A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Prov. 17:17
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Prov. 13:20
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Prov. 18:24
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Prov. 27:17
(As you pray this prayer, thank God for the gospel-friends in your life.)
Heavenly Father, I treasure the gift of friendship more than ever—good friendship. I don’t want to grow old and alone, nor older and more foolish. Thank you for the friends you’ve put into my life who love at all times: The times when I’m easy to be with; and when I’m not “on top of my game,” feeling “spiritual,” or am fully present.
Thank you for friends who can easily horselaugh with me and weep with me—fishers of men and fish. Thank you for a gospel posse that knows how to lash one another to the mast of your mercy and grace when the siren of temptation is screaming; colleagues in kingdom dreaming and servant loving; friends who waste less and less time trying to be impressive or accumulate more stuff.
Father, by the grace and truth of Jesus, make me a better friend. I want to offer a sharpening presence in the lives of my friends, not a dulling one. Help me be a means of your grace in my friends’ lives—to encourage them, and all the more as we see the great Day of Jesus’ return approaching. Satan would love nothing more than to sabotage our growth in the gospel.
Thank you that Jesus is a friend of sinners—the only friend that sticks closer than a brother. We need his friendship more than ever. May Jesus’ love, grace, and glory shape all our friendships and all our “friend-ing.” So very Amen I pray, in his tender and triumphant name.