Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)

I am so blessed to have a spiritual friend who loves Christ, is steeped in theology, shows her warm smile, and encourages everyone she meets. We became friends at a time when I was at a crossroads in my spiritual life, and she discipled me to deepen my understanding of God's Word. Each morning, I expect a phone call from her, ready to share a bright gem of Scripture with a joyous application. I welcome the good news at my work desk, and I always reach for a pencil, ready to take notes. She will ask, "Is your pencil sharpened?"

Both of us love whimsy and understand one another very well, so we laugh and giggle at the drop of a hat. What a gift of friendship that God has given to us as we sharpen each other spiritually. Thirty years ago, I might have found that type of relationship to be too "churchy", but now, having matured deeper in the Spirit, I find great joy in bouncing scriptural ideas off one another and finding applications through our daily lives.

God has called us to have friends. We aspire in our relationship to place Jesus Christ into our conversation on any topic. He guides our praise, problem solving, and prayer for all things to bring honour and glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

How sharp is your spiritual pencil? You might compare your own life with Scripture to evaluate how you are doing. When you locate an area that needs to be fine-tuned, pray and work on improving the issue in question. If you have a spiritual friend, ask that friend to help you to become accountable in this regard. Our light always shines brighter and our ministry tools are always sharper while working closely with another Christ-minded person.

Let's use the gifts that God has given us to share with one another as we give humble and gentle encouragement, always in a God-honouring way. It's when we pray the promises of God over one another that the love of God pierces our hearts, stirs our hope, and uplifts the countenance of those who are suffering.

Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You that those who are united with Christ are also united with each other. Help us each to find someone else to be spiritually close to, or to be willing to pair up with another who needs us. Thank You for teaching us how to sharpen our understanding of Your Word through friendship, acknowledging that Christ is the whisper of hope when He steps into a situation with us. Amen.

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About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
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