Power of a Praying Woman 10/17/06 9:02 AM Page 144
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The Power of a Praying Woman
try to break apart your relationships. And that’s why you should cover them in prayer.
More Than Just Friends
So much is made of the importance of the right kind of friends in the Bible that we can’t treat this part of our lives lightly. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26). If it’s true that we become like the friends we spend time with, then we must select our friends wisely. The main quality to look for in a close friend is not how attractive, talented, wealthy, smart, in?uential, clever, or popular they are. It’s how much they love and fear God. The person who will do what it takes to live in the perfect will of God is the kind of friend who imparts something of the goodness of the Lord to you every time you are with them. God doesn’t want us to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, but that doesn’t mean we should have nothing to do with anyone who doesn’t know the Lord. Far from it. We are God’s tool to reach others for His kingdom. But our closest relationships, the ones that in?uence us the most, need to be with people who love and fear God. If you don’t have close friends who are believers, pray for godly and desirable friends to come into your life.
Seven Good Signs of a Desirable Friend
1. A desirable friend tells you the truth in love. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). 2. A desirable friend gives you sound advice. “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9).