Friend Request Granted

‎Hi family!

‎Be comforted for the Almighty One watches over you, I speak to those fears move, I speak God's peace, His love and His breath in you, walk from the point of victory.

‎Dear Father, you see and you know, we thank you for the bread, let us enjoy the food you have set before us, we know it's rich in goodness, flavorful to the tongue and enlightening to the mind, we love you Lord, Amen.

‎Today I would be sharing and learning at the same time, let's be seated; now let's eat:

‎1 Chronicles 4:9-10(NLT)

‎9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honourable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.

‎10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request.

‎Its family dinner or breakfast depending on your timezone, so I will share with you today a request I made to the Lord and the response. First of all He granted it. I received my answer this morning. I made the request last night before bed.

‎I wasn't expecting a response, I was sharing thoughts, desires, my confusion and accessing my intentions and discussing it with Him, He is wonderfully the best person to talk to when you are in a jumble.

‎I asked Him to make me a good friend to others. I wanted to be a good friend. I realised in my past I didn't have much or any intimate friends I could feel safe with, I realised I wasn't intentional about that friendship space and now I'm deciding to come out of isolation and step into the world of friendship.

‎I will share with you some nuggets that dropped last night, which blessed me as I listened to older women on a podcast speak about God given friendship and also the hidden gems in our verse today. It's a mix fruit salad type of notes, but still lets eat.

‎A Good Friend Notes:

‎•Reject the past label and experiences you had before. A change of name from painful to blessing. Having a new positive outlook on the new friendship plus a new perspective.

‎•Inviting God to cover and lead you. For Him to teach you and show you how to develop healthy bonds with people.

‎•Ask yourself questions, example, why do you want to be a good friend, why do do you want a friend, are you using them to fulfill a need, what is your perspective about friendship, what triggers have you realised that stem from your past which can sabotage the relationship.

‎•Keys to always keep:

‎1. Friendship is a gift from God.

‎2. Friendship is a blessing from God.

‎3. Friendship enlarges your territory of influence.

‎4. Friendship helps to keep you from trouble.

‎5. Friendship helps to ease the pain.

‎6. Friends pray for you and speak God's word into your life.

‎7. Friends have love to give and an openness to receive.

‎8. Friends forgive easily and are open to release control and share themselves.

‎9. Do not run away from potential friendship.

‎10. Do not assume things but ask the other side.

‎11. Be honest about your feelings or emotions with one another in a respectful way; be bold when speaking, don't be afraid.

‎12. Recognize the role you play in their life, do not see other friends as competition. Remember a plant has many nutrients it needs, maybe you are the sunshine and you do it best but another is the water that refreshes, others are the good soil which gives a good foundation (community of friends).

‎13. God is the core, the main connecting wires for this friendship, He promises to cover you, let you laugh again and no more pain.

‎I want to urge you to ask God to teach you to be a good friend.

‎Let's pray:

‎Lord we thank you for your words, teach us to be good friends and meet the right people, thank you for granting our request and for going ahead of us, we thank you Sweet Holy Spirit for being our best friend and intimate guide on this life journey, we love you, Amen.

‎John 15:15(NLT)

‎15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

‎Do you want to be friends with Jesus, if yes say with me:

‎Dear Jesus, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Saviour, I repent of my sins, I believe you died on the cross to reconcile me back to God, I receive your love and new life, Amen!

‎Bloom! Shine! Don't be afraid! You are covered! He loves you!