April 19, 2023 … Real-deal Friends

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 109 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics  from Michael W Smith singing … Friends Are Friends Forever … poignantly singing of how real friends are true friends FOREVER.  

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Highlight Passage: … Ecclesiastes 4:12 [NLT] … 

12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. 

… Solomon shows that having God’s Spirit along with true friends will defeat loneliness.          

Highlight Passage (Context): … Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru Solomon, extols the value of true friends to defeat loneliness in our lives as believers.                                .                     

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 17:17, 27:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, shows the power of friendships to defeat loneliness in the lives of believers.  

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 58:11 [NLT] … 

1 The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 

… Our God will always be a friend to provide us what we need when we need His guidance and friendship.  

Reference Passage: … John 6:33 [NLT] … 

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.. 

… When we seek after the Lord and His righteousness, above all, He will ALWAYS provide our needs.  

Reference Passage: … John 15:13 [NLT] … 

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.. 

… Jesus teaches the value of true friendships.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 10:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, shows that fellow Christians are exhorted to come together to stir up acts of love and good works in our fellowship and mutual friendship with Christ.    

                                                                                                                     

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread< author, Sheridan Voysey … AT THIS LINK …  writes of the evidence showing the effects of growing loneliness worldwide, … even to the point where one entrepreneur established a business of being able to “rent-a-friend” who would be available for companionship at a rental price.   

Hence, I’m praying that all my readers, having taken in the linked song and the Scriptures above, have “real-deal” friendships which stem from our friendship and relationship with the Lord, … friends we can rely on anytime we’re feeling lonely in this life.  I know that i ALWAYS have one friend I can rely on in my Friend, King Jesus.  How about you?  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your friendship … ALWAYS!!       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to thank and praise You, Lord, for Your forever friendship. …  Amen               . 

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Blogger Note::  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.