365 Days of Friendship E-Book

BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 361

Beschreibung

One of the most precious things about life is the gift of friendship. Receiving a kind word from a friend can make all the difference in your day. Good friends believe the best about you and often have an inspired, beautifully timed way of expressing it. The sincere words of an encouraging friend bring life. As you read these devotions and Scriptures, be inspired to live with gratitude in your heart and praise on your lips. Meditate on friendships that produce life and peace. Evaluate each day in the light of God's truth and thank him for your good friends. As you quiet yourself before him, be filled with his life-giving joy so you can pour it out on others. Speak life into a friend each day of the year and brighten the world with love.

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC.

Savage, Minnesota, USA

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365 DAYS OF FRIENDSHIP

© 2022 by BroadStreet Publishing®

978-1-4245-6543-6

978-1-4245-6544-3 ebook

Devotional entries composed by Sara Perry.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked (NCV) are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIrV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked (TPT) are taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission of BroadStreet Publishing. All rights reserved.

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22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

SWEET FRIENDSHIPS REFRESH THE SOUL AND AWAKEN OUR HEARTS WITH JOY.

PROVERBS 27:9 TPT

CONTENTS

INTRO

JANUARY

JANUARY 1: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

JANUARY 2: COMPASSIONATE COMFORT

JANUARY 3: CHOOSE KINDNESS

JANUARY 4: HEART OF GRATITUDE

JANUARY 5: PRAYERS OF THANKS

JANUARY 6: CHOOSE CAREFULLY

JANUARY 7: EVERY TIME

JANUARY 8: REASON TO REJOICE

JANUARY 9: GREAT PROMISES

JANUARY 10: CELEBRATING WITH OTHERS

JANUARY 11: STAYING IN THE LIGHT

JANUARY 12: PART OF GOD’S FAMILY

JANUARY 13: FULL OF WISDOM

JANUARY 14: ALREADY KNOWN

JANUARY 15: HE’S STILL WORKING

JANUARY 16: UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP

JANUARY 17: POWER OF THE SPIRIT

JANUARY 18: HOPEFUL REMINDERS

JANUARY 19: LIFEGIVING WISDOM

JANUARY 20: CHOOSE TRUST

JANUARY 21: INEXPRESSIBLE JOY

JANUARY 22: LOOKING BEYOND

JANUARY 23: PROMOTERS OF PEACE

JANUARY 24: REMEMBER THE HOPE

JANUARY 25: KINGDOM OF LIGHT

JANUARY 26: JUST LIKE US

JANUARY 27: PRACTICE PATIENCE

JANUARY 28: GRATEFUL HEART

JANUARY 29: RELY ON CHRIST

JANUARY 30: HEARTS OF HOPE

JANUARY 31: IN CHRIST

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 1: FASTEN YOUR FAITH

FEBRUARY 2: KEPT IN LOVE

FEBRUARY 3: GLORIOUS PROMISE

FEBRUARY 4: HIGHER WISDOM

FEBRUARY 5: LAID DOWN LOVE

FEBRUARY 6: THE HIGH ROAD

FEBRUARY 7: UNTO GOD

FEBRUARY 8: UNDER LOVE’S BANNER

FEBRUARY 9: LIVED OUT LOVE

FEBRUARY 10: LIVING STONES

FEBRUARY 11: LOOK TO HIM

FEBRUARY 12: BUILD ON CHRIST

FEBRUARY 13: RAISED UP

FEBRUARY 14: GIFTS OF GRACE

FEBRUARY 15: JUST IMAGINE

FEBRUARY 16: CHOSEN TO SHARE

FEBRUARY 17: MARKED BY MERCY

FEBRUARY 18: VESSELS OF HIS SPIRIT

FEBRUARY 19: TIME FOR SINGING

FEBRUARY 20: EVEN WHEN

