Characteristics of Friendships

Here is what to look for and cultivate in your friendships.

Forgiving Colossians 3:13

Reliable Colossians 3:13

Interdependent Ecclesiastes 4:9

Empathetic Romans 12:10

Nurturing Ephesians 4:29

Devoted 1 Corinthians 13:4

Supportive Ephesians 4:32

Humble Ephesians 4:2

In Harmony Ephesians 4:3

Patient 1 Thessalonians 5:14

It was a joy today to attend a one day retreat at my church where I made a new friend. The focus was on love and ways to show love because God first loved us. We put together a quilt of hearts for World Relief and there were skits that taught us what being a true friend really looks like and what wasn’t. In our meditation on God’s word, we asked God to help us to be more patient, kind and to show true humility to others. This included those who are hard to love.

It was a pleasure to make a new friend with whom I have a lot in common. Friendships, I believe, are another way in which God shows us that He loves us. We may have friends that we don’t always see eye to eye with but when we find that friend with whom we can truly connect, with is inspiring and makes our hearts grow. To have someone who gets us is such an encouragement when days are not going so well.

May we encourage and inspire one another onto good deeds.

Blessings to all my friends!

My prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I am thankful that You call me friend. Help me to be the friend that I would want. May I, too, encourage others onto good deeds. Amen.

What I Found in God’s Word to Support True Friendship

I looked to the Bible to find wisdom for building a great friendship. I found each of the following verses to encourage and inspire friends on to good deeds. With the Lord’s help, I want to improve upon each of these with each of my friends. One of the biggest things for me is for both of us to be real with each other and to pray for one another. This is the way to acceptance and love for one another. This makes a great basis for friendship. I am blessed to have a number of friends that are special and unique as well as a gift of God to me. To those I call friend, blessings to you and may God give you peace.

Forgiving——Colossians 3:13

Reliable——–Colossians 3:13

Interdependent–Ecclesiastes 4:9

Empathetic—-Romans 12:10

Nurturing—–Ephesians 4:29

Devoted—–1 Corinthians 13:4

Supportive—-Ephesians 4:32

Humble—-Ephesians 4:2

In Harmony—-Ephesians 4:3

Patient——-1 Thessalonians 5:14

A really good example of friendship can be found between David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18-20. I, especially, like 1 Samuel 18:14 where Jonathan loves David as his own soul. The two of them make a covenant with one another. Reading further you will find that Jonathan tries to protect David from his father, Saul, who wants to kill David.

Much later in 2 Samuel, I read about Jonathan’s death and in chapter 9 David remembers his covenant with Jonathan and sent for Mephiboseth and restored to him all that was Saul’s. Therefore friendship goes a long way and it runs deep. You can’t find a better example than this.

Encouragement for how to be a better friend.

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My prayer: Dear God, thank you ever so much for the people in my life that I am blessed to call friend. Grant each of them an extra measure of grace and peace today. Have mercy on them. Amen.

Friendship Acrostic

Characteristics of Friendships

Biblical Basis for Friendship

What I Found in God’s Word to Support True Friendship