17:17 Voice
Have you ever experienced the love of a true friend?
It is such an amazing gift! A true treasure! A gem!
A true friend does not compete, condemn, nor cut you down. They build you up, encourage you, rejoice with you over your success, and console you when you fail. They do not envy, nor diminish your victories. You are a better person, because of them. For, a true friend helps take you to higher heights.
Such a friend speaks correction when needed. Though their observation might bring you pain; their words can be trusted. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].
Proverbs 27:6 AMP
True friendship is an action - a choice of the heart - to love regardless of the situation.
The action of a true friend is beautifully expressed in the following verses.
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 8 TPT
A true friend weeps with you, laughs with you over nothing, and believes the best in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself. A true friend has staying power. And, the best friend of all; well, His Name is Jesus. He is perfect in every way!
Most assuredly, in Christ, we have a friend like no other!
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:13-15 NKJV
The Lord, Himself, call us friends.
“I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. You must go on living in my love. If you keep my commandments you will live in my love just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and live in his love. I have told you this so that you can share my joy, and that your happiness may be complete. This is my commandment: that you love each other as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this—that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I tell you to do. I shall not call you servants any longer, for a servant does not share his master’s confidence. No, I call you friends, now, because I have told you everything that I have heard from the Father.” John 15: 13-15 Phillips
Daily, may we acknowledge our truest of Friends.
He is our Champion. Advocate. Defender. Truly, devoted. Loyal. Good. Consistent. Perfect. Pure. Faithful. Trustworthy. Confidant. Honest. Tested. Tried. True. Servant. Master. Glorious. Humble. Joyous. Strengthening. Up lifting. Generous. Sacrificial. Devoted. A good listener. Knows our heart. Life giving. Our Living Hope. Pure. Intentional. Loving. Gracious. Protector. Bold. Bright. Beautiful. Caring. Giving. Brings healing. Offers rest. Gives excellent advice. Purposed. Strong. Great. Mighty. Helper. Counselor. Wise. Holy. Righteous. Virtuous. Not condemning. Truthful. Brings peace. Joy. A way maker. Chain breaker. Freedom fighter. Redeemer. All Powerful One. Constant. Follows through. I Am that I Am. Perfect in every way!
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Yes, our Friend, God Almighty is for us, who can stand against us! (Romans 8:31)
He brings us to higher heights.
Jesus, is a friend like no other !
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being my friend!
Though grateful, I am amazed that the great I Am chooses to be my friend, that You, my God, have loved me with an everlasting love, and have drawn me with loving kindness.
I turn my heart completely toward You this day, valuing You over the enticements of the world. I accept the fullness of Your friendship.
You have been such a good friend to me. Help me to be a good friend to others. Please forgive me for the times I have failed as a friend. Please heal any wounds that I may have caused, and set the offended free. Make them whole, Lord.
May I love others regardless of the situation. Empower me, to be loving, patient, gentle, kind, not rude or self-seeking. May I love, as You have loved me, bringing others higher in Christ.
Bless me with opportunities to introduce many to Jesus.
Truly, He is a friend like no other.
MY BFF!
Amen
Worldly Enticement
You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
James 4:4 TPT
Everlasting love
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
Psalm 103 (NIV)
Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
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