FEBRUARY 21: BROUGHT NEAR

FEBRUARY 22: HEART WORK

FEBRUARY 23: SWEET AROMAS

FEBRUARY 24: NO MORE WALLS

FEBRUARY 25: HIGH PRICE

FEBRUARY 26: SWEET MESSAGES

FEBRUARY 27: HELP FOR US

FEBRUARY 28: ALIVE IN CHRIST

MARCH

MARCH 1: WONDERFUL THINGS

MARCH 2: SIGNS OF HOPE

MARCH 3: SEASONS OF LIFE

MARCH 4: SPIRIT TRUTH

MARCH 5: WATERFALLS OF GRACE

MARCH 6: CHILDREN OF GOD

MARCH 7: GENEROUS KINDNESS

MARCH 8: EMPOWERED BY GOD

MARCH 9: BETTER UNDERSTANDING

MARCH 10: RENEWED

MARCH 11: KEEP SEEKING

MARCH 12: WHAT JOY

MARCH 13: RIGHT ON TIME

MARCH 14: BEAUTIFULLY CULTIVATED

MARCH 15: OVERFLOWING LOVE

MARCH 16: DRESSED IN COMPASSION

MARCH 17: CONFIDENT TRUST

MARCH 18: LEAVE ROOM

MARCH 19: FOCUSED

MARCH 20: PEACEFUL POSSIBILITIES

MARCH 21: BREATH OF GOD

MARCH 22: DWELLING IN WISDOM

MARCH 23: FREEDOM IS HERE

MARCH 24: ALL FOR JESUS

MARCH 25: SAVED BY MERCY

MARCH 26: IN OUR MIDST

MARCH 27: CONTINUALLY TRANSFORMED

MARCH 28: GOD IS GREATER

MARCH 29: SURE STEPS

MARCH 30: OUT OF DARKNESS

MARCH 31: HEAVENLY HOME

APRIL

APRIL 1: LISTEN FOR THE KNOCK

APRIL 2: SO MUCH MORE

APRIL 3: WHOLEHEARTED RELIANCE

APRIL 4: SUFFICIENT PORTION

APRIL 5: PEACEFUL REST

APRIL 6: NO MATTER WHAT

APRIL 7: HEALING IS COMING

APRIL 8: OVERCOMERS

APRIL 9: RECEIVE WITH THANKS

APRIL 10: TODAY’S JOYS

APRIL 11: CONFIDENT CHILDREN

APRIL 12: CONTINUE IN LOVE

APRIL 13: VESSELS OF GLORY

APRIL 14: HEIRS OF GOD

APRIL 15: ROOM FOR HOPE

APRIL 16: ANYTHING WORTHY

APRIL 17: WHERE YOU ARE

APRIL 18: EVERYTHING WITH INTENTION

APRIL 19: CREATED BY GOD

APRIL 20: THROUGH LOVE’S EYES

APRIL 21: A RESPECTABLE LIFE

APRIL 22: LIVING WORDS

APRIL 23: EVEN IN SUFFERING

APRIL 24: UNCOVERED

APRIL 25: LIVING WATERS

APRIL 26: REACH OUT IN GRACE

APRIL 27: RELATABLE

APRIL 28: LIVE IN LOVE

APRIL 29: CARETAKER

APRIL 30: ETERNITY IN VIEW

MAY

MAY 1: FEAR-FREE LOVE

MAY 2: LOOK BEYOND

MAY 3: THE REASON

MAY 4: TESTIMONIES OF GOODNESS

MAY 5: POWERFUL KINGDOM

MAY 6: RENEWED MINDSET

MAY 7: SPIRIT AND TRUTH

MAY 8: THE WAY OF JESUS

MAY 9: AN OPEN HEART

MAY 10: A LIGHT LOAD

MAY 11: HOLD ONTO HOPE

MAY 12: WAITING FOR FULFILLMENT

MAY 13: POUR IT ALL OUT

MAY 14: SETTLED IN CHRIST

MAY 15: GREATER THAN FRIENDSHIP

MAY 16: KEEP BUILDING

MAY 17: HEARD

MAY 18: CONSIDER IT

MAY 19: COMPLETELY NEW

MAY 20: FREE OFFERINGS

MAY 21: COUNT THE WAYS

MAY 22: MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

MAY 23: WORK OF LOVE

MAY 24: IMPORTANCE OF TODAY

MAY 25: STEADFAST AS THE SUNRISE

MAY 26: CULTIVATE CONTENTMENT

MAY 27: HE’S GOT IT

MAY 28: HUMBLE KINDNESS

MAY 29: EVEN IN HEARTACHE

MAY 30: GRACIOUS FREEDOM

MAY 31: CHOSEN

JUNE

JUNE 1: HE SEES IT ALL

JUNE 2: RELIEF IS COMING

JUNE 3: TRUST HIM

JUNE 4: CALL TO REST

JUNE 5: A RIGHTEOUS CHOICE

JUNE 6: COME TO HIM

JUNE 7: JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDES

JUNE 8: FILLED WITH COMFORT

JUNE 9: FAITHFUL ONE

JUNE 10: OVERFLOWING COMPASSION

JUNE 11: CONTINUE ON YOUR PATH

JUNE 12: EVERYTHING MADE RIGHT

JUNE 13: FREE FROM BLAME

JUNE 14: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

JUNE 15: BUILD UP GENEROSITY

JUNE 16: UNQUENCHABLE LOVE

JUNE 17: WALK IN THE LIGHT

JUNE 18: REMEMBER THIS

JUNE 19: INTERCESSION

JUNE 20: UNCONTAINABLE

