Friends
"A friend who guards her words is a gift."
Once you have experienced true friendship, it is a little easier to identify the frauds. A true friend will be honest and true - even when it hurts.
"Words spoken by friends are especially powerful. They can lift us up and spur us on to achieve things that wouldn't have been possible without the encouragement of a friend. But harmful words can also be the very thing that renders a woman powerless and shut her down."
True friends will not tell you what you want to hear but what you NEED to hear. Harmful words can be said in a friendly tone...
"'A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.' (John 13:34-35). It is simply impossible to love another person the way Christ wants us to love while speaking hurtful words to or about them. And loving others isn't a gentle suggestion by Jesus - it's a command."
Christ does not call us to only love the people we like- He calls us to love everyone - to be an example of His love and kindness. This does not mean we are to love the person's sin or their actions - but we are to show them Christ's love no matter the harm they have done to us.
"What comes out of our mouths is a telltale sign of who we are, who we serve, and what we truly believe."
It is no secret that I am a very protective person. So this is something I have always struggled with. I can forgive when harm is done to me, but I struggle to forgive and show Christ love when harm is done to someone I care about. But I have to remember that my life is not my own - it is Christ's - and I am here to serve and glorify Him. Which means showing love and compassion towards those whom I like and dislike.
You never know what someone is going through - what is pushing them to act the way they do... And showing someone Christ's love, even when it is hard for you, may just be what that person needs to turn things around...
I know it is what I needed...
"A woman who is more than a good Bible Study Girl is so secure in her relationship with Jesus that the graceful way she interacts with others makes following Him look appealing. People can trust her Jesus because she has proven herself to be trustworthy. Her witness for Christ is powerful and effective because her words are saturated with His authentic love. Now that is a woman other women want to be around!"
Choose your words carefully and show Christ's love often...
[Quotes are from "Becoming more" by Lysa TerKeurst]
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