Morning Devotions

Morning devotions are critical to my life, and I have to say that they have been a struggle for me from time to time. Maybe some of you can relate to me when I say that there are times that as soon as you open your eyes, things draw your attention away from quiet and into the chaos of the day that seemed to be waiting for you while you slept. It is important to fight through those rough patches and be faithful in your time with God. He is faithful to never leave us and never forsake us, and He always has something to say to us if we take the time to listen.

This morning I was reading in my "The Power of a Praying Woman Bible" in Amos and the devotion was to pray for Godly friends. Amos 3:3 says "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?"

It is important to have people in your life that help you walk through life. The author (Stormie Omartian) does a great job of showing the different areas of friendship, with scripture references to back it up. I wanted to share my devotion with you today.

A desirable friend tells you the truth in love. "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:6
A desirable friend gives you sound advice. "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel." Proverbs 27:9
A desirable friend helps you grow in wisdom. "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20
A desirable friend stays close to you. "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
A desirable friend loves you and stands by you. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17
A desirable friend helps in time of trouble. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up!" Ecclesiastics 4:9-10

These are some great verses to remember and put in to practice in our lives. Are we a desirable friend to those around us? It is important for us to look inside ourselves and make sure that we have the fruit in us of being a Godly friend. Are we growing in God and able to speak with wisdom when one of our friends is having a hard time?
Also, have we added friends to our lives that can help us grow in grace and wisdom as we pursue God? This too is important. The people that we seek out when we are going through something hard should be people that will tell us the truth in love.

Here are some signs of undesirable friends.

An undesirable friend is immoral and has no regard for others. "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral, or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." I Corinthians 5:11
An undesirable friend is changeable and unstable. "Do not join with the rebellious, for those two [the Lord and the king] will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?" Proverbs 24:21-22
An undesirable friend in frequently angry. "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared." Proverbs 22:24-25
An undesirable friend gives ungodly counsel. "Blessed is he man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." Psalm 1:1
An undesirable friend is irreverent toward God and His laws. "I am a friend to all who fear you , to all who follow your precepts." Psalm 119:63

Pray for Godly friends in your life that can help you grow and become who God needs you to be.
Thank you Stormie Omartian for this wonderful reminder.