JUNE 21: THREADS OF MERCY

JUNE 22: ALIGNED WITH CHRIST

JUNE 23: PROVEN AND TESTED

JUNE 24: UNEQUIVOCALLY FREE

JUNE 25: TELL A FRIEND

JUNE 26: PRINCE OF PEACE

JUNE 27: INCOMPARABLE WISDOM

JUNE 28: INTENTIONAL GIVING

JUNE 29: SUPPLIER

JUNE 30: PROMISES OF RESTORATION

JULY

JULY 1: STUDY MERCY

JULY 2: MERCIFUL ONE

JULY 3: HELP TO BELIEVE

JULY 4: BENEFITS OF TRAINING

JULY 5: GRACIOUS GOD

JULY 6: ABILITY TO CHOOSE

JULY 7: FEARLESS CONFIDENCE

JULY 8: COMMON TEMPTATIONS

JULY 9: EVERYTHING COUNTS

JULY 10: KEEP ASKING

JULY 11: RENEWED SPIRIT

JULY 12: FAITH-FILLED PRAYERS

JULY 13: BLESSED OBEDIENCE

JULY 14: LEARN HIS WAYS

JULY 15: FEARLESS TRUST

JULY 16: TRANSFORMATIVE THINKING

JULY 17: DEEP WELLS

JULY 18: REASON TO PRAISE

JULY 19: DON’T COMPARE

JULY 20: NOTHING FORGOTTEN

JULY 21: THE COMMON GOOD

JULY 22: STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

JULY 23: PLAY YOUR PART

JULY 24: STAY FOCUSED

JULY 25: NEVER ABANDONED

JULY 26: HONORING THE LORD

JULY 27: CHANGING TIMES

JULY 28: STEP BACK

JULY 29: LAY DOWN YOUR WORRIES

JULY 30: WAY OF EXCELLENCE

JULY 31: HUMBLE LOVE

AUGUST

AUGUST 1: FOLLOW HIS VOICE

AUGUST 2: NO RECORD

AUGUST 3: CULTIVATE CONTENTMENT

AUGUST 4: ENDURING LOVE

AUGUST 5: KEEP CHOOSING IT

AUGUST 6: FOREVER THE SAME

AUGUST 7: GROWING UP

AUGUST 8: IN THE END

AUGUST 9: FRUIT-BEARING SPEECH

AUGUST 10: OVERCOMING FEAR

AUGUST 11: THE WAY

AUGUST 12: HOPE IS ALIVE

AUGUST 13: GIVE UP THE FIGHT

AUGUST 14: HELP IN HIM

AUGUST 15: A BETTER PEACE

AUGUST 16: NOT CONFUSING

AUGUST 17: DEFENDER

AUGUST 18: SEWN IN

AUGUST 19: EVEN FOR ONE

AUGUST 20: HOLY WISDOM

AUGUST 21: SACRIFICIAL LOVE

AUGUST 22: UNCONTAINABLE JOY

AUGUST 23: CHOSEN

AUGUST 24: WELCOME BACK

AUGUST 25: OVERCOMING VICTORY

AUGUST 26: BLAMELESS FRIENDS

AUGUST 27: STAND STRONG

AUGUST 28: LOOK BEYOND APPEARANCES

AUGUST 29: TESTIMONIES OF GOODNESS

AUGUST 30: DIRECTED BY THE LORD

AUGUST 31: COURAGEOUS DEVOTION

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 1: TRUTH TELLERS

SEPTEMBER 2: EVERY SINGLE THING

SEPTEMBER 3: FULFILLING JOY

SEPTEMBER 4: LOOSEN UP

SEPTEMBER 5: FATHER’S LOVE

SEPTEMBER 6: TAKE HEART

SEPTEMBER 7: GOODNESS OF GOD

SEPTEMBER 8: CHILDLIKE FAITH

SEPTEMBER 9: GATHER IN FAITH

SEPTEMBER 10: SOUGHT AND SAVED

SEPTEMBER 11: INFINITE POTENTIAL

SEPTEMBER 12: ROCK OF REFUGE

SEPTEMBER 13: SETTLED AND SUBDUED

SEPTEMBER 14: FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

SEPTEMBER 15: REFRESHING REFUGE

SEPTEMBER 16: COUNTED ON

SEPTEMBER 17: UNDERSTANDING

SEPTEMBER 18: WONDERFUL THINGS

SEPTEMBER 19: DEFEND THE HELPLESS

SEPTEMBER 20: CLOSER THAN A SIBLING

SEPTEMBER 21: ABSOLUTE PEACE

SEPTEMBER 22: DO THE WORK

SEPTEMBER 23: UNTIL THE END

SEPTEMBER 24: PASSING THROUGH

SEPTEMBER 25: FROM HIM TO HIM

SEPTEMBER 26: GRACIOUS LONGINGS

SEPTEMBER 27: ILLUMINATED PATH

SEPTEMBER 28: JUSTICE MATTERS

SEPTEMBER 29: OASIS OF REST

SEPTEMBER 30: HOMES OF PEACE

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 1: STEADFAST PURPOSES

OCTOBER 2: SECURELY HELD

OCTOBER 3: OUR PRIME EXAMPLE

OCTOBER 4: SLOW TO ANGER

OCTOBER 5: HE IS COMING

OCTOBER 6: GATHERED IN

OCTOBER 7: CALLED BY NAME

OCTOBER 8: HE DOES NOT WEARY

OCTOBER 9: STRENGTH TO THE TIRED

