I have been extremely blessed with amazing, incomprehensibly loving, loyal, true friendships in my life. I am sure of that.
I have called myself "picky" when it comes to those who I keep closest to me through the years. I am the girl that would rather have a few close friends than many surface level friendships. I've always been like that. But this series has me thinking...maybe it's something more than being "picky." Maybe it's something more than "I've always been like that." Maybe it's something bigger...something ignited by the Holy Spirit at work within me.
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We are called to do life together. Not just the glitz and glam and the peaks of life but the trenches. And the simple day-to-day things too.
The bottom line is this: are you going to surround yourself with people who push you to be more like Jesus or people who encourage you to be more like the world?
Just soak on that.
...Choose your friendships wisely. Let them be for His glory.
Note: I believe that those of us who are in a relationship with Christ are to go beyond our community of friends as well. We are called to be the light in a dark world. We should be out in the world! We should be among those who don't know our Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Moreover, when it comes to accountability, we should turn to those who are spiritually mature and spur us towards Christ-likeness.
I love this post. I just wrote and essay of a comment of self reflection upon reading....yeah I deleted that! I do think the Lord is working on my heart to be less judgemental and more tolerant when it comes to friendships. I only have one truly close friend that I trust more than anyone. Everyone else I just seem to smile at from a distance and then scoot away from.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - I'd rather have a few close friends and I love what you said about the trenches, it's true.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about the way friendships shine in the trenches. Only true ones are there with us. And others have the opportunity to be Jesus to us!! :)
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elise
Your posts lately have really hit close to home! I really like this one especially because that is the way I am too! I have always preferred a handful of closer friends... This is something really great to think about! Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteAgree :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post! It is so easy to be selfish in terms of who to let into your life...and sometimes, it is good to be that way (having a few, close friends instead of many is my style too!). However, thanks for the reminder that we are called to be open-minded and out in the world as well!
ReplyDeleteone of my favorite friendship quotes..."your real friends are with you at your highest of highs and lowest of lows"
ReplyDeletehappy Monday friend!
Thanks for sharing this! My husband and I dealt with this situation when we got married. We had friends who we felt were leading us down the wrong road and making it harder for us to lead a Christ-like life. Luckily we both felt the Lord tugging at our heart strings and made some tough decisions to surround ourselves with great Christian couples and friends and cut the cords from those friends who were holding us back.
ReplyDeleteSO true!!! I remember my mom saying so many times hearing my mom saying as iron sharpens iron in reference to friends and to choose my friends wisely. I am truly thankful for it! My circle of close friends is small and that's fine by me. Those close friends are people who live their lives on fire for God and won't compromise.
ReplyDeleteI would much rather have a few friends of quality that I know will be there for me through thick and thin. I do know that every person we come across molds and shapes who we are as people so choosing to surround ourselves with people who see the world differently is a great advantage as well.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post so much and find myself SO MUCH like you in regards to friendships!! Thank you for sharing and the reminder to chose wisely, yet remain a witness to the world!
ReplyDeleteWhere would we be without friends?! I so agree with you on everything you've said. I am not a religious person myself, but I was raised Catholic and believe in the general teachings of the church, especially in regards to our relationships with others and our communities. I have had friends come and go, and often times during times of turbulence in a friendship I ask myself, Do I feel better after I've spent time with this person? If the answer is no, then I do my best to move on - no one needs negativity in their life, especially with all the horrible things going on already in the world!
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Quaintrelle
Love this post! My very best friends have been there for me for the highs and lows, and we "do life" together. God has also placed some pretty amazing women in my life through my small groups who have been able to encourage me and help me grow as a Christian.
ReplyDeleteI love this Elise! Friends are something that can be taken for granted, or even too lightly. Lasting, real, true friendships are far and few between and to be cherished!
ReplyDeleteI love this post.
ReplyDeletefriends are something that is such a blessing, but is important to have true friends! they def are something to keep near and dear!
xxoo
thanks doll. i couldn't agree more :)
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elise
As a parent I feel the need to set a good example and surround myself with people who make me want to be a better person not people who bring me down. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI feel so blessed to have an amazing group of friends but I can't pretend there hasn't been a few who have disappointed me. In situations like that you just have to move on. Which is precisely what I've done!
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