The Fight To FlourishSample

Fighting Together to Flourish

There is a beautiful tension we face in relationships: God is all we need, yet we’re better and stronger because of the people He has put in our lives. God is all we need, and we truly need good friendships. We look to God to meet our deepest need of true satisfaction, we walk in rich relationship with Him, and we invest in friendships, being the friend we were born to be, and leaning on the friends who can pour life into us.  

An important part of the fight to flourish is who we do life with. Some friendships fade naturally. Some grow stronger through the distance. True friendships are a gift from God no matter how long they last. It’s important to have a light touch when it comes to friendships—to be willing to both receive new friends and let go of old ones. However long your friendships last, you can embrace them, enjoying the ones you have in the moment.

God created us for friendship, to engage in deep, meaningful relationships where we’re aware of each other’s pain, share our struggles, and engage with transparency. How do you walk with a friend through their pain? Let me encourage you to be there, to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit leading you. 

What helped me when Lenya went to heaven was when people came in with a meal or to help with my kids. The friends who were there, who sat with me, who didn’t say anything profound, who told me they were praying for me—that made an impact on my grieving heart. Ask God whom He wants you to be a friend to, and you can ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to what He would have you do.

The Enemy hates it when we’re united and when we love and serve God together. That’s why he does everything he can to divide us. I believe that as you cling tightly to Jesus, and as you reach out in friendship to others, you will see life through the lens of true friendship with your Creator and with your fellow fight club. You are not alone. We are stronger together.

Respond

Who do you tend to reach out to first when you are in pain, lonely, or uncertain? What does this tell you about your priorities in your relationships?

How has God used human relationships to help you keep your eyes on Him? List those people who inspire your faith the most.

Consider the person God wants you to become. How can your relationship with God and His people help you grow into that person? What step can you take today in that direction?

Prayer

Lord God, thank You for being my perfect Father. Thank You for how You don’t just know my needs but You meet my needs. You are so kind, and You love me perfectly.  Help me today to walk with You, and to be confident in Your love for me. 

Help me be a good friend. Help me not just be taking from my relationships, but help me to pour out. Help me to not be so easily offended, but help me to give love and honor and life. I ask for wisdom in my friendships. I ask for Your creativity to reach out to a friend today in a unique way. While You teach me and bless me, help me give freely as You have so freely given to me.