The Company You Keep: Cultivating Friendships That Strengthen Your Faith | Plus a Special Offer You Don’t Want to Miss!

We all know the importance of community, but Proverbs 13:20 shows us how vital it is to choose the right friends. If you’re striving to grow in your relationship with God, this verse challenges us to be intentional about the company we keep. As the saying goes, “You are who you hang out with.” Do you want to become more Christlike? Then it’s time to surround yourself with people who inspire you to deepen your walk with God.

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”—Proverbs 13:20

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Let’s break down how friendships can shape our faith and discuss practical ways to choose friends who will draw us closer to God rather than lead us away.

Seek Wise and Godly Friends

Proverbs 13:20 reminds us that the company we keep influences the person we become. If we’re spending most of our time with wise, godly people, we’ll inevitably grow in wisdom. Billy Graham once said, “When we learn to say a firm ‘no’ to the things that harm our relationship with God, we can say ‘yes’ to the things that bring us closer to Him.” Surround yourself with people who challenge you to say “yes” to God and who push you to grow in your faith.

Practical Tips for Seeking Godly Friends:

• Join a Bible Study: Connect with believers who are serious about studying the Word. Churches often have small groups or Bible studies where you can build meaningful relationships even if you can only join online.
• Volunteer in Ministry: Serving alongside others can help you meet people with similar values and a desire to make a positive difference. Samaritan’s Purse is an excellent ministry and the need is great in the Carolina’s and California right now.
• Attend Christian Events: Retreats, conferences, and worship nights are great ways to meet believers who prioritize their relationship with Christ.

Be a Friend to Grow as a Friend

Growing in your faith isn’t just about finding the “right” people—it’s also about being the “right” person for others. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Relationships are two-sided; they require active participation from us as much as from others.

David Platt puts it this way, “The goal is not just to know His Word but to reproduce it in others.” If we want godly friendships, we need to be ready to pour into others and encourage their growth as well. Think about how you can be a light to others in your friendships.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Influence:

• Pray for Your Friends: Lift your friends regularly in prayer. Pray for their spiritual growth, health, and happiness.
• Encourage Accountability: Ask a close friend to keep you accountable for things you want to work on, and offer to do the same for them.
• Model Christlike Character: Aim to be a friend who embodies love, patience, and humility. Your character can inspire those around you to deepen their walk with God. My mother was this type of person.

Guard Against Negative Influence

While Jesus calls us to reach out to unbelievers, being the only Christian in a close friend group can be challenging. If your friends don’t share your values, it’s easy to compromise. Francis Chan cautions, “Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.” Being in the wrong company can lead us to fall into habits that harm our faith journey rather than helping us grow.

Practical Tips for Setting Boundaries:

• Limit Time with Negative Influences: If there are friends who regularly tempt you away from your faith, consider spending less time with them.
• Be Honest: If you’re close enough to a friend, let them know how important your faith is and ask for their understanding and support in upholding it.
• Seek Mentorship: Find a mature Christian mentor who can support and guide you in your spiritual walk, especially if you find yourself often surrounded by non-believers.

Use Friendship as a Pathway to Strengthen Your Faith

Your friendships should push you closer to God. Proverbs 13:20 gives us a clear framework for choosing friends: walk with the wise. Genuine friends encourage us to discern God’s best for our lives and support us in living it out. Investing in relationships that build you up spiritually will help you live out your faith with greater passion and resilience.

Practical Ways to Strengthen Faith Through Friendship:

• Pray Together: Ask your friends to pray with you regularly, whether it’s over the phone or in person. It’s a powerful way to deepen both faith and friendship.
• Share Scripture: Challenge each other to memorize and meditate on Scripture that’s meaningful to you.
• Serve Together: Get involved in a local ministry or mission. Serving alongside friends can foster both faith and community in a way that few other experiences can.

Recommended Books to Dive Deeper

If you’re looking for Christian Historical Fiction that reflects themes of friendship, faith, and godly influence, check out the Discerning God’s Best series. Books like Desire of My Heart, With All My Heart, Matters of the Heart, and Healing of the Heart, showcase the power of godly relationships and personal transformation. Each book provides not just a wholesome read, but also a beautiful example of fusing faith and fiction.

Desire of My Heart is ON SALE In the United States and Canada

From February 1 to 28, Desire of My Heart is HALF PRICE on Amazon US and Amazon CA! For $3.49, you can download the Kindle eBook, or download for free using Kindle Unlimited.

Discover how the right friends can change everything.

Building Christ-centered friendships requires effort, prayer, and discernment, but the rewards are well worth it.

By choosing friends who encourage and support you in your walk with God, you’re taking an essential step toward a stronger faith life. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. As David Platt once said, “This is the gospel. We are to live in light of His mercy and His love and His grace.” Surround yourself with friends who live by these values and watch your faith strengthen and your walk with God become more profound.

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