Praying for a New School Year! (F) Friendship - Day 6

F is for FRIENDSHIP...You've Got A Friend In Me!!!...I just had to say it...yes, I'm the adult with almost grown sons and I want to go see Toy Story 4!

Today, I am praying for my children to have friendship with GOD, not friendship with this world. It is hard to be in this world and not of it, but that is what we are called to do. Proverbs has a lot to say about friendship - read it sometime. We need to love God most, love our spouse second, then our children. Christ tells us to love one another just as He has loved us, by this all people will know that we are His disciples. If we are truly a friend of God we will be his disciples.

If everyone in the church was the type of friend we are, what kind of church would we have? 

If everyone shared the Gospel as much as we do, how many souls would come to know Jesus this year?

Let us not be friends that love in words or speech but in deeds and truth. Let each of us be examples of Christ-honoring friendships not worldly ones. Pray your children will be true friends of God. Pray they will select Godly people to hang out with...people that will pull them closer to God and not toward things of this world. (Prov 13:20) Pray their friends will hold the accountable for their actions and decisions. Pray they will have meaningful friendships that challenge them to grow in their knowledge of God and the Bible. Pray your children will have respectful friendships. Teach your children to select friends that know when to speak and when to be silent; who don't pressure them into doing things; who don't push them beyond their boundaries. Pray your child will find friends who are honest.

(Pray that your child WILL BE this type of friend that we are praying for them to find...Godly, hold other accountable, challenge others to grow, respectful, honest, not pressure people, respect other's boundaries). 

Jesus was a true friend of sinners, He was willing to die for each of us so that we could have a right relationship with Him. Being a true friend shows we belong to Christ. If we believe in God's Word, a real heaven and a real hell, then why are we not being a REAL FRIEND and telling everyone about a REAL JESUS so that they won't spend an eternity separated from Him. When we are a friend of God, we show true love and forgiveness and live like Christ. Thank your Heavenly Father for the wonderful Christ-honoring friendships that He has blessed you with today.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

"Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours"             (Casting Crowns)