OCTOBER 10: RENEWED IN THE WAITING

OCTOBER 11: FEAR NOT

OCTOBER 12: UNSTOPPABLE

OCTOBER 13: PLACE OF BELONGING

OCTOBER 14: IRREVERSIBLE MERCY

OCTOBER 15: BEAUTY OUT OF ASHES

OCTOBER 16: GUILT IS GONE

OCTOBER 17: HIDDEN TREASURES

OCTOBER 18: COMFORT FOR SUFFERING

OCTOBER 19: RISE UP IN CONFIDENCE

OCTOBER 20: HUMBLE HEARTS

OCTOBER 21: TO BE KNOWN

OCTOBER 22: THROUGH EVERYTHING

OCTOBER 23: LED OUT IN PEACE

OCTOBER 24: WELL-WATERED GARDENS

OCTOBER 25: DIVINE EXCHANGE

OCTOBER 26: ALWAYS WORKING

OCTOBER 27: ETERNAL PORTION

OCTOBER 28: SHEPHERDED BY LOVE

OCTOBER 29: ALWAYS READY

OCTOBER 30: YET AGAIN

OCTOBER 31: TELL YOUR STORY

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 1: PRAISE AND THANKS

NOVEMBER 2: ACTS OF MERCY

NOVEMBER 3: ALWAYS TRUSTWORTHY

NOVEMBER 4: REMIND YOURSELF

NOVEMBER 5: REJOICE IN TODAY

NOVEMBER 6: REVIVED IN HOPE

NOVEMBER 7: WHAT WISDOM

NOVEMBER 8: MADE BRAVE

NOVEMBER 9: MENDING WOUNDS

NOVEMBER 10: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

NOVEMBER 11: IT IS TIME

NOVEMBER 12: INESCAPABLE GOODNESS

NOVEMBER 13: HE WILL NOT FAIL

NOVEMBER 14: FREEDOM IS HERE

NOVEMBER 15: LIGHT IN DARKNESS

NOVEMBER 16: INTRICATELY MADE

NOVEMBER 17: ALL THAT IS WITHIN

NOVEMBER 18: HE ALREADY KNOWS

NOVEMBER 19: ALL ALONG

NOVEMBER 20: WISDOM IN FRIENDSHIP

NOVEMBER 21: BETTER TOGETHER

NOVEMBER 22: REACH OUT

NOVEMBER 23: DIFFERENT PARTS

NOVEMBER 24: TRUSTED SECRETS

NOVEMBER 25: COMING AND GOING

NOVEMBER 26: REFRESHING RELATIONSHIPS

NOVEMBER 27: LOYAL COMPANIONS

NOVEMBER 28: FAMILIAR

NOVEMBER 29: EVERYONE’S TALKING

NOVEMBER 30: FIRMLY ESTABLISHED

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 1: EYES FIXED

DECEMBER 2: BLESSED TO TRUST

DECEMBER 3: PATH OF PROMISE

DECEMBER 4: GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY

DECEMBER 5: PEOPLE OF GOD

DECEMBER 6: TIME OF SINGING

DECEMBER 7: SELF-CONTROL

DECEMBER 8: ROCK OF STRENGTH

DECEMBER 9: PRAY FOR NEEDS

DECEMBER 10: DWELLING PLACE OF REST

DECEMBER 11: BEST FRIENDS

DECEMBER 12: SO VERY NEAR

DECEMBER 13: COME CLOSE

DECEMBER 14: SEEK AND FIND

DECEMBER 15: SOJOURNERS

DECEMBER 16: CLEARED OF JUDGMENT

DECEMBER 17: EVEN THOUGH

DECEMBER 18: THINK OF THIS

DECEMBER 19: QUIET CONFIDENCE

DECEMBER 20: GETTING BY

DECEMBER 21: LIFE OF PRAYER

DECEMBER 22: FRUIT THAT LASTS

DECEMBER 23: SHAMELESS JOY

DECEMBER 24: RESTFUL RETREAT

DECEMBER 25: CHAMPION FRIEND

DECEMBER 26: TRUE FASTING

DECEMBER 27: WORDS TO LIVE BY

DECEMBER 28: LOOK AROUND

DECEMBER 29: TO KNOW IS TO TRUST

DECEMBER 30: UNFAILING LOVE

DECEMBER 31: ALL IN HIS HANDS

INTRO

One of the most precious things about life is the gift of friendship. Receiving a kind word from a friend can make all the difference in your day. Good friends believe the best about you and often have an inspired, beautifully timed way of expressing it. The sincere words of an encouraging friend bring life.

As you read these devotions and Scriptures, be inspired to live with gratitude in your heart and praise on your lips. Meditate on friendships that produce life and peace. Evaluate each day in the light of God’s truth and thank him for your good friends. As you quiet yourself before him, be filled with his life-giving joy so you can pour it out on others.

