The Power of Friendships

The Man in the Mirror | Chapter 10 | Friends: Risks and Rewards | “But as time marches on, needs emerge that can only be met by other men—men who walk in the same shoes, men who share the same problems, men with similar life experiences—other Christian men.” – Patrick M. Morley

scrip·ture | Romans 1:11-12 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some Spiritual gift to make you strong 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

de·vo·tion | I would like to preface by saying that the topic of men meeting with men is exactly the same with women meeting with women. Throughout this crazy walk of life, as we learn more and more about ourselves, we must be honest that God made men and women different. As I previously wrote, men and women have mutually exclusive traits and strengths that contrast yet complement each other. Our wives should be one of our best friends that we can share everything with and be honest with, however, there are just things that both of our sexes go through that we just cannot understand. It is in those mutually exclusive traits and strengths that we must look to other men and women to help deal with the battles of life we have in common.

I am reminded of a childhood story of when our big family of two parents and six brothers all piled into a diesel station wagon and headed to the Black Hills of South Dakota. I cannot remember exactly where we were in South Dakota, but one of my oldest brothers tells a story of how they were confronted by this small group of guys and he was ready to stand his ground. He was ready to stand his ground, because one of my other oldest brothers was right behind him. He had the confidence that between the two of them, they would be able to survive. As he turns around to ask, “Are you ready for this”, he finds his “brother in arms” high tailing it out of there. The situation was so comical, that the whole group of guys just laughed. As time marches on, do you ever find yourself feeling like you are fighting the battles of this world on your own?

There are times in my life where I have felt like the lonely soul that questions God in the poem called Footprints in the Sand. I have found myself in situations where I feel morally and spiritually lost. I have come to realize, it is not only the feeling of God’s Spirit we miss in times of need and during life’s physical demand, but the physical companionship of a person who shares that same friendship and relationship with God. I cannot tell you how important I find sacrificing my Saturday mornings to attend the Grace Fellowship Men’s group. Waking up at 6:00AM on a Saturday does not sound the most pleasing, but I find that the reward I receive from meeting with these guys, not only benefits me, but it benefits the family I come home to. Plus, I get free coffee and doughnuts, double score! Lucky enough, we now have a Men’s Group that meets on Monday, which allows for those that value their sleep a little more to not have an excuse. I have been fortunate to reap the benefits of the Men’s Group and Men’s Retreat for 3 years now.

After a trying week, a week where God has fallen from your mind, which makes snapping back to your Christian reality a little difficult, meeting with people who share in the same struggles and the same faith is both an uplifting and helpful experience in getting back on track. Every week, I find myself living in the reality of Romans 1:11-12 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some Spiritual gift to make you strong 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Each one of us is gifted in how we interpret God’s word and can speak about our relationship with Christ. Each of us can bring a different point of view on how to apply God’s Word to our everyday life and misgivings. Reach out to each of your friends and create this relationship. Join a Men’s or Women’s group. Cultivate those personal “fight clubs” together. Hold dear those people that you can meet with every day to encourage you in your life. You may go through hardships, but remember, “…the times when you have only seen one set of footprints, is when I [Jesus the Christ] carried you.” It is also those friendships, relationships, and physical companionships, where God shows us His gift and grace in physically carrying us through those difficult times.

prayer | LORD, I want to thank You for the relationships that You put in my life. Thank You for the friendships You have helped me establish, and the sharing in faith that is common among all of us. I ask that You continue to foster in me a bright light, that You compel me to continue to seek out men that I can fight the battles of this life with. I pray that the men and women who read this devotional are inspired to shed their personal restraints and go to a Men’s or Women’s Group. That they are inspired to personally sacrifice some time and sleep to find refreshment with the relationships that they could find that will benefit themselves and their family. I ask You LORD to compel the group of men I am with to uplift each other in times of need and to be honest in our battles, joys, and faith, that we may grow to know You better and encourage each other through our faith. AMEN

Daily Alone Time with God |

Chapter of the Week | Proverbs 18

Mon·day | Proverbs 18:24 24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Tues·day | Job 2:11 11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.

Wednes·day | John 15:12-15 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made know to you.

Thurs·day | Proverbs 14:6-7 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. 7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Fri·day | 1 Corinthians 15:33 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”