Friend Request: Choose Prayerfully

Lord Jesus said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). The Lord knew that going through this world would not be easy, and so in His mercy, He provided for us support systems that would help us and comfort us in our journey. One of the God-given support systems that are available to us is godly friends.

Being intentional about the friends you keep in life matters a lot. It is not every company that you ought to belong to. Intentionality comes with you having that desire to keep those that are aligned with your passion, goals, or dreams. Else, you might hurt yourself with the type of people you are surrounded with. And, of course, God does not want to see you hurt, as He always wants the best for His children.

A mighty woman of God once said, "Anything is possible when you have the right people around to support you."

The account of Haman in the book of Esther tells us a lot. Haman was an enemy of the Jews and sought ways to get them killed. He hated Mordecai, a Jew that had been carried away in captivity with the other Jews. Haman was invited to the King's banquet and informed his wife and friends about it. He also mentioned Mordecai in the course of the conversation with others in a bad light. Do you know the advice that Haman's wife and friends gave?

Esther 5:14 tells us, "Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made."

Just imagine what if Haman had godly friends; would such cruel words have proceeded from their mouths? The Bible warns us, "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." (1 Corinthians 15:33)

In your walk with God, keeping godly friends cannot be over-emphasized. Whenever you feel so wearied and down, do you have anyone you can call upon to pray with? As much as you can love and laugh and joke with everyone, understand that you need someone, some people, to openly discuss and share your thoughts. Proverbs 27:9 says that the heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

For accountability sake, you need godly friends. You would want someone to assess your actions sincerely and ultimately from the lens of God's word. When the truth seems bitter, you will want someone that will spill it out to your ears by speaking the truth in love. You need good counsel and words that will affect your life positively. If Ananias' wife had given good counsel, it was very possible that Ananias would have changed his mind and not have lied about the proceeds from the land sold. But both of them connived together to do that which was bad.

Hence, when walking the path of life, you will need those spirit-filled friendships that will get you back on track and keep you continually on the right track.