Speak life into a friend each day of the year and brighten the world with love.

JANUARY

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

PROVERBS 27:9 NIV

 

JANUARY 1

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

A dear friend will love you no matter what, and a family sticks together through all kinds of trouble.

PROVERBS 17:17 TPT

Friends are among the greatest gifts we receive in this life. A trusted friend who we can turn to, no matter how well or how poorly we are doing, is a treasure. A friend who will receive us, support us, and lift us up is a gift greater than anything we could create with our hands.

Who are the friends in your life that show up when it matters? The ones who won’t judge you or push you away when you are struggling to keep up with life? Who are the friends that you show up for? Take time to give thanks to God for each one, for they are glimmers of his pursuing heart in flesh and bones.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Send a text of gratitude and love to a dear friend, letting them know how much you appreciate them.

 

JANUARY 2

COMPASSIONATE COMFORT

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3 NIV

When we are in pain, going through trials and struggles, God does not demand that we suck it up or look on the bright side. He does not bypass our hard emotions. He meets us right in the midst of them with compassion and comfort.

Can the same be said of us in our relationships? Do we dare leave space for discomfort in ourselves as we allow another to experience the depth of their sorrows without the need to fix it or move on quickly? May we be people of compassion and comfort, offering safety, support, and peace to our friends in their sorrow. May we listen with open hearts and show up in tangible ways that offer relief and support.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Take time to listen to a friend without changing the subject.

 

JANUARY 3

CHOOSE KINDNESS

He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

JOB 6:14 ESV

Kindness is one of the fruits of God’s Spirit. It is more than being superficially nice to others; it is a heart posture of generosity and a consideration moved into action. Choosing to intentionally and voluntarily move in kind and friendly gestures starts with our hearts and our minds. As we live out our intentions, our character is revealed.

Clear communication is a way to show kindness. We cannot expect others to read our minds and know what we need from them. When we withhold our honesty, our hearts may grow bitter. This makes it harder on us and on those around us. May we have the discernment to know what needs to be said in love and what can be let go of. May we choose clarity and connection over passive acts that promote disconnection.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Have an honest conversation that you’ve been avoiding.

 

JANUARY 4

HEART OF GRATITUDE

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

2 THESSALONIANS 1:3 NIV

When we witness growth and maturity in those we love, we celebrate with them! When we watch our loved ones grow in understanding and choose to move in mercy, our hearts may grow with gratitude. May we look through the lens of love today, recognizing where the steady faith of others has bolstered our own.

Let’s pray and give thanks to God for faithful friends. Let’s honor the love that others show, not only to us, but in service to others. Let’s be loud supporters of our friends, cheering them on in love and encourage them to keep doing the good that they are doing. Let’s increase our own love and service as we celebrate them.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Congratulate and celebrate a friend!

 

JANUARY 5

PRAYERS OF THANKS

You know that I’ve been called to serve the God of my fathers with a clean conscience. Night and day I pray for you, thanking God for your life!

2 TIMOTHY 1:3 TPT

There are people in our lives that are like beacons of hope whenever we think of them. Who are the people that cultivate gratitude in your heart? Which friends make you overflow with thanksgiving? Perhaps there are friends who have been steady supports in the tumultuous times of your life. Perhaps it is a friend who brings you laughter and joy when you need it most. Maybe there are friends that just get you, and you them, and that is enough.

Take some time to pray for these friends today, praying for their strength, encouragement, and breakthrough. Let gratitude lead you to the throne of your Father, and partner with his heart as you pray over your friends.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Call a close friend and thank them for how they’ve enriched your life.

 

JANUARY 6

CHOOSE CAREFULLY

Godly people are careful about the friends they choose. But the way of sinners leads them down the wrong path.

PROVERBS 12:26 NIRV

Our character is built in the company of those we surround ourselves with. Who are our closest friends? Who do we spend the most time with? How does their influence show up in our lives? We cannot escape the impact of others’ ideas, choices, attitudes, and lifestyles on our own mindsets.

May we be intentional with those we open up to and trust with the vulnerable parts of ourselves. Let’s choose close friends who are loving, reliable, and kind, who can speak honestly with us. May we cultivate integrity in our own lives, refusing to gossip or slander others. We can be trustworthy and true, seeking to become our best selves and encouraging others to do the same.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Connect with a trusted friend today and tell them what’s been going on with you.

 

JANUARY 7

EVERY TIME

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

PHILIPPIANS 1:3 NLT

We all know that person, the one who, whenever we think of them, gives us a feeling of gratitude and joy. It is a gift to know them and to be known by them. It is so easy to become distracted by the disappointments in life and in relationships. Instead of being overwhelmed by reasons to give up hope in humanity, let’s turn our attention to the gifts of grace that meet us in our friends.

