Day 48: 50 Days All In

To live an all I relationship with God is not meant to be a solo mission. We are communal people by the way we were created. God in His infinite wisdom knew we would be lonely and gave Adam a family in Eve. We need to have friends as close as family who can be there to help us in the good times and the bad. Those who think they can live alone eventually realize that they need some companionship. When you create close bonds with other believers it strengthens your all in relationship with God as well. God can and will speak to you through these bonds.
 
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
Proverbs 17:17 NLT
Do you have a loyal friend? Someone who is close as a brother or sister? A friend who will call you out when you are doing things that are going against what you believe? What you don’t need is a friend who is always joining you in your failings. Sure, they are loyal and are there by your side, but if they are unable to see the end of the cliff both of you will fall. You need a friend who will build you up in your faith and vice versa. One who will always be watching your back and never have to worry that you got theirs.
But if my friend tells me I was sinning who are they to judge me? You must give them the right to hold you accountable for your actions. This is a hard thing to do but if you honestly hand over this to your friend, they will most likely do the same for you. Then together you can safely watch each others backs without fear of turning on each other.
 
If you don’t have someone like that in your life, maybe it is time to find someone or a small group of friends. It will take some time to build that trust, but it will be more beneficial in the end. You will most likely find someone like this in your church. You need to be involved in a local family of believers, not just attending on Sundays but investing in the growth of the family. When you invest your time, money and energy you will find that there are others who are looking for brothers and sisters to be accountable to. You can’t do this alone, that’s not how we were created.
Father, we are never meant to go this journey alone. Thank you for giving us loyal friends to help us along this journey. Help us to dig into our local church, investing our time, money and energy. Strengthen us to create the bonds that will keep us accountable to one another. Build us up so we can lift each other up when needed. Holy Spirit we thank you for your guidance. Keep working in our lives. Build in us an all in relationship. Amen
 
 
Check Back 5 March 18 for a brand new series 50 Days Freed. If you need to experience freedom in your life and there is something I can focus on, please msg me or comment. 

Day 49: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

Thoughts of Day 49: Ever have that one friends that you really enjoyed being around but wouldn’t dare let them hang out with the rest of your friends? You and they get along fine, but you know that they just wouldn’t fit in with the rest. I am sure that if you took the time a patience they would have no issues with your group of friends, but why take the chance. Closet friends. Is that how you treat Jesus?

DAY FORTY-NINE

“If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendour of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38 MSG)

So how’s your day going? That’s a question most people are asked multiple times a day. We answer with good or living the dream, or with whatever catch phrase we have.

But would you be willing to change that up and start really telling them how things are. Would you be willing to say, things are great, God’s doing something awesome in my life or I am having a terrible day and I think need some time in prayer.

A lot of Christians tend to separate work and their walk with Christ. Maybe even their relationships outside church don’t even know that you are a follower of Christ. Jesus takes a huge stand on this in Mark 8. Just like we don’t like to be ignored by our friends, neither does He. He wants us to lift Him up in front of everyone no matter where their hearts are.

So, don’t be embarrassed to talk about you walk with Jesus, I challenge you this day to make a point of telling someone about something God is doing in your life. Be proud of who you are in Christ. He is proud of you.

Dear Jesus, give me the freedom to talk about what You are doing in my life with my friends and coworkers. Use it to be a witness to them. I am not embarrassed to be a follower of Christ. Let my actions and my words show this to be true. Amen