Search This Blog

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Friends

I am thankful for good friends.  God has blessed me, in every city that I have lived, with women and men who will speak truth into my life.  God has used the different personalities and gifting to mold me into the person I am today.  

As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the
Countenance of his friend
Proverbs 27:17

On Monday I woke early, 2:45am.  I attempted to go back to sleep.  But sleep would not come.
My eyes are awake through the night watches,
That I may mediate on Your word.
Psalm 119:148

If you want some sweet time with the Lord crawl out of bed with a heart of worship and Bible in hand.

O God, You are my God.
Early will I seek You.
My soul thirst for You,
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary
To see Your power and Your glory.
Psalm 53:1-2

Such a sweet sweet time but understand when you get serious regarding your relationship with the Lord the enemy will attack.  His strategy is mostly attacks of the mind.  He places thoughts of insecurity and fear in our minds.  Because many of these thoughts are true it is easy to allow our minds to dwell on them.  Once we begin the thought process of dwelling on our self with all our fears and insecurities, life begins spinning out of control.  This one sin of unbelief in your heart and mind will manifest itself in sin of behavior.  This is one reason why we must have godly friends to call upon. Your friends are able to intercede, speak the truth, and lead you back to worship. I am thankful I had a friend to call Monday morning. 

I also want you to know you need friends to hold you accountable.  Sin separates you from God.  Maybe you do not realize when you harbor sinful thought patterns in your mind, whether it is lustful, prideful, fear, or insecurities your relationship with the Lord is hindered.  What a battle it is to take our thoughts captive. 

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
 2 Corinthians 10:4

Our flesh enjoys many of the sinful thoughts that run through our minds.  Just today, I was convicted of thoughts I believed to be innocent.  I knew there was a problem when I prayed with a friend and could not connect with Lord.  I knew there was a problem when I listened to a friend and could not discern the situation.  I knew there was a problem when I desired other things over the Lord.  So a question must be asked, do I want the Lord’s manifest presence in my life or do I want to continue enjoying the thoughts? 

Oh taste and see that the LORD is good:
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.
Psalm 34:8

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18

I know my answer.  I confessed and I’m clinging to the Lord.  If I find I am having difficultly taking these thoughts captive, I will call upon my friends to hold my arms up in this battle.  You know the battle will be easier if you immediately stop the thought.  A thought is not a sin until you begin to dwell upon it.

And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses hands became heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it.  And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Exodus 17:11-13

Guys, you need godly friends.  So do I and I am thankful for each one of you! Each friend takes on a different role in my life but I need each and every one of you.  Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord and to me.  I love each of you dearly!!  I hope and pray I am the same kind of friend to you.





No comments: