Happy Saturday friends! Today I wanted to talk about the importance of having the right people in your life. Lately I've been praying for community. Specifically for God to show me and send me the people who are supposed to cover and carry me as I prepare and transition into this new season. I keep specifically praying "Lord connect me with the right people who will push me into purpose." Such a subtle yet powerful request. As I get older I realize that things change and seasons change and often times what we think won't change are the very things that do. Such as environment and the people who are around us.
I often think of the scripture Proverbs 17:17 it simply says "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." The older we get the more sacred our relationships with people get. Being around the right people also becomes vital. I think of the scripture Proverbs 13:20 and it says "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. At a certain point in life we have to be intentional about who we have in our lives. It's important to have people who you can have fun with and experience life with. The major components to that are having people who can encourage you, tell you the hard truth, comfort you, help you grow, cover you in prayer, and push you into purpose. I think the hardest part about it is letting go of expired friendships or simply friendships that doesn't serve purpose anymore. I'm learning myself the true components of fruitful friendships and I've realized that it's often something that you truly have to seek God and pray for.
Sometimes we have to clean house in order for God to bless us with what it is that we need. We never think that the very people in our lives could be the very ones holding us back, simply because they are not supposed to have close access to us anymore. Sometimes we have to come to the hard realization ourselves that a lot of the decisions we make are often made to fill voids or emptiness. This leads me back to the point in saying that seeking God and praying for divine connections is key. I know that reading this some of you may be asking "are you saying cut everybody off?" The answer to that is no. What I am saying is to evaluate your friendships and relationships. I was talking to my best friend about this not too long ago and she shared with me a list of characteristics for a friend. Here are a few characteristics of a friend: reciprocity, love, forgiveness, growth, and spiritual nourishment. When people in your life carry these characteristics and are consistent with them that's who you categorize as a friend. We can often too mix up friends with associates, be mindful to categorize individuals in their rightful category as far as where they are in your life.
I wanted to share something that I've been hearing lately and that is "It's okay to demote friends based on where the friendship is." That may sound harsh but it's a truth. Someone who was once a close friend may not be as close anymore and yes it's a hard pill to swallow, but it's better to be connected to the right people than to hold on to what you have outgrown. Seasons are different for everyone and sometimes it causes outgrowing each other. It's not easy but you have to learn that it's okay and it's natural. Remember for whatever you feel you have lost God will give you greater. The reason why the tone of this post may sound so anal is because as I progress into my 20's I'm learning that it's okay to let go and receive new. I often let go of things like clothes, shoes, and just plain old junk to create space for something new. We should be like that in every area of our lives. We should clean house in our lives as often as needed.
My prayer today is that God will open our eyes and bless us with the friendships and communities that He has destined for us to have. I pray that we won't be afraid to make the necessary adjustments in our life and within our friendships and relationships with others. I pray that we seek God in all decisions and for a true boldness to come upon us in moving forward into whatever season God is taking us in. I pray that we will grow from and let go of all things old so that we can be in a place to receive all things new!
With love,
-Yours Truly, Eb
Knowing who you are and your God given purpose is key. Don’t deviate from that to maintain relationship that don’t add to you. Some relationships will dissipate on their own when you stand in your purpose.