Prayer Rooms this week:
- Today – 7:30am | 12 Bassett Street
- Wednesday – Noon | on Zoom
“And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God… The two of them made a covenant before the Lord.” — 1 Samuel 23:16-18
“Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’ Proverbs 27:17
Most of us know we can’t follow Jesus alone and yet that is what many of us try to do. Ours is an age of isolation, atomization…a world where we are more connected than ever by technology, and yet lonelier than ever in our souls. The reality is that many Christians lack deep spiritual friendships, even if we all long for them.
Friendships that go to the depths of our souls don’t happen by accident. They require courage, honesty, and commitment—as we see above with David and Jonathan, who made a covenant with each other around their spiritual friendship. It is a model that is rare and desperately needed. As someone has said, “spiritually, you are the product of your five closest friends.” As we contend for renewal in our own lives, churches, and region…one of the most practical things we can do is to level up our friendships. Friendship is an overlooked but essential element of revival. As Dr. David Thomas from Asbury likes to say: “revival moves at the pace of friendship.”
Today, let’s seek God for spiritual friendships, in our own lives, and in the church.
For Prayer:
Ask God to show you a next step toward spiritual friendship this year. Many of us don’t need better friends…but we do need to become intentional in initiating spiritually with friends we already have. Ask God for the courage to repurpose our current friendships. Some of us may need to just ask God boldly and in faith to provide a spiritual friend for us – someone who can mutually encourage us in our walk with Jesus.
Next Steps:
- Ask God: Who am I meant to walk with spiritually this year?
- If a name comes to mind, reach out. Share your desire to be intentional and support one another in seeking God.
- If you’re unsure, keep praying. Ask God to open doors and deepen connections in His timing.
Simple Prayer:
“God, I don’t want to follow You alone. I need people who will help me find strength in You—friends who will sharpen me and call me higher in my walk with you. Show me who I’m meant to journey with more closely this season. Give me the courage to take a next step in spiritual friendship. Amen.”
In Our Time 