Disney’s animated film, Toy Story, made Randy Newman’s song, You’ve Got a Friend in Me, famous. The catchy lyrics croon traits we long for in a friendship. When the road is rough, and we are far from home, we want a friend. We want someone who understands our troubles, has our best interests in mind, and who will support us forever.
Paul was that kind of friend to the Philippian Church. He was a friend who sharpened others. He was a friend who said hard things and refused to tickle itching ears. His love stirred actions empowered by the Holy Spirit, and heavy burdens were lifted together proving two are better than one.
There is nothing like the encouraging words of a #friend to lift a weary heart and remind you of God’s goodness. It is a gift. Download your #FREE short study: You’ve Got a Friend in Me at staceyweeks.com
I am blessed with friends who admonish, encourage, and help me. I am blessed with friends filled with patience and kindness. I want to be like them because they want to be like Jesus, and more than anything, I want to be like Jesus.
Maybe you don’t yet have a friend like that. Perhaps you are praying for the Lord to bring that kind of friend into your life. While you wait, be that friend to someone else. Be the friend who rejoices in the Lord in good and hard times. Be a friend who speaks life and sees God’s mighty hand at work even in the trial. What does that look like? Download my free short study on Philippians 1:1-18 and learn from Paul’s example.
My dad once offered me this advice. He said, “Don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want.”
I hit the work force dressed in attire that reflected who I wanted to become. This motivated me to act like the person I hoped to one day be. I went above and beyond entry-level responsibilities, working my way into a desired position.
This also applies to my life as a ministry partner and as child of God. As I dress like the woman God’s longs for me to become, I make a decision to put on habits that please Him. Despite not feeling like opening the Word and allowing it to correct me, despite wanting to wallow in self-pity, despite longing to nurse a festering wound, I have everything I need in Christ to put on the things of the Lord.
I decide if I will exercise discipline and maturity and learn how to rightly handle the Word of God. I decide if I will take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. I decide if I will move beyond past hurts and pursue forgiveness and restoration. That’s my choice.
No one can open my bible and seek the Lord for me. No one can fill my mind with memorized Scripture, or worship for me in crisis moments. No one can offer forgiveness from me to a person who has wounded me. No one can do these things for me, and no one can do these things for you. You decide every day whether you will dress for the future as part of the bride of Christ or choose attire that suits a sinner.
As God’s chosen daughters, holy and beloved, we can take off anger, wrath, and malice and put on compassion, kindness and meekness. We can take off slander, lies, and obscene talk and put on humility, honesty and patience. We can put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of our creator.
We can put on endurance, bearing with one another, forgiving as the Lord has forgiven us. And above all this, we can put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. By the power of the Spirit alive in us, and through surrendering our willing hearts, we can choose to put on the things of the Lord.
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Visit Free Shortsand download your copy today and begin seeking the things that are above, letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing you in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your heart to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
*This blog pot first appeared on the Women-Together Leadership blog.
