Choosing Friends

Prayer – Lord Jesus, we praise You. Please continue to cover our home with Your love and friendship and guide us as we make friends with others, sharing Your love.

When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home. Job:29:4

 Meditate. Consider God’s friendship. 

Don’t be crabby if you want to have friends.
On the beach in SouthCarolina.

In the prime of my days—that is sort of like now for me, just like it was for Job prior to his attack by satan. It makes me leery to have things going well—to be known as a friend of God. God has a lot of enemies. But still, I’d rather be friends with God than anyone or anything else. 

…do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4.  

When I was a teenager I remember overhearing my folks talk about a friend of theirs who was scared about living in the country—away from the security of town. Mom said that if her friend relied more on God she wouldn’t be so afraid. I guess that made me want to hang onto God’s promise that if He is for us, who can be against us? That friendship of God is an important security blanket.  

It can be hard for some people to make friends. Some of the best friendships I know of are ones that were established at church youth groups—and some of the worst things to happen…happened at church, so again it is a matter of choosing activities wisely. Adults have to be ones who can provide good guidance and who can be trustworthy. Parents simply need to be involved in their children’s activities, whether it is at church, music, drama, sports, or scouting events. Here are some good ideas for making friends.

1.   Be available. Friends have to spend time together—whether it is kids or adults. Woody Allen said “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” That goes for success at a job or in any relationship. Be there face-to-face, not just online. The more time you spend together, the more likely you are to like each other.

2.   Be part of a group. If you have like interests and spend time together in a group, you are more likely to develop an acquaintance into a relationship—a friendship. Groups might be educational classes, art or craft classes, sports teams, church groups—like Bible studies or just Sunday School classes—hobby groups or book clubs.

3.   Say nice things to others. Compliment others on colors they wear, their clothes, or even their eyes. When you say something about someone else, then that trait is unintentionally transferred to you because of a psychological phenomenon of spontaneous trait transference. Keep your comments positive so that people will see you in a positive light.

4.   Set a target—make three new friends this month. When you are in a situation where you can meet new people—make an effort to do more than just say hello.

5.    Smile a lot. It makes you look more friendly to others.

6.    Make friends of friends-of-friends. Good place to start expanding your circle of friends.

7.    Be aware of cultural difference, such as not just dropping in unannounced and the giving of hostess gifts.

8.    Be happy with those who are rejoicing…and comfort those who mourn.

 Show love—that is the best way to win friends and influence others. 

 

Verse of Salvation ~ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. Romans 5:10 

 

Revised and reused from Banquet With The King, October 13, 2013.

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories