BE - Dedicated to your Friends - Sharpen Each Other

I have thee most amazing friend I want you to meet!  My friend changed my life forever and I know he can help you change yours for the better too!  My friend is an amazing listener,  will love you unconditionally, will bring joy into your life, brings an inexplicable peace in his presence, is patient with me and my quirks, is kinder and better than anyone I know,  is faithful to the God the Father, has a gentle tone and demeanor, is wise beyond this world, and demonstrates amazing self-control in this crazy life.  

I'd like you to meet my rock, my soulmate:  "Friend Jesus".  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
[ Galatians 5:22-23 ]

Today, I ask that you pray that you get to know "Friend Jesus" through developing a relationship with him.  I also pray that you develope good friendships in your life, based on Jesus-like characteristics.  That may involve weeding out the bad seeds, avoiding the toxic and dedicating yourself to friends who will sharpen you, lift you up and make you a better human.  

"As Iron sharpens iron, so one man [woman] sharpens another."
[ Proverbs 27:17 ]

When I looked up this verses, I read the notes that went along with it.  Here is what they said:

1 - “There is a mental sharpness that comes from being around good people.  And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights.  This requires discussion partners who can challenge each other and stimulate thought - people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker.  Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.”

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“He [She] who walks with the wise grows wise,  
But a companion of fools suffers harm.”
[ Proverbs 13:20 ]


2 - “When most people need advice, they go to their friends first because friends accept them and usually agree with them.  But that is why they may not be able to help them with difficult problems.  Our friends are so much like us that they may not have any answers we haven’t already heard.  Instead, we should seek out older and wiser people to advise us.  Wise people have experienced a lot of life - and have succeeded.  They are not afraid to tell the truth.  Who are the wise, godly people who can warn you of the pitfalls ahead?”

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Dear Heavenly Father,
  I want to thank you for introducing me to "Friend Jesus".  As I may not know him well now, I pray that I get to know him more intimately each day.  I also thank you for those in my life who sharpen me mentally, emotionally and above all, spiritually.  I pray that I continue to dedicate my search to find spiritual friendships and mentors.  I pray that you guide me to these friends, whom I can connect with, have healthy discussions with, all so I can become wiser in Your Word.  Above all, I pray that I dedicate my time, effort and myself to
developing my identity with my amazing, best friend, Jesus Christ.
   In God’s Name,
          Amen.


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References:

1 - Notes from Proverbs 27:17 - Life Application Study Bible - page 1337.
2 - Notes from Proverbs 13:20 - Life Application Study Bible - page 1303.
3 - Written by Christie Lynch