40Days Of Gratitude with Bev Allen - Day 9: "The Intelligent Friend"

Snowshoeing with friends
of the HPSC

Welcome to 40Days Of Gratitude day 9!  Thank the Lord we are now on week two and thank you for joining me on this adventure. I am looking forward to reading your comments and sharing your stories:  Revelations, problems solved, ideas conceived and birthed etc.

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At the end of the devotion I invite you to do a short quiet reflection of 5 - 10 minutes. Breath deeply and focus on your breath - inhalation and exhalation.  If your mind is "busy" repeat the gratitude of the day or your own personal gratitude that comes to mind.  This quite time will allow you to hear from God.

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TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Today I am grateful and thankful for that one friend who will tell me like it is, or as they see if, in a loving and respectful way knowing full well that they are risking losing the friendship.  I have always appreciated frankness from people, even though it doesn't always feel comfortable.  Matter of fact it is sometimes quite painful.  I did not know that there was a  concept  for this called "the intelligent friend" until I was having a spirited discussion with a friend when the question was posed to me; "what would you rather, telling a friend the truth, something they may not want to hear and risk losing the friend, or saying nothing knowing that being silent may cost the friend dearly but you preserve your friendship?"   It takes courage to be "the intelligent friend" and they are rare for sure, so I am all the more grateful to have someone like that in my life.

THOUGHT TO FOCUS ON:

It is better to do the right thing and lose a friend that to be a hypocrites.  They may come to appreciate your honesty some day, and even if they don't, you will feel good knowing you kept your integrity.

SCRIPTURE:

Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)-The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

PRAYER:

Precious Saviour, my  Lord Jesus Christ, my friend and my protector, I thank you for that one friend who would risk losing our friendship to try stopping me from going over the proverbial cliff rather than standing by mum, and then say - see, I knew that was going to happen.  This is a true friend and I thank you Jesus for that one and I ask that you grant me the courage to be truthful and helpful to all of your children in a loving way.

In Jesus name I pray.  AMEN.🙏🙏🙏

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My sincere desire is to be completely authentic and transparent.  It is a process so I am being patient with myself while always reflecting on my actions.  I pray that you my friends have such a friend in your life and are also willing to be that "the intelligent friend" to others.

Grace & peace,

Beverley