Instead of focusing on the discouraging failures of others, let’s home in on the gracious attributes of those we love. Who do we give thanks for? What is it about them that fills us with joy? Let’s look for ways to express our gratitude and be people who bring joy and peace to others.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Pray a blessing over those who bring joy to your heart and life.

 

JANUARY 8

REASON TO REJOICE

“When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’”

LUKE 15:6 NLT

There are seasons in friendships that echo the seasons of nature. We may not see eye-to-eye the way we used to, or they may be going through a wintering of the soul where they do not have the capacity to show up in the same ways they once could. There are so many reasons why we may not feel as close to beloved friends as we once did.

Can we follow the example of Jesus and fight for the relationships that matter? Let’s keep pursuing those we love in times when they are struggling even when they feel far from us. When we think of our own dark nights, the ones who stick with us through thick and thin are the trusted friends we can rely on. May we give grace and receive it with joy, knowing that true friends are worth fighting for.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Reach out to a friend you’ve lost touch with.

 

JANUARY 9

GREAT PROMISES

He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2 PETER 1:4 ESV

The most fulfilling gifts and promises are found within the context of relationship. What good is our own perceived success if we are alone in it? The love of Christ always reaches out. It is expansive rather than confining. In the same way, what is love without a recipient? We receive the love of Christ, and we offer it to others.

May we be people of our word, who keep our promises. It is important to keep the promises we make to ourselves as well as those we make to others. May we be people of integrity, living in honesty without the need for perfection. May we live, move, and breathe the love of God in all that we do!

A FRIEND IN DEED

Follow through on what you said you would do for a friend.

 

JANUARY 10

CELEBRATING WITH OTHERS

I thank God because in Christ you have been made rich in every way, in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:5 NCV

When our friends succeed, do we celebrate with them, or do we compare ourselves to them? May we be champions of one another, rejoicing in each other’s triumphs as well as sharing each other’s burdens. We may easily relate to our friends in the disappointments but find it more difficult to celebrate their successes.

The success of a friend does not mean there is less room for our own. May we be intentional about rejoicing with them, remembering that as we lift each other up, our time of celebration will also come. There is no need to compare our wins with each other! True friendship is as present in the joy as it is in the heartache.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Make a point of celebrating a friend’s achievement or triumph!

 

JANUARY 11

STAYING IN THE LIGHT

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 JOHN 1:5 NIV

God is not divisive, he is not moody, and he is not petty. We are only human, and we will exhibit these traits from time to time, but let’s not lurk in the shadows of judgment and hypercriticism, looking for ways to tear others down. When we stay in the light, as God is in the light, we are able to look past our emotions to the roots of them; from that place we can extend compassion both to ourselves and to others.

When we fellowship with God, spending time in his presence, we experience the light of his love, peace, compassion, kindness, and mercy in our souls. There is joy in his presence and there is freedom in his affection. May we choose to remain in him, leaving behind the habits that drag us into shame, fear, and self-protection.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Ask the Lord what habits keep you from loving others well.

 

JANUARY 12

PART OF GOD’S FAMILY

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

EPHESIANS 1:5 NLT

We cannot choose the family that we’re born into, but there are friends that become as close to us as our own flesh and blood. This is the family we choose. What a gift it is to find sisters and brothers who are as dear to us as any we are related to. No one is excluded from this kind of connection!

The family of God is not perfect, just as any human family is flawed. But it is a place where love and forgiveness, compassion and restoration, are exemplified. Just as we are not close to everyone in our earthly families, we do not have to be bosom buddies with every believer. May we give ourselves and others the grace to choose close friends and trustworthy confidants.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Tell a trusted friend what their friendship means to you.

 

JANUARY 13

FULL OF WISDOM

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

JAMES 1:5 NRSV

Being in relationship with others will always require humility, love, forgiveness, kindness, and patience. The longer we live, the more we will see this is true. When we are lacking wisdom in our friendships, let’s turn to the Lord who answers our cries. He has all the wisdom we need to show us how to live. Through Christ’s example and teachings, we catch a glimpse of the glory of God’s grace.

God’s Word is practical. His wisdom teaches us how to live with love as our leader. God is generous and kind, always giving his grace freely to us. Instead of throwing our hands up in exasperation when we don’t know what to do, let’s look to him. He will lead us and teach us in perfect, loving wisdom. He knows exactly what to do and just what we need!

A FRIEND IN DEED

Pray for wisdom in your friendships.

 

JANUARY 14

ALREADY KNOWN

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

JEREMIAH 1:5 NIV

Hopefully, you are already acquainted with how completely known and thoroughly loved you are. Even when others misunderstand us, God knows our hearts and intentions. He knows what we could never express to another in words. Gloriously, this is true of each one of us! This means that God knows our friends as intimately as he knows us.

May we look through the lens of God’s perspective as we consider our friends today. What we do not understand, God does. What we fail to grasp, God does not miss. May our hearts expand and soften in compassion as we consider how loved we are, and how loved those around us are, by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Give a friend the benefit of the doubt and ask questions to better understand them.

