the power of your circle
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
I recently read in an article that “when you become a Christian, you not only enter into a new relationship with God through Jesus, but you also enter into new relationships with other believers.” One of the most beautiful truths from the Bible is that the gospel creates spiritual friendships. Friendships happen when people share something in common; and what greater commonalty can you have with someone than love for Jesus.
There are a handful of people that I could call in a crisis that I know, without a doubt, would drop everything to come help me. Some of those are probably tired of seeing my number come across their phones. But I also know God has strategically placed those people in our life because he knows we would need them. Your “circle” is there to cheer you on, lift you up when you’re struggling, speak life into you, and hold you accountable.
One thing I absolutely adore about my circle is knowing they are going to give me Godly advice and not just tell me what I want to hear. Yes, it would be awesome if they agreed with me all the time, but I know that’s not what I need in my life and that’s not what God meant when he placed these specific people around me. You have to surround yourselves with people that aren’t afraid to call you out if you’re going down the wrong path or who will hold you accountable. There is also power in your “prayer warriors” especially in a time when all you can do is pray. Matthew 18:20 says “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”
The most important thing to consider when picking your friend group is to include those who are for you and for your marriage and have a Godly perspective. Your friends are going to pour into or take from your marriage. We consider our inner circle to be a select few couples that have the same beliefs, values and principles that we use to guide our marriage and lives by.
As husband and wife, you have direct input into who you allow into your lives and who gets to do life with you as a part of your inner circle. And just a quick tip, if there is something about a person that doesn’t sit right with your spouse…..you should listen!! Spiritual gifts are still very much a thing and the gift of discernment is very real! There have been times in my life that I have ignored this gift and it always leads to something bad!
How many times have you seen a couple in a friend group get divorced then suddenly, the majority of the couples in that friend group have divorced? It happens more often than you think.
Marriage is an amazing gift from God, but it can also be a struggle. Depending on the people that you allow to be closest to you, your struggle seasons can be a lot more difficult, or it can be filled with love and support. Marriage adversity will come, and when it does those closest to you will affect how your marriage handles it. When storms hit and satan begins working against your marriage, you may begin to hear voices telling you that your spouse annoys you, doesn’t deserve you, maybe you deserve better, or there is someone better out there for me. He doesn’t start with a home run; he hits you with little seemingly insignificant jabs that seem harmless, but he is extremely good at growing those jabs into heavy hits.
Galatians 6:1-2 says “if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
If your circle is filled with non-believers that don’t put Jesus at the center of their marriage, then your friendly advice more than likely is going to be not loving, or serving towards your spouse, and may even be along the lines of “you don’t deserve to be treated like that, he/she’s crazy and there’s better out there for you.” Satan doesn’t just attack your marriage through you or your spouse, he will use every avenue possible to feed lies and destruction to destroy your marriage and your family.
Hebrews 10: 24-25 says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Find your tribe….and love them hard.