December 23, 2023: What Kind of Friends are in Your Corner?
- Liana V.
- Dec 23, 2023
- 3 min read
What Kind of Friends are in
Your Corner?
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, 'Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.'”
Luke 2:15
Who you surround yourself matters. Sure, we could brush this off as they ‘all’ encountered the same heavenly host breaking open the veil between heaven and earth and proclaiming the birth of the Savior of the world. We could.
Tell me, do you have some friends who believe with reality more than in faith: the substance of things hopes for? Maybe you can be that friend from time to time. I know I have been. Perhaps, someone close to you shared some wildly crazy dreams, ideas, or vision- you could hear the hope, passion, and their spirit zealously alive within them. And you met their enthusiasm with disbelief, a swift reality check to their ego, and a subtle but stern “ok” riddled with thick layer of doubt. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
This picture is thick with hope and beauty. These shepherds matched each other’s zeal, passion, and hunger for the living God. It’s got me thinking about the quote:
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” -Dan Pena
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."
Proverbs 27:17 NLT
On the flip side, who you are will indicate who your friends are. That feels a bit different, doesn’t it? Who you are when the doors are closed and when no one is looking matters. Who you are in the quiet place, or that you go to a quiet place with God, will be seen in the open.
"Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."
Proverbs 13:20 NLT
What you water will grow a harvest.
So, are you watering faith or doubt? Life or death? The possible or impossible? Are you believing what you see already or what you haven’t seen yet? What do you want to grow in your life?
We are just a day from the celebrations of Christmas. What are you running to the lap of your Heavenly Father for? We’re not running to a fictional red bellied, white haired, and rosy cheeked man for a miracle. We’re running to the Creator of heaven and earth, who spoke it into existence with just a word. We’re running to the Savior who hung on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. We’re running to a God who has no limits to His resource and power. We’re running to a faithful and loving father, who loves to give His kids good gifts.
"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense."
Proverbs 27:9 NLT
Why not believe for the audaciously ridiculous with our friends? Why not build an arc in the desert? Why not believe for parted seas and rivers? Why not pray for the sick to be healed, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the dead to rise? And why not let our friends faith for it build ours? How can you fan the flame of faith in you? Are they just embers among the ash or a roaring flame!
I’m believing for unprecedented miracles. I’m believing for countless lives to be surrendered and transformed by Christ this Christmas. I’m believing that my church, your church, the global church will look different next week. I’m believing that our pews and seats are filled to overflowing that the house cannot contain the harvest God has prepared. Because Christmas is not the only day Jesus is worthy to grasp our attention.
Would you believe and have faith for it with me? Would you encourage me and each other by letting God impart the Spirit of Faith to you? Visualize with hope what that future looks like. Who’s there? What’s different? What feels different?
Prayer: Father, would you please breathe on our faith and make it possible. We can’t create miracles by thinking about them hard enough. It’s only through You that it’s made possible. You are enough. You can! It’s Your will, hope, and desire that lives be redeemed and transformed. We believe for it this Christmas. We will see Your glory, we will see miracles come to be. We believe for it! It’s in Jesus’ name we say our yes and amen!
Crockpot Hot Cocoa Board
Ingredients
6 Cups Whole Milk
14 Ounces Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
¼ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Add all ingredients into a 6 quart or larger slow cooker and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours, whisking every now and then to combine the melted chocolate chips with the milk.
Ladle hot chocolate into mugs and serve with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.
You are so right about this. The relationships that you water, the people you intentionally spend time with, those are the relationships that affect your character. For good or bad, you are the people you spend time with.
The Bible also states that “bad company corrupts good morals”.
You can think this is just about children and “peer pressure” but I don’t think so.
I’ve seen people of God change when they’ve changed their circle. It’s a circle of influence, it influences everything.
So I agree with you. Let the people around you build your faith, believe in miracles and let them be people who lift up Jesus! For if He be lifted up, He will draw all men unto…