🌸💙 8 FRIENDSHIP PRINCIPLES FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS 💙🌸

Woman Heal Meet-ups have taught us the importance of godly community that leads to healing, transformation, and personal growth. These gatherings provide a safe space where women can share their stories, offer support, and find encouragement in one another. The bonds formed here are rooted in compassion and understanding, creating a network of strength that extends far beyond the meetings. Women often leave feeling uplifted and empowered, ready to face challenges with renewed faith and resilience. Through shared experiences and collective wisdom, they discover that they are not alone in their journeys and that true healing comes from connection and love through Jesus Christ.

ONE OF THE MANY COMPONENTS OF KEEPING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS HAVING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR LIFE. THE COMPANY YOU KEEP CAN GREATLY AFFECT ON YOUR MOOD, YOUR DECISION MAKING, AND HOW YOU WALK IN YOUR PURPOSE.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HAS PLANS TO PROSPER US, GIVE US HOPE AND FUTURE AND NOT TO HARM US. HE SENDS PEOPLE INTO OUR LIVES TO ALIGN US WITH HIS WILL. ON THE OTHER WE HAND, HOWEVER, WE HAVE AN ENEMY WHO HAS PLANS TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY; SO HE SENDS PEOPLE TO DIVERT US FROM THE WILL OF GOD. WE SHOULD ASK THE LORD, FOR THE DISCERNMENT AND WISDOM TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. WHEN GOD HAS REVEALED TO US THE FRIENDSHIPS HE WANTS US TO BE APART OF, WE THEN HAVE A DUTY TO MAINTAIN THOSE FRIENDSHIPS. IN THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER I WANT TO GO OVER 8 BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF FRIENDSHIP, FOUND IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS, THAT WE CAN APPLY TO OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES. THAT WAY WE CAN LEARN TO BUILD WITH OUR DESTINY HELPERS AND NOT PUSH THEM AWAY.

THIS SCRIPTURE WARNS US TO GET UNDERSTANDING BEFORE COMING INTO AGREEMENT WITH SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE THE PERSON IS A FRIEND. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE DECIDE THAT WE DON'T LIKE SOMEONE BECAUSE OUR FRIEND HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM, NOT KNOWING THE LORD WOULD USE THAT PERSON TO BLESS US ONE DAY. BUT WE CHOSE WORDLY ADVICE THAT TELLS US TO "BE LOYAL" INSTEAD OF USING WISDOM. SOME OF US HAVE ENGAGED IN ZODIAC SIGNS, TAROT CARDS OR CRYSTALS IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF OUR FRIENDS MADE IT SEEM COOL; NOT UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE PRACTICES OPENING DOORS OF WITCHCRAFT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT IS WISE TO DO RESEARCH, PRAY AND FAST TO GET UNDERSTANDING OF THING BEFORE COMING INTO ANY AGREEMENT.

AS HUMANS, WE HAVE A NATURE THAT MAKES US CRAVE TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD. BECAUSE OF THAT SAME HUMAN NATURE, WE MAKE MISTAKES. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEEK PERFECTION IN ANYONE OUTSIDE OF GOD. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NOT ONE RELATIONSHIP ON THIS EARTH THAT WILL BE PERFECT. WHEN SOMEONE HAS HURT US WE WANT TO FEEL UNDERSTOOD AND SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF GOING TO GOD, WE SEEK THE VALIDATION FROM OTHERS WITH THE INTENTION OF "VENTING." WHILE IT IS ENCOURAGED TO SEEK WISE COUNSEL, REPEATING THE MATTER CAN CREATE MORE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TO GUARD OUR HEARTS TO MAKE SURE VENTING IS NOT OPENING DOORS FOR THE ENEMY TO BRING IN STRIFE AND UNFORGIVENESS, WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY END FRIENDSHIPS.

THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE THE LORD WILL USE US TO BLESS AND HELP THE ONES THAT ARE AROUND US. IF YOU HAVE EVER ASKED FOR HELP, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS TO SPEAK UP. THE SPIRITUAL REALM WORKS ON LAWS, AND WE KNOW THE LAW THAT TELLS US WHATSOEVER WE SOW WE SHALL REAP. IF WE WANT HELP FROM GOD WE CAN'T DENY OUR FRIENDS (AND OTHERS) HELP, WE HAVE TO BE A WILLING VESSEL FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO WORK IN. SOMETIMES OUR FRIEND NEEDS HELP WITH RENT OR GROCERIES AND IF WE ARE FINANCIALLY ABLE TO, THE LORD CAN LEAD US TO HELP THEM. OTHER TIMES IT CAN HE HELPING A FRIEND WITH A BUSINESS IDEA, OFFERING THEM A RIDE OR EVEN PRAYING FOR THEM. WITH THE WISDOM OF GOD, HE WILL REVEAL WHO NEEDS HELP AND WHO JUST WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. IF THIS HAS BEEN A TROUBLE AREA FOR YOU, ASK OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO WORK ON YOUR HEART SO THAT YOU WILL LEARN TO LOVE HELPING OTHERS. 

A TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS BUILT ON TRUST. THE BIBLE EXPLAINS THAT EVEN THINGS LIKE GOSSIP CAN RUIN FRIENDSHIPS. AS HUMANS WE GO THROUGH NATURAL EMOTIONS OF ANGER, SADNESS AND EVEN JEALOUSY. WHEN THOSE THOUGHTS COME UP WE HAVE TO CAST THEM DOWN AND NOT ALLOW THE ENEMY TO HAVE A FOOTHOLD IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS. AS WOMEN OF GOD WE HAVE TO LEARN TO GUARD OUR MOUTHS AND OUR HEARTS AT ALL TIMES. WISDOM TELLS US TO CONCEAL MATTERS THAT WERE TOLD TO US IN CONFIDENCE.

WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST TO NOT ENGAGE IN GOSSIP OR REVEAL THE TROUBLES OF OTHERS EVEN WHEN THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS ENDED. PRACTICING A LIFE OF REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT WERE JOINED BY GOD.

HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS WILL MAKE US BETTER PEOPLE. A FRIEND IS NOT SOMEONE WHO AGREES WITH WHATEVER YOU SAY, OR GIVES YOU BAD ADVICE BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED OF CONFRONTATION. THEY WILL GIVE YOU WISE COUNCIL, EVEN WHEN IT MAY GO AGAINST WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR AND THEY ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO USE THEM TO CONVICT YOU OF SIN OR DISOBEDIENCE. THEY WILL PICK YOU UP WHEN YOU ARE DOWN.

BE SURE TO USE DISCERNMENT, AS A TRUE FRIEND WILL DO THIS FROM A PLACE OF LOVE AND HONESTY AND NOT FROM JEALOUSY OR COMPETITION. GENUINE ADVICE FROM A FRIEND WILL HELP US TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES WITHOUT FEELING CONDEMNED.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL BE AROUND WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, BUT AS SOON AS TIMES GET ROUGH THEY ARE NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. A GODLY FRIENDSHIP WILL BE CONSISTANT IN VARIOUS SEASONS OF YOUR LIFE. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LEAN ON THEM WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A BREAK UP, SICKNESS OR EXPERIENCING A FORM OF LOSS.

YOU CAN ALSO COUNT ON THEM TO BE THERE WHEN YOU ARE CELEBRATING LIFE'S SUCCESSES LIKE GRADUATING, STARTING A BUSINESS OR MARRIAGE.

YOU CAN TRUST THIS RELATIONSHIP, THOUGH IT MAY GO THROUGH TRIALS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

MANY OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH HEARTBREAKS IN FRIENDSHIPS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO OPEN UP TO NEW PEOPLE OR WE FIND OURSELVES KEEPING A WALL UP.

WHILE HAVING BOUNDARIES ARE HEALTHY, SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO KEEP FRIENDSHIPS WE MUST BE FRIENDLY. A FRIENDLY PERSON IS PLEASANT TO BE AROUND, GENUINE WELCOMING AND CARING. EVEN WHEN WE GET COMFORTABLE IN OUR FRIENDSHIPS WE MUST CONTINUOUSLY KEEP MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE KINDNESS THAT OUR FRIENDS SHOW US.

THIS SCRIPTURE EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW WE SPEAK TO PEOPLE. WE SHOULD NOT RESPOND TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE HARSHLY JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY OR SPOUSE. AS WE GROW IN PATIENCE WITH GOD, WE LEARN TO BECOME SLOW TO ANGER; NOT ALLOWING OUR EMOTIONS TO CONTROL US, BUT BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. BE INTENTIONAL IN THE WAY YOU RESPOND TO OTHERS.

AS WOMEN OF GOD, THERE COMES A TIME THAT WE BECOME MORE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS IN SHARING THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL. ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD NOT SUGAR COAT THE TRUTH, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO THEM IN A PLACE OF LOVE AND NOT PRIDE. SCRIPTURE SAYS WE WERE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, THINK OF THE HOW YOU GREW IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. DID HE DEAL WITH YOU HARSHLY WHEN YOU CAME TO HIM? OR DID REVEAL THE TRUTH TO YOU IN LOVE?

This is a feature of our July 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive our monthly Healthy Lifestyle newsletters.

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