Fight For Godly Friendships

A few weeks ago I was praying with a friend and God pressed something on my heart about godly friendships. I think this message can apply to the whole body of Christ, but for the purposes of this blog I'm going to focus on women.

It's not very often that you see women genuinely walking with each other as friends or as a sisterhood without any jealousy, bitterness, gossiping, back stabbing or tearing each other down. We roll our eyes at it or get angry when it happens to us, but if we're truly honest with ourselves, we are never surprised. It's just what happens. I have had the pleasure of fellowshipping with and building friendships with women who make it their goal to be genuine and truly love one another, and each time it just blows my mind at how awesome that is. They are loving, uplifting, encouraging and speak life into me.

Let's be real though, we women have a lot of emotions and are emotionally led. I realize now that the devil doesn't want us godly women connected with one another. There is power in agreement and he knows that

Matthew 18:19 

 I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you

Imagine the kind of power that we would have if we stopped tearing each other down, agreed and truly stood in unity and community with one another. Since the devil knows that, he will do any and everything that he can to keep up separated from one another. He is going to attack the relationship that you have with other women of God.

I want to encourage you today to not let that happen. Let's be intentional about keeping healthy godly relationships. We all have different backgrounds and point of views so differences are bound to arise. You might unintentionally do something to offend someone as a result. You may say something in a way that is interpreted another way to another sister. You might get in little arguments with one another. That's okay, that's life. Instead of being so quick to cut people off (because that's easy and I'm def the one to be like "I'm out") take a moment to realize that it's not necessarily beneficial to you, that friend or the body of Christ. We have to realize that this brotherhood and sisterhood that we develop with one another is more than just us, it's about the body, it's about the Kingdom of God. When you realize that, your perspective changes and you take your eyes off of you. Nothing that we Christians do on this earth is about us, it's about Him (Christ). We live to bring glory to His name so that people can know who He is.

So I want to encourage you today to fight for godly friendships. If something happens, go talk to your friend and resolve to reconcile the relationship. If someone has hurt you, forgive them as Christ freely forgives us every...single...day. If you have hurt or offended someone, apologize. Ask them what you can do to make it better. Learn from the situation and don't do it again. When those thoughts of jealousy and bitterness start to creep in your mind cast them down.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it

You don't have time for that. Fight your flesh daily to take the easy way out. Determine to love unconditionally as Christ has loved us .

John 13:34

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other

We can't change other people, the only person we can change is ourselves. So today, make the decision to fight. Many times this is going to call for you to be humble and die to your flesh. It may suck you'll be iight.

**Note: I am talking about godly friendships specifically here. Sometimes there are friendships that are toxic or the season is up. Pray about it and if God leads you to go your separate ways then definitely obey Him in that area**

Feel free to email me at ASKmyStilettos@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions or prayer requests that you would like to share with me privately.

xo

Tasha