 

JANUARY 15

HE’S STILL WORKING

I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 NASB

In the in-between times in life that feel like a waiting room, let’s not lose hope. The beauty of friendship is that even when we feel our own hope dwindling, someone else can hold us up.

Is there a friend you know who is in a time of struggle? Don’t force them to be positive about their situation but let them know that you have hope for their breakthrough. Pray for them and encourage them with practical acts of lovingkindness. If God gives you a word of encouragement, share it with them. Let them know that you believe God is still working on their behalf. Be a gift of hope when they cannot conjure up any of their own.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Tell a friend that you are praying for them and encourage them with hope.

 

JANUARY 16

UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP

If we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin.

1 JOHN 1:7 TPT

When we walk in the lifegiving light of fellowship with the Spirit of God, we are united in his love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. This is what Paul says in Romans, and it is echoed in John’s statement in this verse. Nothing in this world has the power to diminish God’s love. Nothing can come between us and his love.

In the same way that nothing can separate us from the love of God, let’s not let anything divorce us from our compassion for others. First John 4:19 says, “our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.” Let us live out our love as a sign of our gratitude. Jesus is worthy of every sacrificial movement of mercy we make.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Choose kindness when faced with the choice to judge another.

 

JANUARY 17

POWER OF THE SPIRIT

God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 TPT

Have you ever been afraid to tell a close friend the truth of something going on in your life? Perhaps you have been struggling in a relationship, or you have changed in ways that you assume they won’t understand. Instead of letting fear keep you from being open, being vulnerable with a trusted friend can open the gate for deeper understanding.

Let’s not let self-protection or fears of rejection and being misunderstood keep us from being open with those who have proven trustworthy in our lives. We cannot control their response, but if they have shown us love and understanding before, chances are they will do it again. Fear causes us to hide and shrink, but love causes us to grow and connect.

A FRIEND IN DEED

If there is something you have been withholding from a trusted friend, take a step in vulnerability today.

 

JANUARY 18

HOPEFUL REMINDERS

You, my delightfully loved friends, remember the prophecies of the apostles of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.

JUDE 1:17 TPT

Have you ever watched a friend go through a transition where they lost their footing and couldn’t remember who they were? These times in life happen to all of us, but the honesty, support, and encouragement of those who know us well can make all the difference.

May we be the type of friends who hold each other up with the truth. May we encourage each other with reminders of who we are and who we are becoming. Let’s not let mistakes define us. Let’s not let the doubts of our lives muddy our relationships. There is beauty, clarity, and kindness in reminding each other of who we have been created to be. Let’s call out each other’s gifts and personality traits. And let’s give room for growth, change, and expansion.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Write a note to a friend of all that you know to be true of them.

 

JANUARY 19

LIFEGIVING WISDOM

The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.

PROVERBS 11:30 NLT

Acts of kindness do not just benefit the receiver; they also profit the giver. One who is focused on living a life of integrity is not just concerned with their own life but also with the effects their choices have on others.

May we be honest and true, loving and kind, reflecting the love of Christ in how we live. Let’s choose generosity in every area, living large with loving acts. Let’s build oaks of righteousness with our actions, following through on our good intentions. May we be full of wisdom that sees beyond the narrow views we have been taught to uphold and let’s dig deeper into the connective truth that is all around us. Let’s build our lives on the wisdom of God’s kingdom, for he knows what he is doing.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Run an errand for a friend.

 

JANUARY 20

CHOOSE TRUST

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

NAHUM 1:7 NIV

We are never alone in our times of discouragement. God does not leave us in our great need. He is close with help, and he cares for us. Let’s remember how lovingly he attends to us. We can trust him with all that we are, all that we hope for, and all that we cannot control.

May we also be people who let others in during our times of need. May we be trustworthy and true to our friends when they need a helping hand. We can reflect the love of Christ in both the receiving and giving of care. May we not neglect the part we play in the kingdom of Christ’s love! Let’s find shelter in the kindness of trusted friends as often as we offer it to others.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Ask for help in an area where you are overwhelmed.

 

JANUARY 21

INEXPRESSIBLE JOY

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

1 PETER 1:8 NASB

Though we have not seen God face-to-face, we know him. We know him through his unchanging merciful nature and through his character displayed in Christ. How could we but love him when he has lavished his love upon us?

In the same way that we have joy in the nature of God, may we recognize the traits of our friends that also bring us gladness. As we spend time with our friends, knowing the curve of their smiles and the lilt of their laughs, we can rejoice in the goodness of their character and how it enriches our lives! May we find that the more we take delight in the Lord, the more we appreciate those around us.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Think about what traits you appreciate in your friends.

 

JANUARY 22

LOOKING BEYOND

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the LORD God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

REVELATION 1:8 NIV

Our lives on this earth have a beginning and an end. They are limited, yet through Christ we are promised eternity in his loving presence and everlasting kingdom. Before we were born, God knew us. Long after we are gone, he will know us still.

