Alive and on Fire - a Video Devo With Illusionist, Dustin TavellaSample

Let’s start with a simple but uncomfortable truth:
We. Need. People.

No one was created to do life alone—not even you.
But here’s the problem: in today’s world, we’ve replaced real connection with screen time. We scroll, like, comment, and call that friendship. But real connection?That’s way deeper. It’s more fulfilling, more challenging, more awkward sometimes… and way more powerful.

Just like the video you watched said: real relationships help us see the things we’d miss on our own.

The Power of Real Friends:
We all have blind spots—areas where we’re stuck, hurting, or living below who God made us to be. But we rarely notice them by ourselves. That’s why we need people who love us enough to speak truth, even when it’s hard to hear.

When you constantly surround yourself with people who only tell you what you want to hear, you're not being sharpened—you're being stagnant.

The longer we ignore sin or compromise, the easier it becomes to justify it. The quieter we let the Holy Spirit's voice become, the more we open the door for bigger and more damaging things in our lives.

That’s why true friends matter.

A true friend doesn’t just hype you up—they call you up.
They’ll say, “Hey, I see something in your life that’s holding you back… and I care too much to stay silent.”
And the best part? They’ll stick around to walk through the change with you.

Who Are You Becoming?
It’s easy to look for friends who are cool, fun, or make us feel good.
But ask yourself:

• Are your friends helping you grow or helping you stay stuck?
• Do they bring you closer to Jesus or pull you away from Him?
• Are youthatkind of friend to the people around you?

The Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron.” That process isn’t soft or quiet—it’s loud. It’s messy. It involves pressure, sparks, and sometimes pain. But in the end? Both pieces get sharper. Both become what they were meant to be.

That’s the kind of friendship you were made for.

Take the Challenge:

• Pray for God to bring real, sharpening friendships into your life.
• Be brave enough to ask a trusted friend: “What’s one area in my life you think I might be blind to?”
• Be the kind of friend who lovingly speaks truth, and also walks the journey of growth with others.

Prayer You Can Pray:
God, thank You for creating me for community. Help me build real friendships that challenge me, sharpen me, and push me closer to You. Give me the courage to hear truth and the wisdom to speak it in love. Don’t let me settle for surface-level relationships. I want the real thing. Amen.

Bottom Line:
Real friends sharpen you. Fake friends soften your conviction.
Choose your people wisely.
Be someone who makes others better.
Build the kind of community that makes Heaven proud.