Godly Friendship

When it comes to finding godly friends, the Lord gives us so many things to look for: here are a few!

The first thing to look for in a godly friend: ENCOURAGEMENT. Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing". A friend who truly celebrates you and encourages you to step into all the Lord has for you is a rare and lucky find. Have you ever accomplished something big and instead of celebrating you your friend acted jealous and upset? Better yet, have you ever been that friend? I am GUILTY!! I remember a time in my life where I was struggling with feeling "left behind". I was longing to get engaged and start the next chapter of my life and was truly struggling with those feelings. Right smack in the midst of it, my best friend got engaged......so annoying right? KIDDING! I was so happy for her! I planned an engagement party, and celebrated her well, but deep down I was struggling. I was jealous, my heart was hard, and I secretly wished I was in her shoes. God calls us higher than that. I want to encourage you to not only look for friends who encourage and celebrate you well, but be that friend! Be the friend who is truly happy and excited for your friends. Be the friend who encourages your friends to step into their callings. Your time will come, in the mean time encourage and celebrate your friends well. 

The next thing to look for in a godly friend is that they are LOVING. 1 Peter 8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sin." This one is pretty simple, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and find NEIGHBORS who love you! When you see others striving to love you as Christ loves them, cling onto that friendship and don't let go! Above all, love with God's love.

The third thing to look for in a godly friend is that they don't judge you. Now that does not mean your friends shouldn't hold you accountable and call you higher than your sin. You want friends who aren't afraid to call you out of your sin, but you don't want a friend who condemns and shames you. James 4:11 says, "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it". Find friends who point you to God's word. Find friends who show you the love of Christ. Find friends who intercede on your behalf and pray for you. Don't sit with friends who judge you.

The last thing to look for in a godly friend is find a friend that will sit with you in your mess. Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ". The Lord doesn't want you to carry your burdens alone. You need friends who encourage you to take your burdens to the feet of Jesus. Your boyfriend broke up with you? Find a friend who is only one phone call away. Stuck in a what feels like an endless cycle of sin? Find a friend who jumps into the spiritual battle with you and intercedes on your behalf. Ugly crying on your bathroom floor? Find a friend who sits next to you and dries your tears. It sounds silly, but we need friends who aren't afraid of our mess. Jesus isn't afraid of our mess, why should we be afraid of our friend's mess?

Finding new friends can be scary, but I promise you Godly women are out there. We all desire community and we all desire to feel scene and known. I want to encourage you to pray for these characteristics specifically. The Lord will send you Godly friendships. It might be a week from now or a year from now, but take my word for it he will answer that prayer. In the mean time, make the first move! See a girl who loves Jesus and you think is super cool? Ask her to coffee! I promise it's not weird, I'm sure she needs a friend too! 

xx Mallori