The memory of a loved one does not diminish with their passing. They live on in our hearts, through grief and through hope. May we not take for granted the time we have with our beloved friends and family. Let’s be intentional about sharing, not only the connection of life with them, but also the things we love and appreciate about them. Time is fleeting though love is not. Let us live in the present moment fully while still looking beyond to what is to come.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Call a beloved friend and tell them how much you love them.

 

JANUARY 23

PROMOTERS OF PEACE

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

PROVERBS 22:24-25 ESV

Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…let not your hearts be troubled, nor let them be afraid.” If we want to be like Christ, we will live with the promise of his peace lining our hearts and our choices. Let us be people who build our relationships on the foundation of Christ’s barrier-breaking love.

No one wants to be around a person who is prone to violent and angry outbursts. That is not a friendship based on the security of connection. That is not to say we can never feel anger or be friends with those who do. The text is speaking of a person who is disposed to acting angrily. May we dwell in the peace of Jesus, seeking restoration and truth even when we are passionate about our opinions.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Be a safe space for a friend, seeking to understand their view without attempting to change their mind.

 

JANUARY 24

REMEMBER THE HOPE

He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:10 ESV

Jesus, our great deliverer, has not forgotten the promises he has made. He has not fallen asleep to our situations, and he has certainly not grown apathetic toward our need of him. May we remember the hope of his salvation, the promise of his resurrection power, and the breakthrough of his love in our lives. He is not finished working out his goodness in us.

Can you think of a friend struggling with discouragement today? Perhaps you are the one who has been deep in the throes of depression. This is not a failure of faith; it is a part of the journey of life. There is hope today for any who need it. There is encouragement for our souls. There is life, joy, and peace in the presence of God. May we find relief there.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Encourage a struggling friend with a prayer or a word of hope today.

 

JANUARY 25

KINGDOM OF LIGHT

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

COLOSSIANS 1:13 NKJV

In the kingdom of Christ, we have freedom in the redemption that Jesus has offered us. We are free to walk, live, and move in his lifegiving light. We leave behind the shame and fear of the darkness of this world and are liberated! He sets us in wide open spaces where his love leads us. There is no reason to live with the fear of misstep or the guilt of not being perfect, for Christ is our perfection and we are in him.

Are you wracked by guilt in any of your friendships? Perhaps you feel as if you should be able to give them more time. Maybe you think that too long a period has passed to reach out. Instead of continuing to pull away with assumptions, reach out in love. Don’t let another day go by where you allow fear to keep you from connecting with those who are important to you.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Reach out to a friend who has been estranged from you.

 

JANUARY 26

JUST LIKE US

The Living Expression became a man and lived among us! And we gazed upon the splendor of his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father overflowing with tender mercy and truth!

JOHN 1:14 TPT

What a wonderful truth it is that Jesus took on flesh and humanity to walk the earth with us, like us, and for us. He revealed the heart of the Father in a way that we most desperately needed. Keeping the rules of religion may help with morality, but it does not set us free or save us. Christ came to show us the way to the liberty of relationship with the Father, all while experiencing the fullness of the human experience.

Do we approach our friendships with the same kind of grace that Jesus offers us, or do we expect perfection? If we are not willing to communicate clearly with others, we cannot expect those who are different from us to know what we expect, feel, need, or want. Let’s follow the example of Christ and let grace line our hearts and relationships.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Be clear in your conversations today.

 

JANUARY 27

PRACTICE PATIENCE

Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 TIMOTHY 1:16 ESV

Learning patience when we’re young is tedious and certainly not the strong suit of many. Our culture does not promote the goodness found in waiting; many times, we are offered shortcuts and instant gratification. But this does nothing for the growth of our character!

Proverbs 19:11 says, “a person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense” (NIV). If wisdom produces patience, then as we mature in faith and in life, we come to understand that it is to our benefit to learn endurance through hard and dry seasons. This is as true in friendships as in any other area. May we be those who learn to overlook offenses that were never about us in the first place.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Forgive a friend for a slight and give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

JANUARY 28

GRATEFUL HEART

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

EPHESIANS 1:16 NIV

In certain seasons of our lives, we may forget the importance of continuing to cultivate the friendships that have meant so much to us. When we go into our own wintering of sorts, whether that be grief over a loss, a family crisis, or an illness that takes over our lives, we may find it hard to focus on little else than our own pain.

It is true that what we give our attention to, we make room for in our hearts. Wherever we find ourselves today, may we cultivate a heart of connection to our friends. Even if the only energy we have is to think of them and give thanks to God for them, that’s a good place to begin. Let’s give gratitude, choosing to recognize who has bettered our lives for knowing them.

A FRIEND IN DEED

Give thanks to God in prayer for your beloved friends!

 

JANUARY 29

RELY ON CHRIST

Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 NLT