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Job 11:3

February 15

Job 11:3 Should I remain silent while you babble on? When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed? (NLT)

Are your friends real or counterfeit?

The FBI trains their agents to spot counterfeit money by looking at it and touching it. God can train you to do the same things with those you interact with. You rely on the Holy Spirit and use discernment. 

The world uses the word friend as a catchphrase for everyone they know; you need clarity when you talk about your friends. For the sake of this devotional, the word “friend” refers to the people you allow into your inner circle; those you share your life with; those who help you make tough decisions; and those who can speak into your heart, especially when you’re feeling low.

With that understanding, you need a friend who will tell you when you’re wrong, remind you “what” you believe, “Who” you believe in, and “Who” you belong to.

 

Real Friends Counterfeit Friends
Keep you from making the mistake of accusing God, blaming God, or making your situation about what God has not done. Commiserate with you, tell you God is mad at you, and fail to lead you into the presence of God. 
Help you realize your circumstances are really about what God is trying to do in, with, and through you. Help you identify how and why, you have been mistreated, who mistreated you, and what you should do about it.
Require that you remember God is in

control and He loves you.

 Tell you to take control of your own situation and do what needs to be done.

 

Job 2:9-10 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (NKJV)

Job 42:7–9 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. (NKJV)

Your real friends will cause you to stop, look, and listen, even if they make you mad. Remember, not only do you need a real friend; you need to be a real friend too. The Bible identifies the greatest friendship you ever want in James 2:23.

James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God. (AMP)

If you can be a friend of God, you will have no problem being a friend to anyone else.

Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:

Father, I thank You for surrounding me with friends who love You more than they love me. Those who care enough about me to tell me when I am wrong. I thank You for putting people in my life who are concerned about my spiritual growth; and they identify my missteps in actions, conversation, and in attitude. I repent for not honoring You by appreciating them more. I am sorry. Without those people, I know I would prolong the training I’m currently in. Thank You for the people You placed in my path, who love me enough to show me You no matter what I am going through. Whether I am dealing with a problem, rejoicing over something great that has happened, or when I am crying over a mistake I have made; they help me wipe my tears. It does not matter what I am crying about, and especially when I am wrong. Thank You for helping me develop my character. You made it possible for me to be a friend to You and to others. I want to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, always pointing them to You…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here: 

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  • Date: February 15
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