Declutter Now! 30 Day DevotionalParaugs

Put Friendships To the Test

What does friend mean to you?

Have you ever really considered this question?

We believe the majority of people spend more time researching a vehicle or home purchase than they do a relationship choice. Most don’t make thoughtful or purposeful decisions regarding friends, just allowing them to freefall in and out of their lives.

This lack of intentionality can produce disastrous results.

God teaches us the value of deep, meaningful friendships. Think about David and Jonathan. Elijah and Elisha? Consider Job’s friends and what they meant to him. The biblical examples are endless.

God wants us to be surrounded by people who support, encourage, inspire, and genuinely love us. He is also equally clear that we should avoid the company of those who are hurtful, destructive, and otherwise bad influences.

But while we know God’s desires, we tend to do the opposite. We don’t want to be mean or hurt anyone’s feelings, so we tolerate, and we’re more comfortable giving and nurturing than we are receiving because we don’t want to be selfish after all. Unfortunately, this can leave us feeling cluttered and empty.

Reflect on the people closest to you. Ask God to help you remove any negative and draining people from your life, and also for the ability to draw closer to healthy, uplifting people.

What will you declutter? Spending your limited personal resources in relationships that don’t bring you joy or glory to God’s kingdom and missing out on the relationships that do.